Posted by Any pain or discomfort sensation in the head or upper facial region is a headache. Headache is an exceedingly prevalent complaint among people but is also often ignored. It usually manifests as feelings of pressure, persistence, throbbing, sharpness, or dullness.
Everyone experiences head pain of different intensity, in different locations, and has varied frequencies of occurrence. The majority of headaches are not serious but some can be an indication of an underlying illness requiring immediate medical attention, shares Dr. Dipty Mangla, a pain management specialist for head pain treatment in New Jersey.
Types of Headaches
There are many types of headaches documented, broadly falling under two categories: Primary and Secondary headaches. Primary headaches stem from the increased activity in the pain-sensitive head structures or the dysfunctional structures. Secondary headaches originate from an identifiable underlying health problem. All of them have different causes.
In any case, neglecting head pain is not advisable. Now, the question arises, how to find out when head pain is serious?
In this blog you can learn about the causes of head pain, the signs that head pain is serious, why to not ignore head pain, and lastly prevention and treatment of chronic pain treatment in New Jersey. Keep reading to know everything you need to know about head pain.
Why is there acute or chronic head pain?
Acute head pain commonly is the result of a concussion, meningitis (infection), head injury, or subarachnoid hemorrhage. The causes of chronic head pain include cluster headaches, migraines, tension headaches, herniated discs, cervicogenic headaches, arthritis in the neck, and occipital neuralgia.
Some of the primary headaches can be because of situational prompts or lifestyle factors, such as alcohol and tobacco use, lack of sleep, exposure to loud noises or flash of lights, inappropriate headwear, infections, poor posture for prolonged periods, nutritional deficiencies, strenuous workouts, specific foods containing processed meats or nitrates, and forceful actions like sneezing, coughing, or laughing. Low-risk secondary headaches can be associated with sinus, dehydration, or overuse of certain medication while others like thunderclap and spinal headaches can indicate a serious underlying illness.
Head pain symptoms- the warning signs that shouldn’t be ignored
Knowing whether head pain is serious is quite simple. It is required to figure out if there is any modifiable cause of a headache. If lifestyle and habits are kept in check and head pain gets controlled, it is not a cause of major worry. Some investigations are there to identify the underlying cause of head pain and subsequently plan out its treatment.
In case any of the following symptoms are noticed, it is advised to reach out to a physician at the earliest.
- Headaches lasting for 15 days or more for consecutive 3 months
- Prolonged intense pain in the head
- Abrupt, powerful head pain
- Head pain associated with running nose or redness of eyes
- Head pain after hitting something hard or having an injury/trauma to the head
- Head pain associated with fever and neck pain or stiffness
- Head pain accompanied by nausea and vomiting
- Head pain causing impaired mental functioning like confusion, speech problems, loss of coordination, or weakness in extremities
- Head pain associated with vision abnormalities.
Why must head pain not be neglected?
Head pain should not be ignored for the long term. If there is chronic or persistent head pain and other symptoms linked, there is a high possibility of the patient suffering from an underlying illness. The warning signs of head pain may suggest conditions like meningitis, aneurysms, and other neurological conditions. If head pain is neglected in such cases, the condition can turn worse and even be fatal. That’s why prompt diagnosis and treatment for such headaches are recommended by pain management specialists.
How can I avoid headaches?
Some headaches are preventable with the following measures:
- Have proper sleep and rest.
- Pay attention to body posture and do stretching of the neck muscles.
- Keep your body well hydrated by drinking plenty of water and avoiding caffeinated drinks and alcohol.
- Avoid skipping meals and eat healthily.
- If having a sinus, get it treated.
- Avoid migraine headaches by avoiding their triggers like loud noises and strong scent
- Take medications prescribed for blood pressure or migraine prevention.
- Manage stress with stress-relieving techniques like yoga and meditation.
Head Pain Treatment in New Jersey
Mild or acute head pain can be easily relieved with over-the-counter pain-relieving medications. For recurrent or debilitating headaches, the physician recommends medications tailored for headache treatment. In case of persistent or chronic head pain, a pain management specialist advises on avoiding its triggers, may provide medications that treat identified underlying causes, and suggest acupuncture, and other allied therapies like stimulation-based therapies. One novel therapy for head pain is cell-based therapy using cells and growth factors from the patient’s body.
Want to learn more about head pain treatment or chronic pain treatment in New Jersey and receive the best treatment from an expert, visit Mainland Pain Management Clinic and meet Dr. Dipty Mangla, a top-notch pain management specialist today.
Dr. Dipty Mangla will first perform a thorough analysis of the patient’s condition and then create a personalized treatment plan to provide efficient head pain treatment.
Consult her for more details!