8/2/2019 Headaches Leaflet

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HEADACHES

Headaches may be one of the most common medical complaints. Almost everyone gets aheadache now and then. For most people, a headache is an infrequent annoyance thatcomes and goes. But when they start to occur regularly, your education, work, family & socialactivities can be affected. This may result in increased medical cost and affect your ability towork and take care of your family. It can also cause significant concern and anxiety.

Most headaches are not an indication of a serious medical condition and most, if not all, canbe treated effectively. However, medical attention should be sought for frequent or severeheadaches.

TYPES OF HEADACHES

Migraine

y Pain begins or stay just on one side of the head

y Pulsating and throbbing pain of moderate to severe intensityy Physical activities, especially bending or coughing makes headaches worsey Sensitivity to lights, sound and smelly Nausea or vomiting

y May be preceded by flash lights

y May be associated with visual symptoms, e.g. seeing zigzag lines andtingling/numbness of limbs

These symptoms may occur before or during a headache attack, but lasts no more than anhour.Tension Headache

y Pain feels like a tight band pressing around the head

y Pain is usually dull, steady and not throbbingy No nausea or vomiting associated with the headache

Cluster Headache

y Headache attack often awakes patient from sleep at a similar time every night

y Pain always occurs on the same side and usually centres over one eye whichcauses tearing and redness

y Opposite side of the head is completely unaffected

y Patient usually paces up and down, holding the head

WHAT CAUSES HEADACHES?

Most headaches have a genetic basis, i.e. it runs in the family. The patient may have otherfamily members who also suffer from headache disorder and may also be sensitive to certaintriggers that can lead to a headache attack.

8/2/2019 Headaches Leaflet

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Lessen the impact of a headache by identifying and avoiding specific triggers, such as:y External environment - weather, smell and sound

y Emotion and stress

y Food and drink

Keeping a headache diary will help to identify factors that have any relationship to theheadache patterns.

TREATMENT

There are many ways of treating headaches.y Symptomatic treatment - to relieve the symptoms of a headache attack.

y Prophylactic treatment - to prevent a headache attack from occurring.

Apart from medical therapy, keeping a healthy lifestyle is important, e.g. having adequatesleep, regular meal times, regular exercises and avoidance of smoking. If you have knowntriggers, you should try to avoid them.WHEN DO YOU NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR?Please consult your doctor when you experience these conditions:

y Headache attacks of one or more times per week

y Taking pain killer almost daily or exceeding recommended dose

y A change in a regular headache pain or pattern

y Stiff neck or fever with headache

y Headache associated with dizziness, unsteady gait, slurred speech, weakness ornumbness

y Confusion and drowsiness

y Headache begins and persists after head injury

y Your first or the worst headache in your life

y Headache begins after the age of 50

y If you have a new headache and you have a history of cancer, autoimmune diseaseor HIV

Living with headache is a daily challenge. It can be incapacitating and unpredictable. Thegoal is to take control of your headache and not let the headache take control of you, yourob, or your loved ones.