Category: Health

A dehydration headache happens when your body is dehydrated (doesn’t get the fluids it needs). Headache pain often appears along with other symptoms of dehydration, including dizziness, extreme thirst and dry mouth. Pain usually goes away after drinking water, resting and taking pain relief medication.

What is a dehydration headache?

A dehydration-related headache happens when your body doesn’t get enough fluids. Even mild dehydration can cause a headache. Usually, other symptoms of dehydration (such as fatigue, dizziness, extreme thirst and dry mouth) appear along with headache pain.

Dehydration headaches often get better with at-home remedies like drinking water, resting and taking over-the-counter pain relievers. If you have signs of severe dehydration (such as confusion or dizziness), get medical help right away.

How common are dehydration headaches?

Nearly everyone gets a headache from time to time. Headaches are the most common type of pain. They result from many different conditions, disorders and diseases, including dehydration.

Healthcare providers aren’t sure how many people get dehydration headaches. In the United States, most people don’t get enough fluids, either from their food or by drinking water. Lack of fluids can lead to dehydration, which causes headaches. Babies, young children and older adults have a higher risk of dehydration. People with certain health conditions (such as diabetes) also have an increased risk.

What does a dehydration headache feel like?

Pain from a dehydration headache can range from mild to severe. You may feel pain all over your head or in just one spot, such as the back, front or side. The pain is usually like a dull ache, but it can also be sharp.

You may have a throbbing (pounding) headache, or the pain might be constant. The pain might get worse when you bend over, shake your head or move around.

Other dehydration symptoms usually occur along with headache pain. These include:

• Dark urine (pee) and a decreased need to urinate.
• Dizziness and confusion.
• Dry mouth.
• Fatigue.
• Heat cramps (muscle cramps).
• Loss of appetite.
• Passing out or fainting (syncope). This happens in severe cases of dehydration.
• Intense thirst (although you may not feel thirsty at all).
• If your child has a headache along with signs of dehydration, call your healthcare provider right away. Symptoms of dehydration in babies and children include fewer trips to the bathroom (or fewer wet diapers), pale skin and weakness or lethargy. It’s essential to get medical help immediately.

What is dehydration?

Your body is mostly made of water. It’s in your blood, organs, soft tissues and bones. When you sweat and urinate, your body loses fluids and electrolytes. Electrolytes are minerals that help your body work like it should.

Dehydration happens when the amount of fluid that’s leaving your body (in sweat and urine) is more than the amount of fluid you’re taking in. Dehydration can be dangerous because it means your body isn’t getting the fluids it needs.

Dehydration can result from:

• Diarrhea and vomiting.
• Lack of adequate water intake.
• Drinking too much alcohol, which can cause a hangover.
• Heavy sweating from exercise, physical activity or heat. Exercising in higher altitudes also increases the risk of dehydration.
• Some medications, such as diuretics (water pills) to treat heart failure and other conditions. Water pills help your body get rid of excess fluid and salt.

What causes a dehydration headache?

When you’re dehydrated, your brain and other tissues in your body shrink (contract). As your brain shrinks, it pulls away from the skull, puts pressure on nerves and causes pain.

Even mild dehydration can lead to a headache. When you drink water and other fluids, the brain plumps up to its previous size and the pain goes away.

How do I know if I have a dehydration headache?

There are many different types of headaches. Some headaches (like migraines and tension headaches) have no known cause. Healthcare providers call these primary headaches.

Dehydration headaches are secondary headaches because providers know what causes them. You probably have a dehydration headache if:

• Headache pain goes away or gets better with water and rest.
• Pain is only in your head (other types of headaches can cause pain in the neck or shoulders).
• You also have other symptoms of dehydration.

If your headache doesn’t get better after drinking water and resting, see your provider for a checkup. Another condition or illness may be causing your headache. Your provider may order imaging studies (like an MRI or CT scan) to see pictures of your brain and determine what’s causing the pain.

How do I manage dehydration headaches?

Most dehydration headaches get better in a few hours with at-home treatments. To relieve pain from a dehydration headache, you should try headache remedies such as:

• Fluids: Take small sips of water. Drinking too much water too quickly can make you feel sick to your stomach. You can try sucking on ice cubes if you have an upset stomach. Electrolyte drinks (sports drinks) can also replace fluids. But they usually contain high levels of sugar, so only drink them in moderation or choose one with no added sugar.
• Rest: Take a break from physical activity. If you’re in the heat or sun, try relaxing in a cool, shady place. Give your body time to rest.
• Pain relievers: Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can provide headache relief. Some headache medicines have caffeine. Avoid these medicines, since caffeine can make dehydration worse.
• Ice: Applying a cold compress to your head can relieve pain. You can also wet a washcloth with cold water and place it on your forehead.

People who are very dehydrated may need additional care. Some people may need to stay in the hospital while they’re recovering. Healthcare providers treat severe dehydration with IV fluids (through a vein in the arm).

How do I prevent a dehydration headache?

The best way to avoid a dehydration headache is to stay hydrated. To prevent dehydration, you should:

• Drink plenty of fluids: Carry water with you when you leave home, and take sips throughout the day.
• Hydrate before you feel thirsty: Drink fluids throughout the day. Don’t wait until you feel thirsty. If you wait until you’re craving water, you’re already a little dehydrated. People who are older might not feel thirsty at all because you can lose your sense of thirst as you age.
• Replace the fluids you lose: When you’re exercising or doing physical activity, take water breaks often. During some sports (like swimming), you may not notice how much you’re sweating. Drinking fluid throughout the day prior to participating in a sport is also helpful.
• Take a break when you need to rest: Listen to your body. If you feel tired or dizzy, take a water break.
• Watch the heat: If you’re outside on a hot day, drink extra water. Rest often, and find a way to stay cool in hot weather.

What is the outlook for people with dehydration headaches?

Most dehydration headaches get better after drinking water and taking it easy for a while. If headaches keep happening, you may have chronic (long-term) dehydration. Chronic dehydration can lead to serious medical problems, including kidney stones and urinary tract infections (UTIs). People who aren’t hydrated have a higher risk of heat exhaustion and other heat illness.

Dehydration can trigger (cause) a migraine headache. If you get migraines, it’s essential to drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated may help you prevent a migraine attack.

When should I see my healthcare provider about a dehydration headache?

See your healthcare provider if:

• Headache pain doesn’t get better: If you still have a headache after drinking water, resting and taking over-the-counter pain medications, call your healthcare provider. Most dehydration headaches get better after a few hours of water and rest.
• Pain comes back or is severe: Call your healthcare provider if your pain returns. Chronic (recurring) headaches and severe pain may be a sign of a serious health condition.
• You have other symptoms: Vision problems, dizziness, nausea and vomiting can be signs of a serious condition. See your healthcare provider if you have these symptoms, along with headache pain that doesn’t go away.
• You have signs of severe dehydration: Dehydration can also lead to serious health problems. If you or your child has signs of dehydration, see your healthcare provider right away.

A note from QBan Health Care Services

Dehydration headaches can range from mildly annoying to severely painful. But they usually go away after drinking water and relaxing in a cool place. To prevent a dehydration headache, drink water throughout the day and increase the amount you drink when you exercise. Always stop and drink water if you feel symptoms of dehydration. If your headache doesn’t go away with water and rest, call your healthcare provider. Get help right away if you have a severe headache or if your pain comes back.

Cough headaches cause head pain after activities like coughing, laughing or straining. These headaches usually last fewer than 30 minutes and get better on their own. There are two types of cough headaches; one is more severe and the other is usually harmless. A healthcare provider will diagnose and treat these headaches.

What is a cough headache?

A cough headache is head pain that occurs after coughing, sneezing, laughing or straining. A cough headache can last anywhere from a few seconds to 30 minutes, on average. Some can last up to two hours. These headaches aren’t common. Most cases are harmless, but some may have a more serious cause.

What are the types of cough headaches?

There are two types of cough headaches:

• Primary cough headache: A primary cough headache isn’t the result of an underlying condition.
• Secondary cough headache: An underlying condition causes a secondary cough headache. About half of all people who experience a cough headache have a secondary cough headache.

It’s important to see a healthcare provider to determine the cause of your headache.

What are the symptoms of a cough headache?

Symptoms of a cough headache may include:

• Head pain that happens suddenly after coughing or straining and goes away shortly after.
• Head pain on one or both sides of your head (usually the front and sides for primary and back for secondary).
• A dull, sharp or stabbing pain (mild or severe).

Less common symptoms of a cough headache include:

• Feeling dizzy or unsteady.
• Fainting.
• Numbness in your arms (secondary only).

What causes a cough headache?

A cough headache happens suddenly after:

• Coughing.
• Sneezing.
• Blowing your nose.
• Straining (like during a bowel movement or lifting weights).
• Laughing.
• Crying.

The exact cause of a primary cough headache isn’t well understood. Experts think coughing raises the pressure inside your chest and abdomen (belly), which increases the pressure in your brain.

Most causes of a secondary cough headache happen due to a growth abnormality in your brain. One of the most common is Chiari malformation type I. This occurs when brain tissue in the lower back part of your skull extends into your spinal canal (the base of your skull). It’s the area of your brain that regulates your balance.

