I don’t know where you live, but here in New York the pollen is CRAZY! My green car literally looks yellow from all the pollen that has fallen on it. When I clean the windows in my home you can see the pollen on the dust rag too – on the INSIDE of my home.
All these allergens swirling around in the air is making my whole family stuffy. Our asthmatic cat has been wheezing like crazy too.
Sometimes being congested causes you to have a headache. But is it REALLY a headache caused by stuffiness and congestion, or could it be another kind of headache.
NurseWise offers information on the various types of headaches so you can try and figure out which one you are experiencing and what you can do to remedy it. NurseWise is a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation in the business of providing multilingual telehealth (nurse triage and health education) services. They partner with health plans, hospitals, providers, colleges and universities, and other specialty organizations to ensure all callers have access to high quality, appropriate care.
Chances are you or someone you know has suffered from a headache recently. That’s because there are multiple types and causes for headaches. The health professionals at NurseWise, a national multilingual nurse triage and health education provider, have put together a quick resource to help you determine which type of headache you’re suffering – and tips for how to feel better as soon as possible.
“A headache can strike at any time,” said Kim Tuck, RN, Chief Executive Officer of NurseWise. “Knowing the kind of headache you have is the first step to being able to treat it.”
Here are the most common types of headaches, along with some tips to help ease your pain:
Tension headaches: A continuous pain typically caused from stress or fatigue, tension headaches are also attributed to physical and psychological issues and depression – and are the most common of all types of headaches in adults. During a tension headache you feel a constant ache, like a rubber band tightening around your head. The pain primarily occurs in your forehead, temples and back of your head and neck. Reducing the occurrence and severity of tension headaches is a result of maintaining healthy habits, such as using stress reduction techniques, getting regular exercise and deep breathing techniques.Some people also benefit from other non-medication treatments like massage and acupuncture. Over-the-counter pain relievers like aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen can help, but repeated use them can actually become a cause of headaches. Try to lessen your pain through non-medication methods, and talk to your Primary Care Provider (PCP) about medication options.
Migraine headaches: Everyone suffers migraines in their own way but typically the pain begins as a dull ache before developing into a constant pulsating pain in the temples or one side of the head. The pain can be accompanied by nausea and vomiting plus sensitivity to light and noise. Vision disturbances (sometimes called auras) can happen as a “warning sign” for about 20 percent of sufferers. Most migraines last at least four hours, although severe ones can last up to a week. For mild migraines, over-the-counter medications like aspirin and ibuprofen may help lessen the pain. For moderate migraines, there are over-the-counter options that use a combination of acetaminophen, aspirin and caffeine to ease suffering. For more severe migraines, there are two prescription medication options: 1.) medication to treat migraines when they occur and 2.) preventative medications that are taken regularly to help to reduce reoccurrence and pain levels if they do occur. All migraine suffers can benefit from learning relaxation techniques. Contact your primary care physician (PCP) to discuss your options.
Allergy-induced headaches: If your pain is in your sinus area or is throbbing on one side of your head, you may be experiencing an allergy headache. As the name implies, these headaches are the result of external triggers, which can include foods, smoke and natural pollutants. While there are over-the-counter medication options available, the best course of action is to identify what your triggers are and avoid them. If you feel that you’ve done your best to avoid your triggers, talk to your PCP about seeing an allergist for prescription medication options.
Cluster headaches: Characterized by severe, debilitating pain on one side of the head, cluster headaches have related unilateral symptoms such as same-side jaw pain, watery eye or nasal congestion. Often described as the most painful headache type, cluster headaches are brief but reoccurring. Unlike migraine and tension headaches, males are more likely to develop cluster headaches than females. While there is no cure, there are medical treatments that can help. Over-the-counter medications are less effective with this type of headache, but fast-acting treatments are available through your medical provider. Contact your PCP to learn more.
For more information about headaches, please visit www.Headaches.org.
For information about NurseWise visit www.NurseWise.com or contact them at Infor@NurseWise.com.
Do YOU suffer from headaches? What kind of headache do you normally get and what do you do to make it go away so you feel better?
Kimberly
*I was not compensated for this post. I posted this for the benefit of my site readers. Any opinions expressed are my own except noted by the article’s author. This article is shared by permission.
Natalie Brown says
The pollen is crazy here too. It’s so weird to me how it get all over the house too. I do get headaches from some allergens & use OTC medicines to relieve them. This is a cool service. Thanks!