From The Australian Women’s Weekly Home Library Series, Headaches: Relief at Last, A$12.95. Buy the book here.
A headache is a fact of life for countless people every day, but that doesn’t mean that it need be endured in silence. This up-to-date guide explains the causes of most common problems, from tension headaches to migraines, and provides practical answers on how you can set yourself free of headache pain.
IF PAIN PERSISTS……..
The vast majority of headaches are suffered in silence. In the belief that pain will be short-lived, or that headache is one of those things that is sent to us to try us (and it does!) many people simply soldier on.
However, as they say in advertisements for painkillers, if pain persists, you should consult your doctor. And not only if the pain is persistent; if headaches suddenly strike someone usually headache-free, or if the usual pain suffered changes in character or intensity, or is causing you any concern, it goes without saying that you should seek medical advice.
The good news is that headaches can be treated. People often don’t seek treatment, thinking that headaches are one of those things that we just have to put up with, but there are many very effective treatments available, so do consult your doctor if troubled by headache pain.
Consultation
When you consult your doctor, he or she will probably ask a series of questions designed to arrive at a diagnosis of the type of headache you are suffering from – whether it’s an idiopathic (medicalese for “precise cause unknown”) headache, like a tension or migraine headache, or whether it could spring from some sinister problem, such as a brain tumour or abscess.
The doctor is likely to ask where the pain strikes – front or back of the head? Over the eye? – and how it feels – pounding or throbbing? A tight band around the head? He or she may inquire about other symptoms associated with the pain, such as nausea, vomiting, change in bowel habit or special sensitivity to bright lights, sounds or smells.
You may be asked whether the pain is increasing, whether it’s worse in the morning or when you cough, bend or strain, and how it reacts to simple medication, like analgesics (painkillers). The doctor may also ask how the pain is effected by weekends, travel or other breaks in routine, and whether jarring the head makes it worse.
Examination
The doctor will probably check your family history (heredity can play a part, particularly migraines), as well as any medication you are taking for other conditions (headache can be a side effect of some medications that act by expanding the blood vessels). He or she may take your temperature and check your nose and ears for signs of infection – a common cause of headache – as well as check your reflexes and eyes for signs of neurological problems. If a cause of concern is found, it may be necessary to order blood tests, X-rays of your sinuses, a brain scan and/or refer to your neurologist.
Long before you’ve got to this point, however, you will probably have been asked about any personal problem or special stress you may be experiencing, because the overwhelming likelihood is that your trouble is a simple tension headache.
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