Headaches

Why do I have a headache?

Headaches might result from a blow to the head. They’re also a common symptom of acute illnesses. Some common causes of headaches include:

• Respiratory infections (colds, flu, sinusitis)
• Fevers
• Stress
• Lack of sleep
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Dehydration
• Chemicals, allergens, and pollutants
• Loud noise and bright light
• Changes in the weather

The headache might result from inflammation, increased pressure in your sinuses, or an allergic reaction. Muscle tension in the head and neck frequently causes headaches too. Some headaches result from nerve compression or dysfunction — trigeminal and occipital neuralgia, which affect large nerves in your head, can cause severe head pain.

There are also numerous kinds of headaches that have no identifiable cause. One of the most common of these is migraines.

What are migraine headaches?

Migraines are severe, disabling headaches that may occur infrequently or regularly. The pain might last for several hours or possibly days. You’re likely to feel nauseated, weak, faint, or lightheaded. Many people can’t bear light and sound when they have a migraine. Some vomit or see flashing lights and suffer from other visual disturbances.

Common migraine triggers include:

• Red wine
• Chocolate
• Aged cheeses
• Coffee
• Stress
• Lack of sleep
• Skipped meals
• Hormonal changes

Migraines are more common in women, which could relate to the fluctuating hormone levels resulting from menstruation. If you identify your triggers, you can also take steps to avoid them, helping prevent migraine attacks.

How are headaches treated?

Some headaches are simpler to treat than others. If you’re dehydrated, restoring water levels in your body by drinking more should resolve the problem. If stress is causing your headaches, look at ways to manage this aspect of your life. Avoid your triggers wherever possible.

Over-the-counter pain-relieving medication like acetaminophen can reduce the discomfort of mild to moderate everyday headaches. But if you get migraines or your headaches are occurring frequently and causing severe pain, Dr. Malik offers effective treatments. These can reduce the frequency of your headaches and their severity.

Depending on the cause of your headache and the nature of your symptoms, your treatment program might include:

• Blood pressure medication
• Tricyclic antidepressants
• Antiseizure medications
• Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) inhibitors
• Muscle relaxants
• Decongestants
• Electrical and magnetic pulse technologies
• Triptans
• Ergotamine and caffeine
• Anti-nausea medicine
• Glucocorticoids
• Beta-blockers
• Lisinopril (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor)
• Relaxation and biofeedback

Patients experiencing multiple migraines every month could benefit from medical Botox® injections. Botox stops some of the nerves in your head from communicating pain messages to your brain.

If severe headaches or migraines are overshadowing your life, call Texas Pain & Orthopedics today or book an appointment online.