Headaches

from PAI Diary 2018

VMS

Headaches are one of the most common health complaints, but most are easily treated. Most headaches aren’t serious and can be treated with pharmacy remedies and lifestyle changes, such as getting more rest and drinking enough fluids. Nearly all of us have suffered from a headache at some point. However the headache a person experiences may not be the same as someone else’s. Headaches are usually classified as either primary or secondary headaches. Secondary headaches are usually the result of an underlying illness. Most headaches experienced are usually primary headaches. The three most common types of primary headache are tension, migraine and cluster headaches. Each type of headache has its own pattern of pain and cause.

Tension headache

Tension headaches are the most common, affecting as many as 8 out of 10 people from time to time and are what most people think of as normal everyday headaches. They feel like a dull ache with constant pressure around the front, top and sides of the head as if a rubber band has been stretched around it.

Stress is one cause, but there are lots of others, including drinking too much alcohol, not getting enough sleep, depression, skipping meals and becoming dehydrated. One source of tension headaches is tender muscles in the head and neck. When someone is stressed or tired, the muscles in their head and neck become sore and tender. When these muscles become tense, the pain travels up to the head where it is felt as a headache.

There are a range of triggers for tension type headaches, such as; stress, poor posture, bright lights and loud noises.

Migraine Headache

Migraines are less common. If a headache is recurrent and disabling to the point of stopping someone from carrying on with daily life, it’s usually a migraine. People describe migraines as an especially sharp and throbbing pain on one or both sides of the head. People may also experience nausea and sensitivity to light, and even get visual problems such as flashing lights or zigzag lines. It’s not fully understood what causes a migraine, but temporary changes in blood vessels and chemicals in the brain may be a factor. Genetics may also play a role as some migraine sufferers also have a close relative with the condition.

Migraines can be caused by a range of triggers like stress, tiredness, they can also be brought on by environmental factors such as bright lights, certain foods and hormone changes. Most people treat their migraines successfully with over-the-counter medication. If they’re severe, however, they may need stronger migraine-specific medication that is only available on prescription from a doctor.

Cluster headaches

Cluster headaches are the third type of primary headache. Cluster headaches are rare, excruciatingly painful headaches cause an intense pain around one eye. Cluster headaches get their name because the attacks come in groups (one to three headaches every day, for several weeks or months) and often with little warning. The attacks are usually sudden and the pain felt is generally severe and felt behind the eye or sometimes on one side of the head.

OTC medications don’t ease the symptoms of a cluster headache, but a doctor can prescribe specific treatments to ease the pain. It’s not known what causes cluster headaches but it’s thought’ the hypothalamus (the brain’s ‘biological clock) is believed to play a role by releasing chemicals which are responsible for cluster headaches.

Some people have their cluster headaches triggered by certain factors, for example an extreme increase in temperature or strongsmelling substances.

Secondary headaches When to refer for further help

It’s very rare that headaches are a sign of something serious like a brain tumour. However, it’s best to advise people to see their doctor if: • They feel unwell between their headaches • Their headaches aren’t relieved by pharmacy treatments • They are experiencing headaches which are so painful that they are limiting the persons’ ability to get on with life or are causing them to miss work

• Their headache is the result of a head injury • They develop problems with their vision such as blurriness

• Their Headache is accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, vomiting weakness, slurred speech or confusion.

Secondary headaches have a separate cause, such as illness, and include headaches that come on after drinking too much alcohol or after a head injury or concussion. Some headaches are a side effect of taking a particular medication, and sometimes people get headaches when they’re unwell. People may get a headache when they have had a cold, sinusitis, flu or an allergic reaction, for example. Frequent headaches can also be caused by taking too many painkillers. Headaches in women are often caused by hormones, and many women notice a link with their periods. The Pill, the menopause and pregnancy are also potential triggers. If someone has been getting really bad headaches it’s natural for them to have wondered if there’s something seriously wrong, like a brain tumour. This is extremely rare and the cause is almost always something else.

Pain Relief

There are lots of ways to help customers relieve headache pain. Reducing stress and avoiding common headache triggers can help ease a headache. You can also suggest an over the counter pain killer which contains ibuprofen, which blocks an enzyme in the body called cyclooxygenase (COX), which then blocks the production of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are important molecules involved in such processes as pain, inflammation, and temperature control.

WWho? Tension headaches affect as many as 8 out of 10 people from