A headache is any pressure or pain in your head, ranging from mild to severe. Most headaches aren’t the result of a serious illness. Common factors include stress, lack of sleep, exposure to substances such as alcohol, and more.
Frequent headaches, however, can affect your overall quality of life. Sometimes it’s difficult to discern the difference from a headache and a migraine. Migraines are intense headaches that often come with additional symptoms, such as nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and seeing spots or flashing lights.
Learn more about headaches and migraines and how to find the relief you need.
- Moderate to severe pain (often described as pounding, throbbing pain) that can affect the whole head, or can shift from one side of the head to the other
- Blurred vision
- Sensitivity to light, noise or odors
- Nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, or abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
- Paleness
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Fever (rare)
- Bright flashing dots or lights, blind spots, wavy or jagged lines
- Stay on a regular sleep schedule
- Go to bed and wake up around the same time every day, even on weekends
- Eat regularly
- Drink plenty of water
- Dehydration can cause migraine headaches
- Avoid food triggers: (MSG), nitrates and nitrites, alcohol, chocolate, large amounts of caffeine
- Exercise regularly
- Avoid stressful situations
Headaches vs. Migraines – What’s the Difference?
For some, headaches come and go, and for others, they are a part of everyday life. But how do you really know if you are suffering from just a common headache or migraines?Read More
- Injury
- Holding your back or head in a strange position
- Stress
- Depression
- Anxiety
Migraine Headaches
Migraine headaches, on the other hand, are more defined by their symptoms than their causes. Migraine “triggers” vary widely from person to person, and can include alcohol and smoking, stress, changing sleep patterns, strong odors, and foods. Unlike tension headaches, pain is often limited to one side of the head. Many people see visible warnings, called an aura, 10 to 15 minutes before a migraine starts, and an aura can include temporary blind spots, blurry vision, seeing stars or jagged lines, tunnel vision, and eye pain. During a migraine, the immediate concern is relief for your symptoms (commonly including nausea, sensitivity to light, chills, sweating, and fatigue). Although there is no specific cure for migraines, many can be prevented. Try to find what is triggering your migraines by keeping a diary. If you sense a migraine coming on, or immediately afterward, try to remember what you ate, how you felt, and where you were when symptoms began. A diary can also help your medical provider recommend treatments or medications for severe or frequent migraines." ["post_title"]=> string(48) "When Bad Headaches Strike: Causes and Treatments" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(52) "causes-and-treatments-to-bad-headaches-and-migraines" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2018-08-29 13:50:07" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2018-08-29 13:50:07" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(58) "https://wordpress-healthbeat-dev.azurewebsites.net/?p=6481" ["menu_order"]=> int(1300) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } ["medical_description"]=> string(100) "A severe headache can stop you in your tracks. How you treat it depends on what is causing the pain." }When Bad Headaches Strike: Causes and Treatments
A severe headache can stop you in your tracks. How you treat it depends on what is causing the pain.Read More
- Migraine without aura. These migraines start with pain usually on the side of the head and have symptoms you expect with a migraine.
- Migraine with aura. Some people have symptoms about 30 minutes before a migraine begins. You may see wavy lines and flashing lights, and experience distorted vision or a tingling feeling. This is called an aura.
RELATED: BOTOX May be the Surprising Answer to Chronic Migraines
- Migraine aura without headache. Sometimes the aura occurs without the headache. This is more common in people over age 50 who have a history of migraines.
- Ophthalmoplegic migraine. Most often affecting young people, this rare type of migraine causes a severe headache along with weakness in one or more muscles that control eye movement. Someone with this type of migraine also may have dilated pupils, drooping eyelids, or difficulty moving the eye until the migraine passes.
- Hemiplegic migraine. Also very rare, a hemiplegic migraine causes weakness on one side of the body. This can be a scary experience, because the symptoms often mimic those of a stroke. Symptoms resolve when the migraine passes, but it's best to get checked out by a medical professional to make sure the weakness or changes in speech aren't caused by another problem.
- Vestibular migraine. Sometimes dizziness, vertigo, and balance problems can accompany a migraine. These can be tricky to diagnose because, at times, the vertigo may appear without a headache. This happens more often in people who have a history of migraines in childhood.
RELATED: Does Your Anxiety Disorder Cause Migraines?