Other causes of a secondary cough headache include:

• Brain tumors.
• Low cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure.
• Cerebrospinal fluid leak.
• A buildup of excess CSF in your brain (hydrocephalus).
• Brain blood vessel weakness (cerebral aneurysm).
• Blood collecting outside of brain tissue (subdural hematoma).

What are the risk factors for a cough headache?

Cough headaches can happen to anyone at any age. However, primary cough headaches usually affect people after age 40 and secondary cough headaches most often affect people before age 40.

What are the complications of a cough headache?

Cough headaches can interfere with your daily routine and your mood. This can prevent you from functioning and feeling your best.

Secondary cough headache causes can be dangerous, sometimes life-threatening. If you experience a sudden headache without a known cause, contact a healthcare provider.

How is a cough headache diagnosed?

A healthcare provider will diagnose a cough headache after a physical exam and testing. During the exam, your provider will ask about which symptoms you’re experiencing, how often they happen and how long they last.

Testing can help your healthcare provider determine if an underlying condition caused your headache (secondary cough headache) or rule out conditions with similar symptoms. Your provider may offer tests like:

• A lumbar puncture.
• A CT scan (computed tomography scan).
• An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).
• Blood tests.

How do you get rid of a cough headache?

Primary cough headaches go away on their own, usually after 30 minutes. Because these headaches don’t last long, you won’t need to treat them every time they happen.

If you have frequent headaches that are painful and disruptive, a healthcare provider may suggest preventive medications like:

• Acetazolamide.
• Indomethacin.
• Propranolol.
• Topiramate.

Your provider will explain the side effects of these medications before you start taking them.

Some cough headaches go away after a lumbar puncture (diagnostic test), which removes a small sample of cerebrospinal fluid from the area around your spinal column (subarachnoid space).

You may need surgery to repair a structural issue that’s causing your headaches. Your surgeon will tell you which type of procedure you’ll need and what to expect.

Can a cough headache be prevented?

You may not be able to prevent cough headaches. But they can often be treated by removing the cause.

The best way to prevent cough headaches is to avoid coughing. This is easier said than done. Everyone coughs sometimes. If you know certain activities make you more likely to cough a lot (and trigger a headache), try to avoid them as often as possible. It also isn’t realistic to stop yourself from expressing emotion, like laughing or crying, even if it may cause a headache.

If you cough or strain often, a healthcare provider can help you find solutions, which may include:

• Having an exam and tests to check for and treat upper respiratory issues or allergies that cause frequent coughing.
• Taking stool softeners to avoid straining during bowel movements.
• Checking with a healthcare provider or pharmacist to see if coughing is a side effect of a current medication you take regularly.
• Finding ways to stay active that don’t involve straining (like weightlifting).

What can I expect if I have a cough headache?

Most cough headaches resolve on their own. Some may last longer, but it’s less common. Treatment isn’t necessary for primary cough headaches unless they happen frequently and disrupt your daily routine. Many primary cough headache episodes last for several years before going away completely.

Secondary cough headaches usually need treatment with surgery. Some causes can be life-threatening. A healthcare provider can help you find a treatment option that works best for your situation.

How long does a cough headache last?

A cough headache usually lasts for 30 minutes or less. They can last for a few seconds or minutes up to a couple of hours (in rare cases).

When should I see a healthcare provider?

Contact a healthcare provider if you develop a sudden headache when coughing. Your provider can diagnose the cause and help you find ways to manage pain and other symptoms.

What questions should I ask my healthcare provider?

You may want to ask your provider:

• What type of cough headache do I have?
• Do I need diagnostic testing?
• Which type of treatment do you recommend?
• Are there side effects of treatment?

A note from QBan Health Care Services

Coughing can be disruptive. Feeling a headache after a cough can really interfere with your day and your mood. Even though they’re temporary, a cough headache can be a frequent annoyance or a sign that something’s wrong. You don’t have to just “deal” with headaches. Your healthcare provider will diagnose what’s causing pain and suggest treatments to help you feel better.

A hunger headache causes dull pain that happens when you’re hungry. The pain goes away shortly after eating. But you can take steps to avoid these headaches, even if you can’t eat for long periods of time.

What is a hunger headache?

This type of headache happens when you’re hungry. You’re more likely to experience hunger headaches when there are long periods of time between meals. They can also happen when you’re not eating enough.

How does a hunger headache affect my body?

Headaches when you’re hungry are a signal that you need more calories. You may experience:

• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): Your brain is not getting the energy it needs from blood sugar (glucose) in food.
• Muscle tension: Your body releases a substance (histamine) that causes muscles to tense up.
• Stress: A drop in blood sugar can trigger the release of stress hormones that cause a headache.

What causes headaches when you’re hungry?

Hunger and low blood sugar headaches can have many causes, including:

• Dehydration.
• Dieting and new eating regimens, like intermittent fasting.
• Drinking more or fewer caffeinated beverages than usual, including coffee or soda.
• Eating at irregular times.
• Long periods of time between meals, such as when you’re having a busy day or fasting.
• Not getting enough sleep.
• Skipping meals.

What are the symptoms of hunger headaches?

Most people experience pain toward the front of their heads that may extend to both sides. You may also have:

• Mild nausea.
• Muscle tension in your neck or shoulders.

With low blood sugar headaches, you may also experience:

• Abdominal pain.
• Dizziness.
• Fatigue.
• Sweatiness.

How is a hunger headache diagnosed?

You can diagnose it yourself by listening to your body. If you’re experiencing dull head pain and it’s been a while since you’ve eaten, it’s probably a hunger headache.

How do I treat headaches when I’m hungry?

Treatment includes eating something. The best option is a balanced meal with foods full of vitamins and nutrients and plenty of water. If you’re short on time, a healthy snack can help.

How soon will I feel better?

Once your body starts digesting food, you should start feeling better. Hunger headaches typically go away within 30 minutes of eating.

What if I don’t feel better?

If you don’t feel better after eating, an over-the-counter pain reliever can help.

How can I prevent hunger headaches?

You can lower your risk of hunger and low blood sugar headaches by:

• Drinking water throughout the day to stay hydrated.
• Eating frequent, smaller meals.
• Getting a good night’s rest.
• Scheduling breaks throughout the day for snacks or meals.

What if I’m delaying eating because I get headaches afterward?

The issue might not be when you’re eating, but what you’re eating. Certain foods are more likely to cause headaches, including:

• Aged cheeses, like feta, Parmesan and Swiss.
• Foods that contain the additive monosodium glutamate (MSG).
• Dried meats and fruits.
• High-sugar and processed foods, such as packaged cookies and crackers.
• Meat products like hot dogs and pepperoni that contain additives (nitrates and nitrites).

What foods should I eat instead?

Your diet should include:

• Plenty of water.
• Limited amounts of caffeine, high-sugar and processed foods.
• Raw fruits and vegetables, or cooked ones with little added fat or sugar.
• Brown rice and whole-grain bread.
• Nuts and seeds.
• Meats and fish that aren’t cured, smoked or dried.

Are hunger headaches ever something to worry about?

Getting headaches when you’re hungry can be bothersome. But they don’t affect your health. Some headaches and symptoms can be a sign of a medical issue, though.

When should I consider seeing a healthcare provider?

You may want to see your healthcare provider for mild headaches that:

• Don’t respond to over-the-counter medications.
• Require more than the recommended medication dose to get relief.
• Interfere with daily activities.

Important: Severe headaches that come on quickly may be a sign of a stroke. Seek immediate care if you experience a sudden and severe headache along with other symptoms, such as:

• Confusion.
• Dizziness.
• Slurred speech.
• Vision loss.

What if hunger headaches are due to dieting?

Your body is sensitive to changes in eating habits. When you’re dieting, it’s natural to feel hungry. But when hunger pangs come with head pain, try eating a little more. You might not lose weight as fast, but it’ll spare you the discomfort of regular headaches.

What if I can’t eat for a day because I’m fasting for religious purposes?

Fasting headaches are common. You can lower your risk by planning ahead.

A few days before the fast:

• Avoid caffeine.
• Eat nutritious meals.
• Increase the amount of water you’re drinking.

The meal before the fast:

• Consume complex carbohydrates, like potatoes and other starchy vegetables, with some protein.
• Don’t eat portions that are larger than normal.

A note from QBan Health Care Services

Hunger headaches are your body’s way of signaling that you need calories. They don’t go away on their own. The best treatment is eating a balanced meal with protein, fruits, vegetables and carbohydrates. Most people don’t need to see their healthcare provider for a hunger headache. You may need care if your symptoms are severe or don’t respond to pain relievers, though.

Exertion headaches, often called exercise headaches, involve pain during or after physical activity. They last a few minutes to two days. Although the headaches usually have no underlying cause, you should talk to a healthcare provider to make sure. Treatment is similar to other headaches, and certain strategies may help you prevent them.

What is an exertion headache?

An exertion headache (also known as exercise headaches) involves pain during or immediately after physical activity. It comes on quickly and goes away in a few minutes or hours, but can last as long as a couple of days. But there’s usually no underlying disease or disorder.

What activities might cause an exertional headache?

Examples of activities that might trigger an exertion headache include:

• Coughing or sneezing.
• Having sexual intercourse.
• Running or doing aerobics.
• Straining to go to the bathroom.
• Weightlifting.

Because exercise is a common culprit, exertion headaches are often called exercise headaches or weightlifter’s headaches.

What causes an exercise headache?

