Have you ever experienced a feeling of pressure and tightness or throbbing in your head?
In severe cases, there are people who have headaches so often that they must carry painkillers with them all the time. There are two main types of headaches. One is a ‘primary headache’ with no specific cause and the other is ‘secondary headache’ which is a secondary symptom caused by other underlying diseases.
The underlying diseases that cause headaches include brain tumors, cerebral hemorrhage, and myofascial pain syndrome. However, secondary headaches are rare and most headaches are called primary headaches.
When a primary headache occurs, it is often taken without knowing how to take the medicine, whether it should be taken frequently as soon as headache begins or whether it should be taken in advance.
Here is a concern about the abuse of headache medicine and explained how to take the medicine.
◆ Can I take medicine whenever I am sick?
If necessary, you can take it whenever you are sick or feeling sick.
However there are some drugs that cause dependence or tolerance so caution is needed depending on the drug.
What is the standard of abuse?
If you take medicine for more than 10 days to a week in a month due to headache or migraine, you may get a headache by taking the medicine.
Our body has a basic system for controlling pain. If we keep taking medicine for pain, our system becomes confused and sensitive.
◆ Do you take right away if you are sick?
If you have a strong headache such as a migraine, it is difficult to overcome the pain and interferes with your daily life.
◆ What are the types of drugs?
When a headache occurs immediately, there are ‘acute treatment drugs’ taken to reduce the intensity of the headache and ‘preventive drugs’ taken daily as a preventive measure.
The acute stage treatment drug is highly likely to be a drug with a high risk of dependence and tolerance.
A person with a high frequency of headaches can reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches by taking a prophylactic agent, a treatment agent with a lower risk of tolerance, rather than taking an acute treatment drug whenever they are sick.
◆ Are the preventive medications effective?
For migraines, prophylactic drugs are known to be effective. After consulting with a doctor, start drug treatment and usually watch the reaction for 2 to 3 weeks or longer, and if the result is effective then the drug treatment can be continued for up to 6 months.
Drugs that we can easily access are acute treatment medication and should never be taken as if taking vitamins or preventive drugs.
If you continue to take medicines every day that should only be taken in an emergency, you may get a drug overdose and be exposed to the risk of side effects.
Preventive medications should be decided after consulting with your doctor.
5 Natural Remedies to Reduce Pain When You Have a Severe Headache
Although more and more people are taking pain relievers for frequent headaches, drugs such as pain relievers develop tolerance which can make the pain worse when the pain reliever stops working.
This type of headache is called rebound headache and it can also cause anxiety, stuffy nose and poor sleep quality. How to reduce the pain when the headache persists?
1. Drink a glass of water when the headache is severe
Dehydration is an underlying cause of headaches. If your body is dehydrated you can become stressed which can cause headaches.
So if you are experiencing frequent headaches on a regular basis, it is recommended to drink water often to keep your body from becoming dehydrated.
2. Apply cold compresses
When a headache occurs, placing or rubbing an ice pack on the back of the neck for 30 minutes may reduce the pain. It constricts blood vessels to reduce inflammation in the affected area and can be expected to be effective in relieving pain.
3. Give a warm compress
In the case of tension headaches caused by tight muscles, a warm compress can be expected to relieve the pain as the tense muscles relax. This can be done by soaking a towel in warm water and rubbing it around the neck or face or taking a warm shower.
4. Turn off the lights in the room
People with headaches are sensitive to light. If you are indoors, it is recommended to turn off the indoor lighting to block out as much light as possible and avoid looking at a smartphone or computer monitor while the pain is recovering. If you are working in the office, it is recommended to rest in a dark and quiet place for 20-30 minutes.
5. Remove a headband or hat
If you are wearing a heavy hat or if you are putting pressure on your head with a braid or pin, it is a good idea to remove them. When you have frequent headaches, it is recommended to avoid wearing hats and hair accessories. It is not a good habit to take painkillers just because a headache occurs suddenly. It can lead to drug tolerance, which can even lead to brain disorders. However if you are suffering from frequent headaches, consult with your doctor and get a checkup to see if the headache is caused by a disease.
Everyday Daily Life
Unhealthy lifestyle makes headaches worse. Irregular mealtimes and prolonged fasting can cause headaches as well. It is good to eat snacks in between. You should also keep your sleep schedule consistent.
Sleeping all day during day off or on weekends can cause headaches.
Starting exercise when you wake up in the morning will help you relax the muscles and tension in your body. Light aerobic exercise, such as running or walking, is also good for relieving symptoms.
Especially those who works in the office spend all day looking at the computer, the muscles in the shoulder and neck can be strained and headaches can occur.
Maintaining Healthy Eating Habits
Modern people tend to eat quickly, which puts a strain on the digestive function. In case of indigestion, it can cause a headache and it is not recommended to eat stimulant foods (including refined carbohydrates, Alcohol) especially in the late evening when digestion is slow. It is always best to avoid foods that contain full of caffeine and artificial seasonings. It is best to avoid eating foods that contain a lot of sugar as it can quickly raise blood sugar and cause headaches.
Even if it’s a mild headache, if the symptoms are repeated, it’s easy to get nervous. The main causes of headaches are stress, chronic fatigue, and lack of sleep but it is difficult to pinpoint the exact cause.
In general, when you have a headache, you take Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (Aspirin, Advil),but you may develop resistance to the drug.
It is better to treat by improving eating habits and lifestyle. It is wise to find out the cause of the headache and fix. If you want to get rid of your headaches, make some changes to your life.