If you regularly experience severe headaches or migraines, it's best to get checked out by a doctor to make sure there's not a more serious problem. There are many treatment options available to deal with migraines, and your doctor can help you identify triggers to try to prevent headaches. " ["post_title"]=> string(53) "Video: Understanding the Different Types of Migraines" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(140) "There are several different types of migraines. Learn more about the different causes and symptoms of migraines and how you can find relief." ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(18) "types-of-migraines" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2019-10-15 01:18:37" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2019-10-15 05:18:37" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(60) "https://wordpress-healthbeat-dev.azurewebsites.net/?p=172600" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } ["medical_description"]=> string(152) "If you regularly experience severe headaches or migraines, it’s best to get checked out by a doctor to make sure there’s not a more serious problem." }Video: Understanding the Different Types of Migraines
If you regularly experience severe headaches or migraines, it’s best to get checked out by a doctor to make sure there’s not a more serious problem.Watch Now
- Continual pain
- Lack of sleep
- Sensitivity to one's surroundings
How to Manage Migraine Headaches and Anxiety
The most common recommendations to treat migraines include:- Get enough sleep during the night
- Eat a healthy diet
- Drink plenty of water
Does Your Anxiety Disorder Cause Migraines?
Doctors know that people who suffer from anxiety may have more migraines than those who do not. Many people who have chronic migraines also may have a generalized anxiety disorder.Read More
- Moderate to severe pain (often described as pounding, throbbing pain) that can affect the whole head, or can shift from one side of the head to the other
- Blurred vision
- Sensitivity to light, noise or odors
- Nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, or abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
- Paleness
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Fever (rare)
- Bright flashing dots or lights, blind spots, wavy or jagged lines
"Chronic migraines" are described as those that occur at least 15 days per month. Although they aren't curable, migraines are treatable.
Common treatments include both over-the-counter and prescription medicine. If those types of treatment aren't sufficient, you and your doctor might consider alternative treatments, including BOTOX® injections.
What Is BOTOX?
BOTOX is a prescription drug made of the bacterial toxin "botulinum." It's commonly used to treat muscle conditions or to improve the appearance of wrinkles by temporarily paralyzing muscles in the face. "As we age, these muscles that have been working so hard over the course of our lives cause the overlying skin to wrinkle, and that ages the face," says Mistica LaBrasca, MPAS, physician assistant, UPMC Cosmetic Surgery and Skin Health Center. "So by temporarily relaxing these muscles, we can soften or even completely eliminate the lines temporarily."Treating Your Chronic Migraines with BOTOX
BOTOX temporarily slows muscle activity. Though it's commonly thought of as a cosmetic option, BOTOX is an effective treatment for a number of medical ailments, including eye muscle conditions, overactive bladder, and excessive sweating. In 2010, the Food and Drug Administration approved Botox as a treatment option for chronic migraine.
BOTOX treatment for chronic migraine
BOTOX can help reduce the occurrence of migraines and their symptoms in some chronic migraine sufferers.
Once injected, BOTOX helps reduce the expression of certain pain pathways in nerve cells related to migraines and sensory systems. This differs from the other common use of BOTOX as a muscle relaxer.
What to expect from BOTOX treatment
Most people who choose to treat chronic migraines with BOTOX receive treatment about every three months. Your doctor will inject BOTOX into a number of identified points across your forehead, temple, and neck. Initial treatment plans for BOTOX usually span two to three treatments, or six to nine months.
BOTOX injections can be done "as quick in-office procedures," LaBrasca says. "They take anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes."
"Recovery is relatively quick," LaBrasca adds. "Many people will return to work and social activities that same day, if not the very next day."
RELATED: Headaches vs. Migraines - What's the Difference?
Side Effects of BOTOX
As with any medication, side effects are possible with BOTOX. In some patients, BOTOX may not be effective, or it may take a few days for them to see relief from pain. Other side effects may include:
- Double vision
- Muscle weakness
- Neck pain
- Bruising or swelling around injection
- Flu-like symptoms
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BOTOX® Might be the Surprising Answer to Chronic Migraines
BOTOX is a prescription drug made of the bacterial toxin “botulinum.” It’s commonly used to treat muscle conditions or to improve the appearance of wrinkles by temporarily paralyzing muscles in the face.Read More
