Learn relaxation techniques; yoga is particularly helpful because it can relax both your mind and your neck muscles. If you clench your jaw or grind your teeth at night, a bite plate may help. If you need more help, your doctor may prescribe a stronger pain medication or a muscle relaxant to control headache pain.
Many people with recurrent tension-type headaches can prevent attacks by taking a tricyclic antidepressant such as amitriptyline Elavil, generic. Fortunately, most people with tension-type headaches will do very well with simpler programs. Migraines occur less often than tension headaches, but they are usually much more severe.
Neurologists believe that migraines are caused by changes in the brain's blood flow and nerve cell activity. Migraine triggers. Although a migraine can come on without warning, it is often set off by a trigger. The things that set off a migraine vary from person to person, but a migraine sufferer usually remains sensitive to the same triggers.
The table lists some of the most common ones. Migraine symptoms. Migraines often begin in the evening or during sleep. In some people, the attacks are preceded by several hours of fatigue, depression , and sluggishness or by irritability and restlessness. Because migraine symptoms vary widely, at least half of all migraine sufferers think they have sinus or tension headaches, not migraines. Visual complaints are most common. They may include halos, sparkles or flashing lights, wavy lines, and even temporary loss of vision.
The aura may also produce numbness or tingling on one side of the body, especially the face or hand. Some patients develop aura symptoms without getting headaches; they often think they are having a stroke, not a migraine.
The majority of migraines develop without an aura. In typical cases, the pain is on one side of the head, often beginning around the eye and temple before spreading to the back of the head. The pain is frequently severe and is described as throbbing or pulsating. Nausea is common, and many migraine patients have a watering eye, a running nose, or congestion. If these symptoms are prominent, they may lead to a misdiagnosis of sinus headaches.
P is for pulsating pain O for one-day duration of severe untreated attacks U for unilateral one-sided pain N for nausea and vomiting D for disabling intensity. Without effective treatment, migraine attacks usually last for four to 24 hours. When you're suffering a migraine, even four hours is far too long — and that's why early treatment for a migraine is so important.
Migraine treatment. If you spot a migraine in its very earliest stages, you may be able to control it with nonprescription pain relievers. Acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and a combination of pain medications and caffeine are all effective — if you take a full dose very early in the attack.
When prescription drugs are needed, most doctors turn to the triptans, which are available as tablets, nasal sprays, or as injections that patients can learn to give to themselves. Examples include sumatriptan Imitrex , zolmitriptan Zomig , and rizatriptan Maxalt. Some patients require a second dose within 12 to 24 hours. Patients with cardiovascular disease and those who take a high dose of certain antidepressants need to discuss the risks of using them with their doctor.
Work with your doctor to find the migraine treatment that works best for you. Remember, though, that overuse can lead to rebound headaches and a vicious cycle of drugs and headaches.
So, if you need treatment more than two or three times a week, consider preventive medications. Cluster headaches are more severe but less common. They often begin on one side of the head and recur for days or weeks.
Attacks can last between 15 minutes to three hours and occur every day. They tend to affect men between the ages of 20 and 50, and smokers. People who experience these types of headaches are often restless, agitated and sweat profusely. Alcohol can trigger an attack. Also known as rebound headaches, they are caused by an overuse of pain medications, such as aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Women are affected more often than men.
When over-the-counter medicine fails to work and headaches become more frequent, medication and other therapies may be prescribed. Medications to prevent frequent migraines include antidepressants and Botox injections and newer medications. In , the Food and Drug Administration FDA approved a new class of medications that modulate a neuropeptide known as calcitonin gene-related peptide CGRP that is believed to play a key role in migraine.
Neuropeptides are small protein-like molecules used by neurons to communicate with each other. Medication for frequent headaches may be combined with non-medication options, such as biofeedback, relaxation, bio stimulation and diet therapy.
Biofeedback uses electronic monitoring to help teach individuals how to control certain physical responses, such as muscle tension. Bonakdar says. If you're taking pain medications — even over-the-counter — more than two days a week or nine days a month , you're at risk of developing rebound headaches.
If you have chronic daily headaches, you're also more likely to have depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and other psychological and physical problems.
Chronic daily headaches care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version.
Overview Most people have headaches from time to time. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Garza I, et al. In order to figure out your headache pattern and identify your triggers, you may want to keep a headache diary to share with your doctor. The National Headache Foundation provides a handy template. But for some people, they occur almost every day.
Tension headaches affect both sides of your head with a pressing, moderate pain. Instead, you may want to try meditation, relaxation techniques or heat therapy. Migraines , although less common, are more severe.
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