When you exert yourself, your body needs more blood and oxygen. Scientists believe an exertional headache occurs when an activity causes veins and arteries to expand to allow more blood flow. That expansion and increased blood pressure create pressure in the skull, which causes the pain.

What are the symptoms of headache after a workout?

Symptoms of an exercise-induced headache often include:

• Neck pain.
• Pain on one or both sides of the head.
• Pulsating or throbbing.
• People sometimes describe exertion headaches as “the worst headache of their life.”

Sometimes the headaches feel like migraines and involve:

• Effects on vision, such as blind spots.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Sensitivity to light.

How long do exertion headaches last?

Most exercise headaches last five minutes to 48 hours and happen for a period of three to six months.

How are exertion headaches diagnosed?

Anyone who has severe or frequent headaches should seek medical attention. Most exertional headaches aren’t caused by an underlying disease or disorder. But a healthcare provider may order some tests to rule out possible causes:

• Angiography to examine the blood vessels, usually computed tomography angiography (CTA) or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA).
• MRI to take pictures of the brain.
• Spinal tap (lumbar puncture) to take a sample of fluid from the spine for testing.

If tests don’t find an underlying cause, the healthcare provider can diagnose exertion headaches if you have had at least two headaches that:

• Were caused by physical activity.
• Started during or after physical activity.
• Lasted less than 48 hours.

How is an exercise headache treated?

Exertional headaches usually can be treated the same way as regular headaches. Some medications that may help include:

• Prescription NSAIDs such as indomethacin for short-term use.
• Beta-blockers, such as nadolol and propranolol for longer-term use or those who can’t take NSAIDs.
• Over-the-counter NSAIDs, such as naproxen, but only for short-term use.

How can I prevent a headache after exercise?

The best way to prevent exercise-induced headaches is to avoid the activity that triggers them.

But if that’s not realistic, you can try different strategies to lower the chances. For example:

• Avoid activity in extreme temperatures, too hot or too cold.
• Don’t work out in altitudes you’re not used to.
• Drink plenty of water so you are well-hydrated.
• Get enough rest every day, including eight hours of sleep.
• Mix up your exercise routine. Try another type of activity and see if it triggers a headache.
• Warm up and cool down properly, and build intensity slowly over time.
• Wear sunglasses if it’s bright outside and moisture-wicking clothes if it’s hot.
• Eat a healthy diet, and avoid processed foods or foods with preservatives in them.

Some studies suggest that certain supplements can help prevent exertional headaches, such as:

• Coenzyme Q10.
• Feverfew.
• Magnesium.
• Riboflavin (vitamin B2).
• Boswellia (a natural anti-inflammatory if indomethacin is not well-tolerated).

What is the outlook for people with headaches after exercising?

Headaches after exercise don’t last long. Most are gone within a few minutes or hours, and they generally don’t last longer than 48 hours.

Although the episodes repeat, they usually resolve on their own in three to six months.

When should I seek medical attention for an exertion headache?

Although exertional headaches are generally not a sign of a problem, you should talk to a healthcare provider if:

• Your headache is severe and sudden.
• Your headache lasts longer than two days.
• You also experience sleepiness or confusion.
• You faint (syncope).

A note from QBan Health Care Services

Exertion headaches involve pain during or immediately after physical activity. They come on quickly and go away in a few minutes or hours, perhaps as long as a couple of days. There’s usually no underlying disease or disorder, but you should talk to a healthcare provider to rule out any problems. Medications and other strategies can help you prevent and treat headaches, which usually stop happening after a few months.

Nicotine headaches may be a side effect of tobacco use. Or they may be a symptom of nicotine withdrawal. You can get nicotine headaches from cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, e-cigarettes and nicotine patches. The only way to get rid of nicotine headaches permanently is to quit using tobacco.

What is a nicotine headache?

Some people who use nicotine notice that they develop headaches during or after its use. Nicotine withdrawal may also cause headaches. Nicotine is the addictive ingredient in cigarettes, e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco, cigars and other tobacco products.

There’s a link between nicotine and headaches. But tobacco products contain many other chemicals as well, which may also contribute to headaches. In addition, headaches have countless causes. It may be difficult to figure out if nicotine is causing your headache or something else.

Researchers are still learning how nicotine and other tobacco chemicals contribute to headaches. So far, there isn’t a clear cause.

What does a nicotine headache feel like?

The main symptom of a nicotine headache is pain. Headache and pain types can vary. Some types of headaches are more common with nicotine use, including:

• Cluster headaches: This severe, focused pain can last for 30 to 45 minutes at a time. You may get cluster headaches up to eight times a day for weeks or months.
• Migraines: These headaches cause severe, throbbing pain. Studies have found conflicting results about the link between tobacco and migraines. Getting a migraine after you smoke may be linked to factors unrelated to nicotine, but research is still ongoing.
• Tension headaches: These headaches cause a pressure or tight band feeling around your head. Cigarette smoke can be a trigger for this type of headache.

What causes nicotine headaches?

In general, headache pain results from signals interacting among your brain, blood vessels and surrounding nerves. During a headache, multiple mechanisms activate specific nerves that affect muscles and blood vessels. These nerves send pain signals to your brain, causing a headache.

Researchers are still learning how exactly nicotine causes headaches. So far, some theories include:

• Long-term (chronic) nicotine use makes your nerves more sensitive to pain signals. This could increase your vulnerability to headaches and pain in general.
• Nicotine narrows your blood vessels, which could decrease blood flow to your brain and cause headaches.
• Nicotine withdrawal may cause headaches due to changes in neurotransmitters that your brain was previously used to.

Researchers think the other chemicals involved in smoking cigarettes could contribute to headaches, including toxicity from carbon monoxide.

Strong odors are also known to trigger headaches and migraines. Smoke odors from cigarettes or cigars may be triggers.

Can nicotine patches cause headaches?

Yes, one of the possible side effects of nicotine patches is headaches. Nicotine patches are a type of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). NRT can help you quit using nicotine. Other NRT products, like nicotine gum, can also cause headaches.

If you have severe headaches while using NRT, speak with a healthcare provider. Headaches may be a sign that the therapy is giving you too much or too little nicotine.

How are nicotine headaches diagnosed?

To diagnose a nicotine headache, a healthcare provider may ask you questions about headache symptoms. It’s important to be honest about your nicotine use, even if your healthcare provider doesn’t directly ask.

Your provider may want to know:

• When headache symptoms start.
• How long your symptoms last.
• What factors decrease headache symptoms.
• What tobacco products you use.
• How often you use tobacco products.

What is the treatment for nicotine headache?

If you use nicotine regularly, your healthcare provider will likely encourage you to quit. Quitting nicotine use is the best way to get rid of nicotine headaches permanently. Giving up nicotine has many other health benefits, too.

Keep in mind that nicotine withdrawal can also lead to headaches in the first two to three weeks after quitting nicotine. To help you find nicotine withdrawal headache relief, your provider may recommend:

• Over-the-counter pain medications: Acetaminophen (Tylenol®), ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®) and naproxen (Aleve®) can provide pain relief. Be aware that using nicotine can make these medicines less effective.
• Prescription medications: Medicines such as triptans (Ergomar®, Imitrex®, Maxalt®) or calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) inhibitors (Nurtec®, Ubrelvy®), among other medications, may relieve migraine symptoms.

How can I prevent nicotine headaches?

The best way to prevent nicotine headaches is to avoid using all tobacco products. Besides getting headaches, using tobacco significantly increases your risk of lung cancer, stroke and cardiovascular disease. It also makes it harder for your body to recover from surgery and health problems.

When you quit smoking cigarettes, your health risks decline sharply. Within five years of quitting, your stroke risk may be about as low as someone who has never smoked. Your risks for mouth, throat, esophagus and bladder cancer are cut in half. And within 10 years, your risk of dying from lung cancer decreases by 50%.

When do nicotine headaches stop?

Usually, nicotine headaches start going away about two to three weeks after quitting tobacco. You may still have mental symptoms, such as depression, irritability or anxiety, after physical symptoms go away.

When you quit using tobacco, the first week is the hardest. Physical symptoms like headaches, insomnia and tobacco cravings are usually the most intense in the first five days.

When should I see my healthcare provider about nicotine headaches?

If you want help quitting nicotine use, reach out to a healthcare provider. Their job is to help you, not to judge you. They can offer various resources and strategies for quitting.

If you have headaches or migraines that interfere with your life — whether you think they’re from nicotine or something else — it’s important to see a provider. They can do a headache evaluation and offer treatment options.

A note from QBan Health Care Services

Nicotine impacts your health in many ways — and headaches may be one of them. Researchers know there’s a connection between the two but not the exact cause. The only way to know if nicotine is the culprit behind your headaches is to quit using the substance for good. You’ll gain several other health benefits by doing so.

Cluster headaches cause severe, one-sided head pain. These headaches usually last for at least 30 minutes and happen multiple times per day. They tend to follow a pattern, often showing up at the same time each day. Headaches can last for months at a time before stopping. Treatment with medications can reduce how often and how painful these headaches are.

What is a cluster headache?

A cluster headache is pain on one side of your head that lasts from 15 minutes up to three hours. The pain occurs daily for weeks to months, often happening at the same time each day and up to eight times per day. When you feel recurring cluster headache pain, it’s called an attack. After an attack, you may go months or even years before you experience another cluster headache.

