Why whiskey hurts and how to get rid of this headache
Miscellaneous / / April 05, 2023
Usually the reasons are not serious. But there are exceptions.
1. Tension headache
If you feel like massaging your humming temples with your fingers in the middle of a busy day, it's most likely a tension headache. This is the most common type of headache. Doctors describe it like this: as if they put a wide, heavy and too tight hoop on their heads.
Typically, a tension headache manifests itself as an aching, pressing sensation in the forehead and behind the eyes. But it can also concentrate in the temple area.
What to do
Usually to get rid of tension headachejust enough to rest. Try to relax, if possible, put a cool compress on your forehead. If that doesn't work, take an over-the-counter ibuprofen or naproxen sodium pain reliever.
If the pain repeats more than twice a week, it is worth consulting with a doctor - for a start with a therapist. Just drinking painkillers in this case is dangerous. Firstly, your body can get used to them and the effectiveness of the pills will decrease. And secondly, you run the risk of getting another type of headache - associated with the use of drugs.
2. Migraine
The classic manifestation of migraine is an obsessive throbbing headache on one side of the head. She usually startsas a dull pressing sensation in the forehead, behind the eyes, or in the temple.
In addition, migraine has other characteristic signs: for example, such pain lasts at least several hours, is accompanied by nausea and increased sensitivity to sounds and light. But the main symptom is the aura, that is, strange visual, olfactory or sound sensations. They do not necessarily appear right before or during an attack of pain, but if they do, they indicate a migraine with a probability of almost 100%.
However, only a neurologist can make an accurate diagnosis.
What to do
If you suspect you have a migraine, as soon as possible, at the first hint of an approaching attack, accept over-the-counter pain relievers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen tablets.
And be sure to consult a therapist or neurologist. Even if there was only one attack.
3. Temporal arteritis
This pain is like a migraine: it felt like a burning pulsation, most often in the temple on one side of the head. However, temporal arteritis is a much more dangerous condition.
It is caused by inflammation and swelling of the temporal arteries, which carry blood to the eyes, optic nerves, and brain. Due to edema, the blood vessel narrows and, in severe cases, can completely block the flow of blood. Depending on which organ is fed by the blocked artery, this can lead to loss of vision or a stroke.
It is important to add that temporal arteritis affects almost exclusively the elderly. UpToDate even offers until the age of 50, do not suspect this disease at all
What to do
Take a look at the symptoms. Temporal arteritis manifests itself not only by prolonged pain in one of the temples, but also by other signs:
- palpable pain when touching the skin on the affected temple;
- decrease or increase in temperature;
- weakness;
- visual impairment;
- pain when chewing.
If you suspect temporal arteritis, contact your physician as soon as possible. If the doctor assumes the same diagnosis, you will need to take blood tests, and ideally also do a biopsy of the temporal artery. After confirming the diagnosis, treatment will be prescribed. Usually it consists in taking glucocorticosteroid hormones, which reduce inflammation.
4. Cervicogenic headache
Cervicogenic head pain - this is pain that occurs due to various injuries of the spine or soft tissues in the neck. It can be caused by arthritis of the vertebrae, pinched nerve, problems with the intervertebral discs, too tense muscles.
This type of pain often occurs after injuries or in people who spend a lot of time sitting and do not follow their posture.
recognize cervicogenic pain can be due to the following symptoms:
- it originates in the neck and spreads through the temple (usually on one side) to the forehead and eyes;
- this may cause a feeling of a stiff neck;
- pain often extends along the shoulder and arm on the same side;
- sometimes vision is temporarily reduced in the eye on the affected side.
What to do
If you suspect that you have cervicogenic headache, you should consult with your physician. It is important to exclude more dangerous diagnoses - the same temporal arteritis.
Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms, examine you, and prescribe treatment. It is usually a combination of over-the-counter pain medications (although in some cases may need injections to block the nerve), massage and physiotherapy - exercises to restore muscles neck.
Please note that only a specialist should conduct massage and select exercises. In no case do not do this yourself: there is a risk of making a mistake and straining your neck in the wrong places, and this will make the pain more stable and stronger.
5. Temporomandibular joint dysfunction
The temporomandibular joint is one of the most complex in the human body. He is responsible for the movement of the lower jaw forward, backward, right and left. Any violation in this complex system of chewing muscles, ligaments, bones leads to the fact that jaw movements are somewhat disturbed.
Here are the most common signs temporomandibular joint dysfunction:
- pain in the temples;
- pain in any area associated with chewing, such as the jaw or neck;
- clicks, crunch, other extraneous sounds during jaw movements;
- difficulty opening the mouth fully.
What to do
Fortunately, most temporomandibular joint dysfunctions are harmless and pass by themselves.
To reduce discomfort during the acute phase, experts from the British National Health Service recommend:
- try not to clench your teeth and relax your jaw muscles;
- apply cold or warm compresses to the jaw - depending on what temperature reduces pain;
- if necessary, take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen;
- eat only soft foods that do not require effort when chewing: grated soups, omelettes, pasta;
- if you feel that it is the jaw muscles that are narrowing, try a gentle massage.
If the pain does not go away for several days in a row or is so severe that it prevents you from sleeping, eating and working, see a therapist. The doctor will select more effective painkillers for you and, if necessary, refer you to specialized specialists - a dentist, a neurologist or a psychotherapist.
Read also🧐
- 5 causes of neck pain and how to deal with it
- Migraine: what you need to know if your head is splitting
- Where do the flies come from before the eyes and when is it dangerous
- Types of headaches: how they differ and how to get rid of each of them
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