What Causes Headaches?
The pain of a headache comes from signals the nerves in your head send to your brain. Common triggers for headaches include:
- Colds and flu
- Fevers
- Head and neck injuries
- Subluxations (spinal misalignments)
- Stress
- Lack of sleep
- Excessive alcohol intake
- Sinusitis
- Dehydration
- Chemicals, pollutants, and allergens
- Excessive noise or bright lights
- Changes in the weather
If other close family members get headaches, you might be more likely to develop them too.
Pain is usually a warning of tissue damage or disease although, with many types of headaches, there’s no injury at all.
Are There Different Types of Headaches?
You may be surprised to learn there are around 150 different kinds of headaches. Some, like stress headaches, are a common problem that develops when stress causes muscle tension in your neck and head. Others, like cluster headaches and ice pick headaches, occur quite randomly.
One of the most painful and widespread kinds of headaches is the migraine. These headaches can be so severe that you’re unable to function normally. You might also experience nausea and vomiting, dizziness, weakness, and visual disturbances called an aura.
How Are Headaches Treated?
Mild to moderate headaches don’t usually last long, and over-the-counter pain-relieving medication can help you manage them successfully.
It’s also important to consider what might be causing your headaches. For example, are you drinking enough water? Mild dehydration is a frequent cause of regular headaches.
If your headaches occur frequently or are too severe to manage with everyday pain relief medications, Pain Management of North Dallas, PA, provides a variety of treatments. First, they aim to determine the cause of your headaches where they can, as this is a better approach than relying on pain relief medicines.
For example, realigning your spine removes pressure on your nervous system that could be triggering headaches. Your best approach depends on the cause of your headaches, but other options include:
- Blood pressure medication
- Anti-seizure medications
- Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) inhibitors
- Muscle relaxants
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- Relaxation and biofeedback
- Decongestant medication
- Anti-nausea medicine
- Glucocorticoids
- Beta-blockers
- Electrical and magnetic pulse technologies
- Triptans
- Ergotamine and caffeine
- Lisinopril (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor)
- Steroid trigger point injections
In many cases, resolving the source of your headaches means you no longer have to rely on medications.
Call Pain Management of North Dallas, PA, today, or book an appointment online if you’d like to find a better solution to headaches and migraines.