Why are they called cluster headaches?

Cluster headaches get their name from how they affect you. They come on in clusters, or groups, before temporarily going away for most people.

How do cluster headaches differ from other types of headaches?

Within your life, you’ve probably experienced a headache before. There are two main types of headaches:

• Primary headaches: These start because of a response from the part of your brain that communicates pain. A primary headache is its own health challenge, not part of a larger issue.
• Secondary headaches: These start because of another health condition. Several things can cause these headaches, including ear infections, nasal congestion and dehydration.

A cluster headache is a type of primary headache. But not every headache is a cluster headache. It’s easy to mistake a cluster headache for the following types of headaches:

• Migraines: A migraine causes a throbbing, pulsing headache on one side of your head that gets worse with physical activity, lights, sounds or smells.
• Sinus headaches: A sinus headache feels like a dull pain behind your eyes, in your cheekbones, forehead or nose. It’s a symptom of sinus infections (sinusitis).
• Tension headaches: Tension headaches cause mild-to-moderate pain, which feels like a tight band around your head.

How common are cluster headaches?

Cluster headaches aren’t common. They affect an estimated 0.1% of people around the world. This equals about 1 out of every 100,000 people.

What are cluster headache symptoms?

Symptoms of cluster headaches happen on the same side of your head as the headache (unilateral) and include:

• Head pain.
• Watery eye.
• Eye redness.
• Droopy eyelid.
• A runny or stuffy nostril.
• Flushing or sweating.

The location of your head pain may vary. It happens on only one side (unilateral) and in one of the following regions:

• Orbital: Behind your eye or near your temple.
• Supraorbital: Above your eye, near your forehead.
• Temporal: Side of your head behind your ear.

Typically, you’ll have pain on the same side of your head during an attack cycle. While rare, it may switch locations during another attack. The most common location is around one eye to the side of your head at your hairline before your ear (temple).

Many people report that cluster headaches wake them up an hour or two after going to bed. They’re sometimes called alarm clock headaches for this reason. These nighttime headaches may feel more severe than those during the day.

When symptoms set in, it usually only takes five to 10 minutes for them to reach their worst.

What does a cluster headache feel like?

A cluster headache feels like a:

• Burning sensation.
• Sharp pain.
• Stabbing pain.

Some people who experience cluster headaches report that they feel restless during an attack. This feels like you can’t sit still and need to pace.

Are there warning signs of cluster headaches?

You may experience slight discomfort or a burning feeling on one side of your head just before a cluster headache. But cluster headaches often come on fast, so these signs don’t leave you much time to prepare.

How long do cluster headaches last?

On average, a cluster headache tends to last 30 minutes. You may experience up to eight of these headaches within 24 hours. Many have daily cluster headache attacks that last for three months.

Then, the clusters usually pause, for reasons that aren’t yet understood. The headaches go into remission (go away) for months or years before returning.

Some people never get much of a break, though. They experience chronic (ongoing) cluster headaches. This happens to about 1 in 5 people who get cluster headaches.

Cluster headaches are commonly seasonal. You might notice them in the fall and springtime the most.

What is the main cause of cluster headaches?

Healthcare providers don’t know the exact cause of cluster headaches. Research found that they could relate to your body releasing the following near the trigeminal nerve that sends sensations between your face and brain:

• A chemical that helps in allergic reaction response (histamine).
• A chemical that carries messages between nerve cells (serotonin).

In addition, research found that cluster headaches may happen if there’s dysfunction in the area of your brain called the hypothalamus.

Research also found that cluster headaches can be genetic in up to 5% of people. Studies are ongoing to learn more about the causes of cluster headaches.

What triggers cluster headaches?

A trigger is something that causes your symptoms to start. Triggers during a cluster headache cycle vary from person to person but may include:

• Tobacco, alcohol and other substance use.
• Bright lights.
• Hot temperatures.
• Nitrites in food (preserved meats).
• Certain medications (like sildenafil).

Triggers can also affect the start of a new cycle of attacks after a period of no symptoms. When headaches start, the shift may appear tied to changes in seasons. (You might think you have allergies or sinusitis). It may happen because of suspected ties between cluster headaches and the hypothalamus. This part of your brain contains your “circadian clock,” a built-in schedule that responds to sunlight. When seasons change, so does the amount of sunlight.

If you don’t know what triggers your symptoms, talk to a healthcare provider and keep a journal to help you identify them. In your journal, you can write down:

• When and for how long you had a headache.
• What foods or beverages you consumed the day before.
• What activities you participated in before the headache.
• How long and how well you slept the night before.
• If you took any medications to treat the headache once it started and if it was effective after.

What are the risk factors for cluster headaches?

You may be more at risk of cluster headaches if you:

• Are between age 20 and 40.
• Frequently drink alcohol.
• Take certain medications.
• Use tobacco products (cigarette smoking).

What are the complications of cluster headaches?

Cluster headaches can be an irritant that interferes with your daily routine, including your ability to complete personal obligations like work or school. You may not feel well enough to do the things you enjoy or even leave your home during an attack.

Having a severe headache every day can make you feel helpless like there’s no hope. While rare, you may develop depression that can lead to suicidal thoughts. Some people call cluster headaches “suicide headaches” for this reason. Luckily, you’re not alone. Healthcare providers can help you with these headaches. If you experience suicidal thoughts, contact (call or text) the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 (U.S.). Someone is available to help you 24/7.

How are cluster headaches diagnosed?

A healthcare provider (a neurologist) will diagnose a cluster headache after a physical exam. They’ll want to know more about your symptoms and your medical history. A provider may offer an imaging test, like an MRI, to rule out conditions with similar symptoms. If you’re experiencing attacks, it can help your provider learn more about your symptoms as they happen. Your provider might request an exam during the time when your headaches happen each day to observe how the headaches affect you.

What are cluster headache treatments?

Cluster headache treatment options may include:

• Medications to prevent headaches.
• Medications to manage pain during an attack.

If medications don’t help, your healthcare provider might suggest surgery. A surgeon may implant a neurostimulator device to send electrical signals to certain nerves in your head to manage your symptoms. Your provider will let you know if surgery is a good option.

Cluster headache medications

There are two types of medications that your provider might recommend for different reasons including:

• Prevention medications: Certain medications can shorten a headache cycle. They can also make the headaches less severe. Common medications may include those that treat allergies, depression, blood pressure and seizures. Also, galcanezumab is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved preventive therapy that targets calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) monoclonal antibodies.
• Pain management medications: When a headache occurs, certain medications may help with your symptoms, like triptan medicines (sumatriptan), anti-inflammatory medicines (steroids like prednisone) or dihydroergotamine injections (can’t be taken with sumatriptan). Breathing in 100% oxygen may help relieve symptoms during an attack.

Anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs like ibuprofen) aren’t effective medications to treat cluster headaches.

Alternative therapies for cluster headaches

Some alternative therapies may provide relief from cluster headaches, including:

• Acupuncture: Acupuncture uses small needles. A healthcare provider inserts needles into your skin at various points to relieve pain.
• Physiotherapy: Treatment focuses on stretching, moving joints and massaging techniques.
• Spinal manipulation: This chiropractic adjustment realigns your spine.
• gammaCore: An external vagus nerve stimulator (a portable, noninvasive neurostimulator).

Your healthcare provider may make alternative recommendations based on your situation. If you have questions or want to learn more, don’t hesitate to ask.

Can cluster headaches be prevented?

You can’t prevent cluster headaches entirely. You can identify and avoid triggers that cause symptoms, like smoking or drinking alcohol, which reduces your risk of an attack. Triggers vary from person to person, so what you need to avoid may be different for someone else.

If you have sleep apnea that’s related to your headaches, talk to a healthcare provider about managing that condition or any other underlying health conditions.

What’s the outlook for cluster headaches?

Cluster headaches don’t affect your life expectancy and they’re not life-threatening, but they can significantly impact how you feel each day. While cluster headaches are a chronic (long-term) condition, many studies found that these headaches become less frequent as you age.

How do I get rid of cluster headaches?

Unfortunately, there is no cure for cluster headaches. But you do have treatment options that can make them a little less painful or less frequent.

Your healthcare provider will work with you to develop an appropriate treatment plan. Make sure to follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations for the most effective relief.

When should I see a healthcare provider?

If you suspect you have cluster headaches, reach out to a healthcare provider to confirm the diagnosis. You don’t have to be in the midst of a cluster to see a specialist or get a diagnosis.

Contact a healthcare provider if you have headaches that:

• Change in severity.
• Are frequent or change in frequency.
• Don’t resolve with medication.
• Occur with a stiff neck or fever.
• Occur with speech, vision or movement problems.

Let your healthcare provider know if you become pregnant or are thinking about becoming pregnant and you’re taking medications for headaches.

If you have cluster headaches and take medications for them and you notice side effects or don’t feel like it’s effective anymore, let your provider know.

What questions should I ask my healthcare provider?

• What triggers my symptoms?
• Do I need to keep a journal to identify triggers?
• What type of treatment do you recommend?
• Are there side effects of treatment?
• Can you recommend any alternative therapies?
• When and how often should I take medication to treat an attack?
• Are there any herbal supplements or over-the-counter medications I can take to help alleviate my symptoms?

