Headaches can range from mild to severe, and come in many different forms. If you have a severe headache, or one that lasts for more than a few hours, it is probably worth a visit to your local urgent care to determine the cause.
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Although most headaches are little more than a nuisance, others can signal something far more serious. The team at your neighborhood Local MD Urgent Care is available for patients with scheduled appointments, or walk-ins every day to help you on the way to feeling better.
Causes Of Headaches & Migraines
When you have a migraine, the pain is usually on one side of your head. Your migraine may also be accompanied by nausea or vomiting, and you may also be sensitive to light or sound.
While we don’t know exactly what causes migraine headaches, people report many common triggers. Triggers can include:
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Stress
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Hormones
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Certain Foods or Food Additives
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Skipping Meals
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Physical Strain
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Lack Of Sleep
While both men and women can get migraines, women are more likely to get migraines than men. Migraines can also be hereditary; people with a family member who gets migraines are more likely to experience migraines themselves.
Types of Headaches/Migraines
Since there are many different types of headaches, it will be helpful to let your provider know as much as possible about the type of pain you are experiencing. This will help us identify and diagnose one of the following types of headaches and how to best treat it:
Some of the more common types of headaches include:
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Tension Headaches: You will feel tension headaches broadly across your head or neck. These are generally related to stress or muscle tightness. Tension headaches are very common.
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Sinus Headaches: These affect you in the face area, often behind your eyes or around your nose. You may feel a throbbing sensation in your cheeks and teeth, or pounding in your ears. If you are prone to sinus headaches, you can make lifestyle changes to help you avoid episodes.
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Migraines: You will most likely feel a migraine on one side of your head. During an episode, you may be sensitive to light and sound. A number of factors can bring about a migraine. Sometimes, they’re hereditary. It is important to discuss migraine medication and treatment with a medical professional.
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Cluster Headaches: The most painful of the types of headache, a cluster headache, may wake you in the middle of the night with a shooting pain behind one eye. These may be seasonally related. If you experience one, however, you should seek a professional opinion immediately.
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If you experience a headache or migraine that feels much more severe than what you are used to, or persists for a longer time than usual, please call or visit us right away.
Headache & Migraine Relief
If you don’t regularly get headaches or migraines, and find yourself with a low grade pain, it can be okay to start trying to treat yourself at home. If the pain worsens, make sure to visit your local On Dmed to see a professional. Some useful at-home remedies for headaches are:
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Stay Hydrated: Being dehydrated is one of the most common causes of headaches! Even if this isn’t the root cause of your headache, it can’t hurt to get extra water into your system. Drink a few glasses of water, but make sure you don’t add ice, as that may make your headache worse!
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Take A Screen Break: While headaches and migraines can happen at any time, the light of your smartphone or computer screen can definitely cause a headache, or at least worsen your symptoms. Take a 5-10 minute break from your screen and go on a walk or just stretch your legs for a bit.
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Eat Something Healthy: Ideally, a piece of fruit! One of the causes of headaches can be low blood sugar, so the natural sugars in foods like fruit can help elevate that level and get it back to a normal, headache-less, place.
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Drink Some Tea: Tension headaches can be caused by a high level of stress. As the most common type of headaches among adults, it’s important to know what you can do to lessen the symptoms when you feel a headache coming on. Again, get away from your computer screen, drink some tea, and relax for a bit.