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.
Overview of chronic daily headache. Accessed Jan. Chronic daily headache: An overview. American Migraine Foundation. Yancey JR, et al. Chronic daily headache: Diagnosis and management.
American Family Physician. Chronic daily headache and chronic migraine. American Headache Society. Headaches and complementary health approaches.
A corticosteroid such as prednisone may help control pain during the withdrawal period. Sinus headaches. Acute sinusitis causes pain over the forehead, around the nose and eyes, over the cheeks, or in the upper teeth. Stooping forward increases the pain.
Thick nasal discharge, congestion, and fever pinpoint the problem to the sinuses. When the acute infection resolves, the pain disappears. Sinusitis is not a common cause of chronic or recurrent headaches. Ice cream headaches.
Some people develop sharp, sudden headache pain when they eat anything cold. The pain is over in less than a minute, even if you keep eating. If you are bothered by ice cream headaches, try eating slowly and warming the cold food at the front of your mouth before you swallow it. Headache from high blood pressure. Except in cases of very high blood pressure, hypertension does not cause headaches.
In fact, most people with high blood pressure don't have any symptoms at all, and a study of 51, people reported that hypertension was associated with a reduced incidence of headaches. But that's no reason to neglect your blood pressure. Hypertension leads to strokes, heart attacks , heart failure , and kidney disease, so all men should have their pressure checked, and then take steps to correct abnormalities.
Headache from exercise and sex. Sudden, strenuous exercise can bring on a headache. Gradual warm-ups or treatment with an anti-inflammatory medication before exercise can help. Sexual intercourse may also trigger headaches; some men note only dull pain, but others suffer from severe attacks called orgasmic headaches. Modern medicine depends on tests to diagnose many problems. For most headaches, though, a good old-fashioned history and physical will do the job.
Still, these tests can be vital in patients with warning signs or other worrisome headaches. For most of us, an occasional headache is nothing more than a temporary speed bump in the course of a busy day.
Even so, most men can ease the problem with simple lifestyle measures and nonprescription medications. Relaxation techniques, biofeedback, yoga, and acupuncture may also help. But for some of us, headaches are a big problem. Learn to recognize warning signs that call for prompt medical care. Work with your doctor to develop a program to prevent and treat migraines and other serious headaches.
And don't fall into the trap of overusing medications; for some gents, rebound headaches are the biggest pain of all. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content.
Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. Thanks for visiting. Don't miss your FREE gift. Sign up to get tips for living a healthy lifestyle, with ways to fight inflammation and improve cognitive health , plus the latest advances in preventative medicine, diet and exercise , pain relief, blood pressure and cholesterol management, and more.
Get helpful tips and guidance for everything from fighting inflammation to finding the best diets for weight loss Stay on top of latest health news from Harvard Medical School.
Recent Blog Articles. Health news headlines can be deceiving. Why is topical vitamin C important for skin health? Preventing preeclampsia may be as simple as taking an aspirin. Caring for an aging parent? Tips for enjoying holiday meals. A conversation about reducing the harms of social media. Menopause and memory: Know the facts. How to get your child to put away toys. Is a common pain reliever safe during pregnancy?
Pain Headache: When to worry, what to do April 15, Print This Page Click to Print. Painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can be used to help relieve pain. Aspirin may also sometimes be recommended. If you're taking these medicines, you should always follow the instructions on the packet. Paracetamol is usually the best choice if you're pregnant. Do not take ibuprofen during pregnancy without speaking to a GP, midwife or pharmacist first.
Medicines containing codeine, such as co-codamol, should be avoided unless recommended by a GP. Taking painkillers over a long period usually 10 days or more may lead to medicine-overuse headaches developing. Your body can get used to the medicine and a headache can develop if you stop taking them. If a GP suspects your headache is caused by the persistent use of medicines, they may ask you to stop taking it.
But you should not stop taking your medicine without first consulting a GP. If you experience frequent tension-type headaches, you may wish to keep a diary to try to identify what could be triggering them. It may then be possible to alter your diet or lifestyle to prevent them occurring as often. Regular exercise and relaxation are also important measures to help reduce stress and tension that may be causing headaches.
Maintaining good posture and ensuring you're well rested and hydrated can also help. Guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence NICE state that a course of up to 10 sessions of acupuncture over a 5- to 8-week period may be beneficial in preventing chronic tension-type headaches.
In some cases, an antidepressant medication called amitriptyline may be prescribed to help prevent chronic tension-type headaches, although there's limited evidence of its effectiveness. This medicine does not treat a headache instantly, but must be taken daily for several months until the headaches lessen.
0コメント