A note from QBan Health Care Services

Everyone gets headaches from time to time for various reasons. But cluster headaches are no ordinary headaches. If you experience severe headaches in a pattern, talk to your healthcare provider. Treatment is available to reduce the severity and how often these headaches occur. If you notice worsening changes to how you feel while you’re taking medications, especially if you notice side effects, contact your provider.

A migraine is much more than a bad headache. It can cause debilitating, throbbing, one-sided head pain that can leave you in bed for days. Movement, lights, sounds and other triggers may cause symptoms like fatigue, nausea, vision changes, irritability and more. A healthcare provider can help you manage symptoms so migraines don’t take over your life.

What is a migraine?

A migraine is a severe headache that causes throbbing, pulsing head pain on one side of your head. The headache phase of a migraine usually lasts at least four hours, but it can also last for days. This headache gets worse with:

• Physical activity.
• Bright lights.
• Loud noises.
• Strong odors.

Migraines are disruptive. They can interfere with your daily routine and affect your ability to meet personal and social obligations. Treatment is available to help you manage migraines.

What are the types of migraines?

There are several types of migraines. The most common migraine categories are:

• Migraine with aura (classic migraine).
• Migraine without aura (common migraine).

An aura is a phase of the migraine before head pain begins.

Other types of migraines include:

• Migraines in children (abdominal migraine).
• Chronic migraine.
• Hemiplegic migraine.
• Menstrual migraine.
• Migraine without headache (silent migraine).
• Retinal migraine (ocular migraine).
• Status migrainosus.

How common are migraines?

Migraines are common. Studies show that an estimated 12% of people in the United States experience migraines.

What are the phases of a migraine?

There are four phases or stages of a migraine:

1. Prodrome: The first phase begins up to 24 hours before you experience a headache.
2. Aura: An aura is a group of sensory, motor and/or speech symptoms that act as a warning sign of a migraine headache. The aura phase can last as long as 60 minutes or as little as five. You might experience both the aura and the headache at the same time.
3. Headache: A migraine headache lasts between four hours to 72 hours.
4. Postdrome: The postdrome stage usually lasts for a few hours up to 48 hours. Symptoms feel similar to an alcohol-induced hangover, which is why the postdrome phase is known as a migraine hangover.

It can take about eight to 72 hours to go through the four stages.

Migraine symptoms

Migraine symptoms vary based on the stage. Every migraine is different, and you won’t necessarily experience symptoms during all four stages of every migraine.

Prodrome symptoms

• Mood changes.
• Difficulty concentrating.
• Trouble sleeping.
• Fatigue.
• Nausea.
• Increased hunger and thirst.
• Frequent urination.

Aura symptoms

• Muscle weakness.
• Vision changes.
• Ringing in your ears (tinnitus).
• Sensitivity to touch (feeling like someone is touching you).
• Numbness and tingling.
• Difficulty speaking or concentrating.

Headache attack symptoms

Head pain gradually gets more intense. It can affect one side of your head or both. It can occur with other symptoms like:

• Nausea and vomiting.
• Light, sound and odor sensitivity.

Postdrome symptoms

• Fatigue.
• Stiff neck.
• Sensitivity to light and sound.
• Difficulty concentrating.
• Nausea.
• Dizziness.

What does a migraine feel like?

Migraine headache pain may feel like the following:

• Throbbing.
• Pulsing.
• Pounding.
• Dull.

A migraine can feel different for each person. A migraine headache ranges from mild to severe. Head pain can start on one side and shift to the opposite side. You may also have pain around your eyes or temple, and sometimes, around your face, sinuses, jaw or neck.

How often do migraines happen?

The frequency of a migraine varies from person to person. You might have one migraine per year or one per week. On average, most people experience two to four per month. They’re most common in the morning. Most migraines are unpredictable, but sometimes, you can have an idea of when a migraine will happen, like before menstruation or after feeling stress.

What causes a migraine?

Researchers aren’t sure of the exact cause of migraines, but studies show genetics play a role.

When you have a headache, specific nerves in your blood vessels send pain signals to your brain. This releases inflammatory substances into your head’s nerves and blood vessels. It’s unclear why your nerves do that.

What triggers a migraine?

A trigger is something that causes symptoms to start. Some of the most common migraine triggers include:

• Stress.
• Hormonal changes.
• Certain medications.
• Changes to your sleep.
• Weather condition changes.
• Too much physical activity (overexertion).
• Addictive substances like caffeine or tobacco.
• Missing a meal.
• Exposure to bright lights, loud noises or strong odors.

Your healthcare provider can help you identify your triggers. They might recommend keeping a migraine journal to track similarities between migraine attacks.

What foods trigger migraines?

Your body may have a sensitivity to specific chemicals and preservatives in foods. This sensitivity makes a migraine more likely to happen, especially if combined with other triggers.

Some of the most common food triggers include:

• Aged cheese.
• Beverages containing alcohol.
• Chocolate.
• Food additives like nitrates and MSG.
• Processed or cured foods (hot dogs, pepperoni).
• Fermented or pickled foods.

Are migraines hereditary?

Yes, migraines tend to run in biological families. Up to 80% of people with migraines have a first-degree biological relative with the condition.

What are the risk factors for a migraine?

A migraine can affect anyone at any age, from children to adults. Women and people assigned female at birth are more likely than men and people assigned male at birth to experience a migraine.

Other risk factors that may make you more likely to experience a migraine include:

• Biological family history of migraines.
• Underlying medical condition (depression, anxiety, sleep disorders and epilepsy).
• Regular use of tobacco products.

How is a migraine diagnosed?

A healthcare provider will diagnose a migraine after a physical exam and neurological exam. They’ll also learn more about your medical history and biological family health history. Your provider may ask you questions to learn more about your symptoms, including:

• What symptoms do you experience?
• Can you describe the feeling and location of your headache?
• How severe are your symptoms?
• How long did your symptoms last?
• Did anything make your headache better or worse?

Your provider may also order blood tests and imaging tests (such as a CT scan or an MRI) to make sure there aren’t any other causes for your headache. An electroencephalogram (EEG) may help your provider rule out other conditions.

Who diagnoses a migraine?

If you think you have a migraine, discuss your symptoms with a primary care physician (PCP) first. They can diagnose migraine headaches and start treatment. Your PCP may refer you to a headache specialist or a neurologist.

How is a migraine treated?

There isn’t a cure for migraines. But a healthcare provider can help you manage migraine symptoms through the following:

• Taking medications.
• Avoiding migraine triggers.
• Using alternative migraine remedies.

What medications treat migraines?

A healthcare provider might recommend taking medications to treat migraines. There are two types of medications available:

• Medications to stop migraines: You can take these medications at the first sign of a migraine. They stop or reduce migraine symptoms like pain, nausea, sensitivity and more.
• Medications to prevent migraines: A healthcare provider usually prescribes preventive medications if you experience severe symptoms that interfere with your routine or have frequent migraines. These medications reduce how often and how severe migraines affect you. You can take these medications as directed, usually on a daily basis.

Common medications that stop migraines include:

• Triptans (5-hydroxytryptamine).
• Ditans (lasmiditan).
• Gepants (rimegepant and ubrogepant).
• Dihydroergotamine (prochlorperazine).
• Antiemetic medications (metoclopramide).

Common preventive migraine medications include:

• Antiseizure medications (valproic acid, topiramate).
• Beta-blockers (atenolol, propranolol, nadolol).
• Calcium channel blockers (verapamil).
• Monoclonal antibodies(erenumab, fremanezumab, galcanezumab).
• Tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline, nortriptyline, doxepin).
• Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (venlafaxine, duloxetine).

Medications come in different forms, like:

• An injection under your skin (subcutaneous).
• An oral medication (taken by mouth).
• A nasal spray.
• Through an IV (intravenously).
• Suppository.

You and your healthcare provider will discuss the specific medication, combination of medications and formulations to best manage your symptoms. All medications should be used under the direction of a headache specialist or provider. As with any medication, it’s important to carefully follow your provider’s instructions.

Over-the-counter migraine medications

Over-the-counter migraine medications are effective if you have mild to moderate migraine symptoms. The main ingredients in pain-relieving medications are ibuprofen, aspirin, acetaminophen, naproxen and caffeine.

Be cautious when taking over-the-counter pain relievers. Sometimes, overusing them can cause analgesic-rebound headaches or a dependency problem. If you’re taking any over-the-counter pain medications more than two to three times a week, let your healthcare provider know. They may suggest more effective prescription medications.

Avoiding migraine triggers

A healthcare provider can help you identify what triggers your migraines. They may ask you to keep a migraine journal or diary. A migraine journal can help you keep track of when a migraine happened, how you felt and how long it lasted. You can also add details about the foods you ate or the activities you participated in to learn more about any possible triggers.

There are some smartphone apps available to help you keep a migraine journal.

Once you identify a trigger, you can take steps to avoid it. This isn’t always possible, but awareness of your triggers is helpful to identify them and treat a migraine when it starts.

For example, if stress is a trigger, you may want to speak with a mental health professional to help you manage your stress. If you get migraine symptoms when you miss a meal, set an alarm on your phone to remind you to eat meals on a regular schedule.

Alternative migraine remedies

You may want to try alternative therapies to help you manage migraines. These include:

• Taking vitamins, minerals or herbs like riboflavin (vitamin B2), magnesium, feverfew, butterbur or co-enzyme Q10.
• Relaxation techniques like yoga.
• Acupuncture.
• Biofeedback.
• Botulinum toxin type A injections (Botox®).

