Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Latest local news, weather and high school sports for Tri-State area

What a headache!
Posted: 10.05.2011 at 9:47 AM
1

In our Facebook Story of the Day for October 5, we're trying to help you figure out those pesky headaches!

Photo

Do you suffer from headaches? Does work give you a headache?

We did some research and realized that there are many types of headaches ... tension headaches, migraines, transformed migraines, cluster headaches, sinus headaches, acute headaches in children, hormone headaches in women and chronic progressive headaches.

Let's see what kind of headache you may suffer from:

Tension headaches are the most common and adults and adolescents may suffer from them.  WebMD says that these muscle contraction headaches may cause mild to moderate pain and come and go over a prolonged period of time.

Migraines are a tricky beast. They are related to blood vessel contractions and other changes in the brain as well as inherited abnormalities in the brain and the pain can be moderate to severe. These headaches can last for an extremely long period of time ... from four hours to days and some sufferers see them one to four times a month or more. Some of the symptoms are sensitivity to light, noise or odor; nausea or vomiting; loss of appetite; stomach upset or abdominal pain.

Transformed migraines can be a combination of migraine and tension headaches. It's also known as mixed headache syndrome.

Cluster headaches are rare and can be the most severe. The pain is sometimes described as burning or piercing that is also throbbing and constant ... it is located behind one eye or in the eye region and won't switch sides. Most sufferers cannot sit still and will often pace during an attack. "Cluster headache," according to  WebMD, refers to headaches that have a characteristic grouping of attacks ... happening one to three times per day during a cluster period.

The signs point to a sinus headache if you're experiencing a deep and constant pain in your forehead, the bridge of your nose or high in your cheekbones. It will be accompanied by nasal discharge, possibly fever, full ears and maybe even facial swelling.

Acute headaches in children tend to subside after a short period of time and most times a visit to the emergency room or pediatrician's office ... the most common cause could be a respiratory or sinus infection.

Changing hormone levels in women may cause headaches. Menstruation, pregnancy and menopause can trigger these types of changes and in turn headaches.

Chronic progressive headaches tend to get worse and happen more often over time ... most times resulting from an illness or disorder of the brain or skull according to  WebMD.

Back to the causes.

Headaches have many causes including illness, infection, colds, fevers, trauma, or serious medical conditions. But some of the other more common causes, at least of tension headaches, is stress related to family and friends, work, school, alcohol use, tension, depression ... and even eyestrain and neck or back strain.

Click here for information from WebMD about office ergonomics that will help you prevent injury at your desk.

Each day at work, think about taking frequent breaks, stretching at your seat and drinking plenty of water. Angie Asmann, co-owner and fitness trainer with NuFIT for You in Quincy, told KHQA to try taking short walks ... 10 minutes on your break is all you need. You just might find yourself coming back to your desk fresh and even a little more focused. Each of these techniques will help prevent eye strain and tension.  Click here to read a story we did on staying energized without caffeine.

We suggest keeping on track with a yearly physical and a yearly eye exam and by all means, see a doctor if your headaches or migraines hit you regularly.

If you've got a basic headache, here are some non-medicated ways to make yourself feel better:

- place an ice pack on your forehead or at the back of your neck
- take a warm bath
- take a nap
- take a walk
- get a massage or apply gentle pressure to the area yourself
- sit down and rest
- participate in physical therapy exercises

(Reminder:  Information included in this story is to promote discussion and health awareness.  Please consult your doctor for advice on your health issues and questions.)

Feel our pain? Share your headache comments and stories below or on our Facebook page here ... we want to hear from you!

Related Links

Popular Stories
Thumbnail
Teenager arrested for setting fire to Sprouts Inn
Rajah Maples  |  Tuesday, June 18, 2013  |  6 comments
Thumbnail
Internet spam calls in bomb threat to Quincy home
Chad Douglas  |  Yesterday at 3:33 AM
Thumbnail
Two day search for domestic disturbance suspect ends in arrest
KHQA Newsdesk  |  Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Follow Connect Tri-States
Get news and weather notifications on your phone by downloading the iPhone or Android app below
Sign up to get alerts and updates for breaking news, severe weather, and deals:
submit
ADVERTISEMENT
Special Features
Beauty & Wellness
Beauty and wellness info from our experts
Home & Garden
Home and garden info from our experts
Senior Living
Info on senior living from our experts
Expert Connect Legal
Legal info from our experts
ADVERTISEMENT