Help with headache - painkillers often unsuitable

Tips for relieving the most common headache types

06/10/2014

Headache is a common complaint, with between 200 and 360 types of headache being distinguished in the art. Many sufferers are taking analgesics for headaches, but excessive use of the painkillers may also be the cause of headaches. Repeated severe headaches should therefore be urgently medically clarified and not be treated in self-therapy with headache pills.

Generally, a distinction is made between primary and secondary headache. For example, tension headaches, migraines or cluster headaches are known as primary headache forms. In the secondary forms, the headache is an accompanying symptom underlying disease, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, a cold with headache and body aches or even a tumor. In particular, in the primary headache, which account for about 90 percent of cases, the intake of appropriate painkillers can provide relief in the short term, but the latter are in no way suitable for long-term use, as a drug-induced headache threatens as a result.

Headache due to unhealthy lifestyle?
In many cases, the headache is favored by unhealthy lifestyles, the news agency reports „dpa“ citing the statement of the neurologist and senior consultant at the DRK Pain Center Mainz, Susann Seddigh. According to the expert, the headaches are often associated with lack of exercise, stress, lack of sleep, eating and drinking irregularly. The use of painkillers to relieve the headache can initiate a vicious cycle, in which the medication itself is the trigger of the symptoms. The known pain attacks would suddenly take longer or even become permanent and those affected need more and more drugs to relieve the pain, explained Professor Hartmut Göbel, chief physician of the Pain Clinic Kiel, compared to the „dpa“. Indication of a drug-induced headache may be exceeding the 10-20 rule, according to which the painkillers should be taken a maximum of ten days a month and on no drugs for headache should be used on at least 20 days.

Tension headaches can often be relieved with home remedies
According to the experts, one of the most common primary forms of headache, tension-type headache, can be treated relatively efficiently with medicines such as aspirin, paracetamol or ibuprofen. However, various home remedies can definitely provide relief without the risk of a drug-induced headache. For example, Professor Göbel mentions peppermint oil, which is applied externally to the forehead, temples and neck. In addition, the positive effects of massages with peppermint oil are known from naturopathy when the headaches emanate from tension in the cervical area. Furthermore, rubbing in the neck with melissa spirit can counteract tension headaches. Even compresses from healing earth, which are applied on the neck, develop here a positive effect. Last but not least, the warmth of a heated cherry stone pillow or a hot water bottle can release the tension of the muscles and thus contribute to the relief of headaches. A similar effect unfolds warm full baths, which can also be enriched with a few drops of lavender essential oil. Although many different home remedies are available for headaches, it is also the case here that regular, severe headaches should urgently be checked by a doctor.

Take preventive measures against migraines
Migraine is also relatively common and often leads to massive restrictions in everyday life. This is not only due to the massive headache during a migraine attack, but especially the so-called aura symptoms cause many sufferers significant problems. For example, they suffer from concomitant visual disturbances, increased sensitivity to light and noise, numbness in the fingers, nausea and vomiting. According to Stefanie Förderreuther of the German Migraine and Headache Society, women are significantly more affected by migraine than men. While about seven percent of men suffer from migraine attacks, be it in women 12 to 14 percent, the expert reported to the „dpa“. The neurologist explained that special migraine painkillers can be used to combat acute migraine attacks. If necessary, a combination with drugs for nausea makes sense. In order to prevent the occurrence of attacks, it is also important to take the drugs early enough and in sufficiently high doses. To prevent the reoccurrence of the attacks, preventive measures are well suited. Here the neurologist advises endurance sports and the learning of relaxation techniques (eg autogenic training, progressive muscle relaxation, yoga). A behavioral therapy for stress relief could help in individual cases. Over a limited period of time, in severe migraine attacks that occur more than three times a month, persist and do not respond well to acute therapy, prophylactic medication may also be used „reassurance“ to reach the disease. A permanent intake of the drugs, however, is also out of the question here.

In case of doubt, discontinue analgesics
If a medication-induced headache has already developed as a result of the excessive intake of analgesics, a medication break remains the only option. However, according to Professor Göbel, there is sometimes a so-called back headache pain. This could also severely affect the patients, which is why concomitant medication and, in the case of severe cases, in-patient treatment may be advisable, reports the expert. (Fp)