We all experience a headache now and then. The term ‘headache’ is often broadly used to describe the dull, sharp, or throbbing pains we feel in our face or head. It’s also one of the most common disorders of the nervous system and can be disruptive to daily life.
Types of Headache Disorders
There are over 150 types of headaches, each varying in symptoms and intensity. The most common types seen by medical professionals include tension headaches, cluster headaches, and migraines.
Common headache triggers include:
- Lack of sleep
- Poor posture
- Eating processed foods and foods high in nitrates
- Drinking alcohol
- Smoking
- Exercise
- Skipping meals
- Dehydration
- Medication overuse
- Straining from coughing, blowing your nose, sneezing, laughing or crying
You can treat most headaches at home with over-the-counter pain relievers that can last from 30 minutes to several hours. If your headaches are more frequent (2 or more headaches per week), your doctor may prescribe a muscle relaxant, antidepressant, or a stronger pain medication.
“Treatments that work for some may not work for others, so it’s important to tailor treatments to individual patients. We were once limited with what we can use to treat migraines, but new emerging treatments allow neurologist/headache specialists to provide patients with the “EpiPen for migraines”. For some, it may be in the form of a pill, nasal spray, injections, or neuro modulation. Your care starts with knowing how to tell the difference between a migraine versus a headache… SNOOP and POUND are great mnemonics to keep in mind when evaluating patients with a headache and deciding what targeted treatment is right for them. It’s important to think of headaches as a symptom of a disease, not the disease itself.
Come see us at Mercy Neurology to receive some of the best neurology care possible.”
Is it a Migraine or a Bad Headache?
A migraine is a severe headache that causes people to feel nauseous, have blurred vision, become sensitive to light and sound, and experience seeing an aura. Since there are no tests for migraines, healthcare providers differentiate them from headaches by using the mnemonics ‘SNOOP‘:
- S: Systemic symptoms
- N: Neurological symptoms
- O: Onset (pain is sudden or gets progressively worse)
- O: Older (the is patient over 50 and experiencing new headaches)
- P: Previous headache history
and ‘POUND’;
- P: Pulsating quality
- O: Hours (headache lasting 4-72 hours)
- U: Unilateral location
- N: Nausea/vomiting
- D: Disabling intensity
The exact cause of migraines is unknown, but medical experts believe they may be genetic and brought on by the same headache triggers mentioned above. For people who suffer from frequent migraines, a healthcare provider may prescribe a medication taken when they feel a migraine coming on that will reduce the severity of their symptoms. Providers may also offer a migraine prevention treatment like botulinum toxin type A injections, also known as BOTOX ®.
Don’t Wait It Out
If you experience frequent headaches, you should see your primary care provider so they can create a treatment plan or refer you to a qualified headache specialist. Also, keep a journal of when they occur so you and your doctor can determine what is causing them and keep track of their frequency.
Life can be full of headaches, but they shouldn’t interfere with your quality of life. Our multidisciplinary approach to care can provide you with a comprehensive evaluation to identify the source of your headache and neuralgia problems and find a solution, so you can get back to living your daily life.
Find a Specialist Near You
Call (716) 706-2112
Find a Specialist Near You
Call (716) 706-2112