Talk to your healthcare provider before starting any alternative therapies for migraines.

What migraine treatments are available during pregnancy?

Talk to your healthcare provider if you’re pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant and experience migraines. Your provider might suggest avoiding medications for migraines when you’re pregnant or if you think you may be pregnant. Some medications can negatively affect the fetus’s development.

Your provider can recommend alternative treatment options like an acetaminophen pain reliever for migraines.

How do I deal with a migraine as it happens?

There are certain things you can do to help you feel better when a migraine attack happens, including:

• Resting in a dark, quiet, cool room.
• Applying a cold or warm compress or washcloth to your forehead or behind your neck.
• Massaging your scalp.
• Applying pressure to your temples in a circular motion.
• Keeping yourself in a calm state (meditating).

Can a migraine be prevented?

You can’t prevent all migraines. But you can take preventive migraine medications as directed by your healthcare provider to reduce how often and how severe migraine symptoms affect you. You can also learn more about your triggers and work with your healthcare provider to avoid them.

What’s the outlook for a migraine?

Migraines are different for each person. They’re temporary but recurring throughout your life. There’s also no available cure. Your healthcare provider can help you manage migraines so they go away faster and are less intense. It may take time to find a treatment option that’s right for you. Let your healthcare provider know if your symptoms improve or get worse.

When should I see a healthcare provider?

Schedule a visit with your healthcare provider if you experience:

• New symptoms.
• Worsening symptoms.
• Side effects from treatment.

Call 911 (or your local emergency services number) or go to an emergency department right away if you:

• Experience the worst headache of your life (thunderclap headache).
• Have new neurological symptoms that you’ve never had before, like difficulty speaking, balance problems, vision issues, confusion, seizures or numbing/tingling sensations.
• Have a headache after experiencing a head injury.

What questions should I ask my healthcare provider?

• Will I grow out of migraines?
• What medications do you recommend?
• How can I prevent migraines?
• What type of migraine do I have?
• Are my migraines considered chronic?

A note from QBan Health Care Services

You’ve probably had a headache before, but a migraine is different. It can feel like the world is ending and there’s nothing you can do to make it go away. Even though your symptoms are temporary, the duration of a migraine can make it feel like time is moving slower and against you. But there are treatment options available to manage migraines as they happen and prevent them from interfering with your day. A healthcare provider can help you with this, so migraines don’t take over your life.

Tension headaches are the most common headache type. Healthcare providers may call them tension-type headaches. These headaches may feel like pressure on your forehead and temples. There are home treatments for tension headaches, and healthcare providers may prescribe medication and other therapies that will ease tension headache pain and pressure.

What is a tension headache?

A tension headache is a headache that feels like there’s a tight band wrapped around your head that puts pressure on your forehead and temples. Healthcare providers may call them tension-type headaches. Many factors cause tension headaches, and you may be unable to avoid all potential triggers. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to prevent a tension headache. And if home treatment doesn’t work, healthcare providers may have medications and other therapies to ease tension headache pressure.

Types of tension headaches

Healthcare providers classify tension headaches based on how often you have one. Condition types include:

• Infrequent episodic: Headaches happen one day a month or fewer.
• Frequent episodic: You have one to 14 headaches every month for at least three months.
• Chronic: You have more than 15 headaches every month for three months.

Are tension headaches common?

Tension headaches are the most common primary headache type. Researchers estimate more than 70% of people have episodic tension headaches. They typically affect more women and people assigned female at birth than men and people assigned male at birth.

What are the symptoms of a tension headache?

Symptoms may vary, but most people describe tension headache pain as:

• Constant mild to moderate pressure and pain.
• Feeling like something is squeezing the sides of their heads together.
• Aching or tight neck muscles and shoulder muscles.
• Sensitivity to light and sound.

These symptoms may come on slowly. They may last about 30 minutes, but sometimes, they last as long as a week. Some people with chronic tension headaches may feel as if they’re always dealing with headache pain and pressure.

What causes tension headaches?

Researchers are still seeking a single cause for tension headaches. Some believe tension headaches start when muscles between your head and neck knot up, eventually tightening your scalp muscles. That muscular ripple effect may happen because you’re stressed or dealing with emotional conflict. Other tension headache causes include:

• Neck strain from looking down to read or holding a cell phone or landline receiver between your head and shoulder.
• Eye strain from staring at a computer screen or documents for a long time without taking breaks.
• Temporomandibular jaw disorder (TMJ).
• Degenerative arthritis in your neck.
• Sleep disorders issues like sleep apnea and insomnia.
• Anxiety.
• Depression.

What are the complications of tension headaches?

Chronic tension headaches that last for weeks and months may affect your quality of life. For example, a chronic tension headache may make it hard for you to focus on your work or family responsibilities because you’re always dealing with tension headache pressure.

How is a tension headache diagnosed?

Healthcare providers may ask about your medical history and symptoms, including questions like:

• How often do you have symptoms?
• Do your symptoms feel worse at certain times of the day?
• Do your symptoms feel worse after doing certain activities?
• Do over-the-counter pain relievers help you feel better?

They may do computed tomography (CT) scans and brain magnetic resonance imaging (brain MRI) scans to check for underlying issues.

What are the treatments for tension headaches?

Treatments vary depending on the tension headache type. For example, if you have episodic headaches, your provider may recommend you start over-the-counter pain relievers like:

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol®).
• Aspirin.
• Ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®).
• Naproxen sodium (Aleve®).

If you have chronic tension headaches, your provider may prescribe:

• Antiseizure medications like gabapentin (Neurontin®) or topiramate (Topamax®, Topiragen ®).
• Antidepressants like amitriptyline that relieve pain.
• Alternative therapies like biofeedback, meditation or cognitive behavioral therapy to help manage stress.
• Physical therapy for sleep apnea or TMJ.

What are treatment side effects or complications?

Side effects and complications vary depending on treatment, but rebound headaches are one common potential side effect of taking over-the-counter and/or prescription pain relievers for tension headaches.

Rebound headaches, or medication overuse headaches, are headaches that happen if you use headache medication too often. Healthcare providers recommend limiting pain relief use to 10 days in any given month.

How can I prevent a tension headache?

Managing stress may be the most effective way to prevent a tension headache. The most effective stress management tools are the ones that you can fit into your daily routine and make you feel good. Some examples include:

• Massage therapy.
• Regular exercise.
• Getting enough rest.

What can I expect if I have a tension headache?

If you’re like most people, you have episodic tension headaches that you can manage with pain relievers and by reducing stress. People with chronic tension headaches may need to take antidepressants or participate in therapy like biofeedback.

How can I get rid of a tension headache?

Over-the-counter pain relievers may help ease occasional tension headaches. Home remedies like placing a hot or cold compress on your head and neck may help.

When should I see my healthcare provider?

Tension headaches aren’t life-threatening, but they can be a sign of a serious medical issue or that an existing issue is getting worse. Talk to a healthcare provider if you have a headache and you have:

• A stiff neck.
• Pain or tenderness in your jaw when you chew or at your temple, like when you comb your hair.
• Fever above 103 degrees Fahrenheit that doesn’t go away.
• Headaches that feel different or happen more frequently than usual, and you’re age 50 or older.
• A headache that happens only when you’re lying flat or when you stand up. This is a positional headache.
• Cancer or an autoimmune disease and notice you’re having more headaches or more severe headaches.
• Numbness or weakness.

When should I go to the emergency room?

You should go to the ER if you have a sudden severe headache that worsens quickly. You should also get immediate medical care if you have a headache and experience:

• Confused thoughts, slurred speech or weakness.
• Changes in your ability to see or speak.
• Weakness, drowsiness, confusion or loss of balance.
• Feeling short of breath.

What questions should I ask my healthcare provider?

You may want to ask your provider:

• What’s causing my tension headache?
• What treatments do you recommend?
• Will I always have to deal with tension headaches?

A note from QBan Health Care Services

Tension headaches start in your neck and shoulder muscles as your body deals with stress and other issues. Next, you feel a dull ache in your forehead, like someone’s got your head in their hands.

If that’s your situation, you may be having a tension headache. They may happen occasionally or they can be constant. Either way, talk to a healthcare provider if you have tension headache symptoms. They’ll ask questions to understand why you have these symptoms. If stress is the culprit, your provider also will recommend lifestyle changes and other things you can do to reduce stress and prevent tension headaches. In some cases, healthcare providers may recommend prescription medication or physical therapy.

Headaches are a very common condition that most people will experience many times during their lives. The main symptom of a headache is pain in your head or face. There are several types of headaches, and tension headaches are the most common. While most headaches aren’t dangerous, certain types can be a sign of a serious underlying condition.

What is a headache?

A headache is a pain in your head or face that’s often described as a pressure that’s throbbing, constant, sharp or dull. Headaches can differ greatly in regard to pain type, severity, location and frequency.

Headaches are a very common condition that most people will experience many times during their lives. They’re the most common form of pain and are a major reason cited for days missed at work or school, as well as visits to healthcare providers.

While most headaches aren’t dangerous, certain types can be a sign of a more serious condition.

What are the types of headaches?

There are more than 150 types of headaches. They fall into two main categories: primary and secondary headaches.

Primary headaches

Dysfunction or over-activity of pain-sensitive features in your head cause primary headaches. They’re not a symptom of or caused by an underlying medical condition. Some people may have genes that make them more likely to develop primary headaches.

Types of primary headaches include:

• Tension-type headaches (most common type of headache).
• Migraine headaches.
• Cluster headaches.
• New daily persistent headaches (NDPH).

Some primary headaches can be triggered by lifestyle factors or situations, including:

• Alcohol, particularly red wine.
• Certain foods, such as processed meats that contain nitrates (food-triggered headaches).
• Consuming nicotine (nicotine headache).
• Changes in sleep or lack of sleep.
• Poor posture.
• Physical activity, such as exercise (exertion headaches).
• Skipped meals (hunger headache).
• Coughing, sneezing, blowing your nose, straining (such as when having a bowel movement), or laughing or crying vigorously (cough headaches).

Primary headaches typically aren’t dangerous, but they can be very painful and disrupt your day-to-day life.

Secondary headaches

An underlying medical condition causes secondary headaches. They’re considered a symptom or sign of a condition.

Types of secondary headaches that aren’t necessarily dangerous and resolve once the underlying condition is treated include:

• Dehydration headache.
• Sinus headaches.
• Medication overuse headaches.

Types of secondary headaches that can be a sign of a serious or potentially life-threatening condition include:

Spinal headaches: Spinal headaches are intense headaches that occur when spinal fluid leaks out of the membrane covering your spinal cord, usually after a spinal tap. Most spinal headaches can be treated at home, but prolonged, untreated spinal headaches can cause life-threatening complications, including subdural hematoma and seizures.

Thunderclap headaches: A thunderclap headache is an extremely painful headache that comes on suddenly, like a clap of thunder. This type of headache reaches its most intense pain within one minute and lasts at least five minutes. While thunderclap headaches can sometimes be harmless, it’s important to seek immediate medical attention. They can be a sign of:

• Head injury.
• Brain bleed.
• Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome.
• A sudden, severe rise in blood pressure.

What’s the difference between a headache and a migraine?

A migraine is a type of primary headache disorder.

A migraine is a common neurological condition that causes a variety of symptoms, most notably a throbbing headache on one side of your head. Migraines often get worse with physical activity, lights, sounds or smells. They usually last at least four hours or even days.

Who do headaches affect?

Anyone can have a headache, including children, adolescents and adults. About 96% of people experience a headache at least once in their life.

About 40% of people across the world have tension-type headaches and about 10% have migraine headaches.

What is the main cause of a headache?

Headache pain results from signals interacting among your brain, blood vessels and surrounding nerves. During a headache, multiple mechanisms activate specific nerves that affect muscles and blood vessels. These nerves send pain signals to your brain, causing a headache.

Are headaches hereditary?

Headaches tend to run in families, especially migraines. Children who have migraines usually have at least one biological parent who also experiences them. In fact, kids whose parents have migraines are up to four times more likely to develop them.

Headaches can also be triggered by environmental factors shared in a family’s household, such as:

• Eating certain foods or ingredients, like caffeine, alcohol, fermented foods, chocolate and cheese.
• Exposure to allergens.
• Secondhand smoke.
• Strong odors from household chemicals or perfumes.

What headache symptoms require immediate medical care?

If you or your child has any of these headache symptoms, get medical care right away:

• A sudden, new and severe headache.
• Headache with a fever, shortness of breath, stiff neck or rash.
• Headaches that occur after a head injury or accident.
• Getting a new type of headache after age 55.

Also seek medical care right away if your headache is associated with neurological symptoms, such as:

• Weakness.
• Dizziness.
• Sudden loss of balance or falling.
• Numbness or tingling.
• Paralysis.
• Speech difficulties.
• Mental confusion.
• Seizures.
• Personality changes/inappropriate behavior.
• Vision changes (blurry vision, double vision or blind spots).

How are headaches evaluated and diagnosed?

If you have headaches often or if they’re very severe, reach out to your healthcare provider.

It’s important to diagnose headaches correctly so your provider can prescribe specific therapy to help you feel better. Your provider will complete a physical examination, discuss your medical history and talk to you about your headache symptoms. This conversation is part of a headache evaluation.

During the headache evaluation, your provider will ask you about your headache history, including:

• What the headaches feel like.
• How often the headaches happen.
• How long the headaches last each time.
• How much pain the headaches cause you.
• What foods, drinks or events trigger your headaches.
• How much caffeine you drink each day.
• What your stress level is.
• What your sleep habits are like.

Your headache can be more accurately diagnosed by knowing:

• When the headache started.
• Whether there’s a single type of headache or multiple types of headaches.
• If physical activity aggravates the headache pain.
• Who else in your family has headaches.
• What symptoms, if any, occur between headaches.

After completing the medical history part of the evaluation, your provider may perform physical and neurological examinations. They’ll look for signs and symptoms of an illness or condition that may be causing the headache, including:

• Fever.
• Infection.
• High blood pressure.
• Muscle weakness, numbness or tingling.
• Excessive fatigue.
• Loss of consciousness.
• Balance problems and frequent falls.
• Vision problems (blurry vision, double vision, blind spots).
• Mental confusion or personality changes.
• Seizures.
• Dizziness.
• Nausea and vomiting.

Neurological tests focus on ruling out diseases that might also cause headaches. A disorder of your central nervous system might be suspected in the development of serious headaches.

After evaluating the results of your headache history, physical examination and neurological examination, your physician should be able to determine what type of headache you have, whether or not a serious problem is present and whether additional tests are needed.

If they’re unsure of the cause, they may refer you to a headache specialist.

What tests will be done to diagnose headaches?

Although scans and other imagining tests can be important when ruling out other diseases, they don’t help in diagnosing migraines, cluster or tension-type headaches.

But if your healthcare provider thinks that your headaches are being caused by another medical condition, there are several imaging tests they may order.

A CT scan or MRI can help determine if your headaches are connected to an issue with your central nervous system. Both of these tests produce cross-sectional images of your brain that can show any abnormal areas or problems.

How is a headache treated?

Treatment for headaches depends on the type.

One of the most crucial aspects of treating primary headaches is figuring out your triggers. Learning what those are — typically by keeping a headache log — can reduce the number of headaches you have.

Once you know your triggers, your healthcare provider can tailor treatment to you. For example, you may get headaches when you’re tense or worried. Counseling and stress management techniques can help you handle this trigger better. By lowering your stress level, you can avoid stress-induced headaches.

Not every headache requires medication. A range of treatments is available. Depending on your headache type, frequency and cause, treatment options include:

• Stress management.
• Biofeedback.
• Medications.
• Treating the underlying medical condition/cause.

Stress management for headache

Stress management teaches you ways to cope with stressful situations. Relaxation techniques help manage stress. You use deep breathing, muscle relaxation, mental images and music to ease your tension.

Biofeedback for headache

Biofeedback teaches you to recognize when tension is building in your body. You learn how your body responds to stressful situations and ways to settle it down. During biofeedback, sensors are connected to your body. They monitor your involuntary physical responses to headaches, which include increases in:

• Breathing rate.
• Pulse.
• Heart rate.
• Temperature.
• Muscle tension.
• Brain activity.

Medications for headache

Occasional tension headaches usually respond well to over-the-counter pain relievers. But be aware that using these medications too often can lead to long-term daily headaches (medication overuse headaches).

For frequent or severe headaches, your provider may recommend prescription headache medications. Triptans and other types of drugs can stop a migraine attack. You take them at the first signs of an oncoming headache.

Drugs for high blood pressure, seizures and depression can sometimes prevent migraines. Your healthcare provider may recommend trying one of these medications to reduce headache frequency.

Treating the underlying medical condition causing secondary headache

Treatment for secondary headaches involves treating the underlying medical condition causing it.

For example, surgery is often needed to correct the underlying cause of secondary cough headache.

How can I get rid of a headache?

You can treat the occasional, mild headache at home with over-the-counter pain relievers. Other self-care treatments for headaches include:

• Applying heat or cold packs to your head.
• Doing stretching exercises.
• Massaging your head, neck or back.
• Resting in a dark and quiet room.
• Taking a walk.

How can I prevent headaches?

The key to preventing headaches is figuring out what triggers them. Triggers are very specific to each person — what gives you a headache may not be a problem for others. Once you determine your triggers, you can avoid or minimize them.

For example, you may find that strong scents set you off. Avoiding perfumes and scented products can make a big difference in how many headaches you have. The same goes for other common triggers like troublesome foods, lack of sleep and poor posture.

Many people, however, aren’t able to avoid triggers or are unable to identify triggers. In that case, a more personalized multidisciplinary approach with a headache specialist is often necessary.

Can headaches or migraines be cured?

Treating health problems that cause headaches, such as high blood pressure, can eliminate head pain. Recently, there have been several new advancements in our understanding of what causes headaches.

Although researchers are closer than ever before to a cure, at this time, there isn’t a cure for primary headaches. Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and preventing future episodes.

When should I see my healthcare provider about headaches?

Contact your healthcare provider if you or your child has any of the following symptoms or situations:

• Experiencing one or more headaches per week.
• Experiencing headaches that keep getting worse and won’t go away.
• Needing to take a pain reliever every day or almost every day for your headaches.
• Needing more than two to three doses of over-the-counter medications per week to relieve headache symptoms.
• Experiencing headaches that are triggered by exertion, coughing, bending or strenuous activity.
• Having a history of headaches but experiencing a recent change in your headache symptoms.

A note from QBan Health Care Services

If your headaches are interfering with your daily functioning or affecting your mood, it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider. If possible, try to write down how you feel when you’re experiencing a headache. Keeping a journal of your headaches and how they make you feel can be helpful when you’re talking to your provider.

The information you give your healthcare provider about your headaches is the most important part of the diagnosis process. By giving your provider as much information as possible about your headaches, you’re more likely to get an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan that will help you feel better.

Radiculopathy can cause pain, numbness and tingling along a pinched nerve in your back. There are three types of radiculopathy — cervical, thoracic and lumbar. Which type you have depends on where in your back your pinched nerve is.

What is radiculopathy?

Radiculopathy is caused by a pinched nerve in your spine. More specifically, it happens when one of your nerve roots (where your nerves join your spinal column) is compressed or irritated. You might see it referred to as radiculitis.

Radiculopathy will cause the area around your pinched nerve to feel painful, numb or tingly.

Depending on where along your spine the pinched nerve is, your healthcare provider will classify the radiculopathy as one of three types:

• Cervical radiculopathy (neck).
• Thoracic radiculopathy (upper middle back).
• Lumbar radiculopathy (low back).

Usually improving your posture, over-the-counter medicine or at-home physical therapy exercises are the only treatments you’ll need to relieve radiculopathy symptoms. In fact, some cases of radiculopathy improve with no treatment at all.

Radiculopathy vs. myelopathy

Both radiculopathy and myelopathy are painful conditions involving your spine. Radiculopathy is a temporary issue caused by a pinched nerve root near your spine. Myelopathy is compression of your spinal cord caused by a trauma, tumor, degenerative disease or infection.

If it’s not treated, myelopathy can worsen over time and cause permanent damage to your nerves. Radiculopathy is a temporary issue that heals over time and often goes away without treatment.

It can be hard to tell what’s causing your pain. That’s why it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider as soon as you notice any new symptoms — especially if they last more than a few days.

Radiculopathy vs. spondylolysis

Spondylolysis is a weakness at the point your vertebrae (the bones that make up your spine) connect together. This can lead to small stress fractures that cause pain, usually in your lower back. It usually affects teens going through growth spurts.

Radiculopathy can be caused by bones in your spine moving out of place, but symptoms like pain are caused when your nerve roots are compressed or irritated, and not by a broken bone.

Radiculopathy vs. sciatica

Both radiculopathy and sciatica are caused by pinched nerves.

The difference is which nerves are pinched causing the pain. Radiculopathy happens when a nerve along your spine is irritated or compressed. Sciatica is the pain or discomfort you feel when your sciatic nerve — the longest nerve in your body that starts in your lower back and runs down the back of each of your legs — gets compressed or pinched.

Radiculopathy usually hurts in the area of your back near the pinched nerve. Sciatica is a type of radiculopathy that causes pain along your sciatic nerve in your lower back and down your legs.

Who does radiculopathy affect?

Radiculopathy can affect anyone, but it’s more common in people older than 50.

How common is radiculopathy?

Radiculopathy is rare. While neck pain and back pain — especially lower back pain — are common problems, they’re rarely caused by radiculopathy.

How does radiculopathy affect my body?

The most obvious way radiculopathy affects your body is the pain and other symptoms it causes around your pinched nerve.

Depending on how severe your symptoms are — and which type of radiculopathy you have — it might be hard or uncomfortable to sit, stand or move. For example, if you have cervical radiculopathy, it might be painful and difficult to move your neck.

What are radiculopathy symptoms?

Symptoms of radiculopathy include:

• Pain in the area around your affected nerve.
• Tingling.
• Numbness.
• Muscle weakness.

Where you experience symptoms depends on which type of radiculopathy you have.

• Cervical radiculopathy: You might have pain and other symptoms in and around your neck, but these symptoms can radiate (spread out) to your arms and hands, too.
• Thoracic radiculopathy: You’ll likely have pain in and around your chest, including when you breathe in and out.
• Lumbar radiculopathy: The pain or numbness in your lower back can spread to your legs.

Some radiculopathy symptoms are similar to other, much more serious issues. Don’t ignore pain in your chest, trouble breathing or numbness in your limbs. Talk to your healthcare provider as soon as you notice these symptoms.

What causes radiculopathy?

Anything that compresses or irritates the roots of your spinal nerves can cause radiculopathy, including:

• Traumas like falls or car accidents.
• Bone spurs growing on one of your vertebrae.
• A herniated disc (also referred to as slipped, ruptured or bulging discs).

You can also develop radiculopathy with no direct cause other than getting older. As you age, your bones and the discs in your spine lose their shape and flexibility. This natural degeneration and weakening can cause your spine to shift enough to pinch a nerve.

How is radiculopathy diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will diagnose radiculopathy with a physical exam and imaging tests. They’ll look at your back and spine, talk to you about your symptoms and ask about the different sensations you’re feeling.

You’ll probably need at least one of a few imaging tests, including:

• X-ray: An X-ray can show narrowing and changing alignment of your spinal cord, as well as any spinal fractures.
• Computed tomography (CT) scan: A CT scan shows 3D images and more detail of your spine than an X-ray can.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): An MRI can show if damage to soft tissues is causing the nerve compression. It will also show any damage to your spinal cord.
• Electromyography (EMG): An EMG measures electrical impulses in your muscles. This can help determine if a nerve is working as it should. This helps your healthcare provider know if your symptoms are caused by pressure on your spinal nerve roots or if another condition (like diabetes) damaged your nerves.

How is radiculopathy treated?

Treatment depends on which type of radiculopathy you have (where the pinched nerve is along your spine) and how severe your symptoms are. Some people never need formal treatment if their symptoms improve on their own in a few days or weeks.

If you do need treatment, it might include some or all of the following:

• Ice or heat: Your healthcare provider will tell you how often to ice or apply heat to your back to reduce swelling or relax tight muscles.
• Adjusting your posture or physical therapy: Stretches and exercises that target the area around your spine can help ease pressure on your nerves and relieve pain. Improving your overall posture can help reduce stress on your spine and relieve your symptoms. Your healthcare provider or physical therapist will advise you on which types of exercises are best for the type of radiculopathy you have.

What medications are used to treat radiculopathy?

• Over-the-counter NSAIDs: Most people only need over-the-counter NSAIDs (like aspirin or ibuprofen) to treat their radiculopathy symptoms. Talk to your healthcare provider before taking an NSAID for longer than 10 days.
• Corticosteroids:Your healthcare provider might prescribe strong anti-inflammatory medications like prednisone to relieve your pain. These can be taken as pills or injected directly into the affected area of your back.

Radiculopathy surgery

It’s rare to need surgery to treat radiculopathy. Your healthcare provider will likely only recommend surgery if you have severe symptoms that affect your quality of life and don’t respond to other treatments. They’ll tell you which type of surgery you’ll need and what to expect.

How do I manage my radiculopathy symptoms?

Talk to your healthcare provider or physical therapist about how you can adjust your posture to make your daily routine more comfortable. They’ll recommend how you can comfortably sit, stand and sleep without aggravating your radiculopathy.

If your healthcare provider or physical therapist shows you stretches or exercises to strengthen your core muscles, try to do them as often as they recommend.

Don’t force yourself to do anything that hurts while you’re recovering, though. It might make your symptoms worse. Talk to your healthcare provider or physical therapist if the exercises they provide you are painful. They’ll tell you how to work through them safely.

How soon after treatment will I feel better?

You should feel better over time as you start treating radiculopathy symptoms. Some people feel better in a few days, but sometimes it takes a few weeks.

How can I prevent radiculopathy?

Many of the causes of radiculopathy can’t be prevented. Maintaining good spine health and posture can help prevent some of the degeneration that can lead to radiculopathy.

What can I expect if I have radiculopathy?

You should expect to make a full recovery from an episode of radiculopathy. It can be very painful and inconvenient, but it’s usually a temporary condition.

How long does radiculopathy last?

It depends on what caused your radiculopathy, and which type you’re experiencing. In general, most people feel better in a few weeks (or sooner). It might be longer if you have severe symptoms or other conditions that affect your spine.

Will I have to miss work or school?

If you can do your job or schoolwork without aggravating your symptoms, you shouldn’t have to miss work or school while you’re recovering from radiculopathy. Talk to your healthcare provider before resuming any physical activities.

When should I see my healthcare provider?

Talk to your healthcare provider if you develop new symptoms in your back or along your spine, especially if they’re getting worse over a few days. Lots of issues can have similar symptoms, so it’s important to visit your healthcare provider right away. They’ll make sure you don’t have a more serious condition or injury.

When should I go to ER?

Go to the emergency room right away if you’ve experienced a trauma or you can’t move your hands, arms, legs or neck the way you usually can.

What questions should I ask my doctor?

• What type of radiculopathy do I have?
• Which treatments will I need?
• How long will it take to heal?
• What imaging tests will I need?

A note from QBan Health Care Services

Almost everyone experiences back pain at some point in their lives. There’s a difference between occasional aches and pains and a painful condition like radiculopathy, though. It can be scary to hear that something is wrong near your spine, but all forms of radiculopathy are very treatable and very rarely require surgery. You should make a full recovery with at-home treatments and by giving your body time to heal.