Your Head Hurts? Again? Iron deficiency headaches!

January 21, 2020

know more about headaches and iron deficiency!

Headaches are one of the most common health complaints. Almost everybody experiences them once in a while. According to the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD), there are more than 150 different kinds of headaches. They are divided into two main categories: primary and secondary.

The most common types of headaches that cause people to seek medical care are primary headaches—tension headaches, migraines, and cluster headaches. Although most are short-lived and rarely a cause for concern, being able to recognize which kind of headache a person is experiencing can inform them how best to treat it and whether to see a doctor.

Depending on your diagnosis and symptoms, treatment might include:
·         Taking supplements to prevent the pain
·         Resting in a quiet and dark room
·         Applying hot or cold compresses to your head or neck
·         Massaging and having small amounts of caffeine
·         Taking Over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) and aspirin

The most common primary headaches

Primary headaches occur when the pain in your head is the condition. In other words, if your headache is not being triggered by something that your body is dealing with, like illness or allergies, it is called primary headaches.

These headaches can be episodic or chronic:

  • Episodic headaches may occur every so often or even just once in a while. They can last anywhere from half an hour to several hours.
  • Chronic headaches are more consistent. They occur most days out of the month and can last for days at a time. In these cases, a pain management plan is necessary.

Tension Headache

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache, often described as a constant pain or pressure felt on both sides of the head, in the back of the head or neck. The pain is typically mild to moderate, but it is not as severe as migraines, and aren’t usually accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Experts believe tension headaches may be caused by contraction of neck and scalp muscles (including in response to stress), possible changes in brain chemicals, poor sleep, dehydration, and skipped meals.

OTC painkillers, such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and aspirin are usually very effective in stopping or reducing pain. Individuals experiencing a headache on more than 15 days per month over 90 days should see a doctor.

Migraine Headache

Migraine headaches are often described as pounding, throbbing and one-sided (unilateral) pain that is typically moderate to severe. Migraine can last from several hours to 3 days and usually happen one to four times a month. The pain is three times as common in women as men and is often accompanied by nausea and/or vomiting. The cause of migraine headache isn’t clear, but genes appear to play a role, and brain cell activity may affect blood vessel and nerve cell function.

Besides, certain environmental factors, such as sleep disruption, dehydration, stress and anxiety, skipped meals, some foods, hormonal changes, and exposure to chemicals are common migraine triggers.

Research shows that preventative medications are significantly underused. Only 3 to 13 percent of those with migraine take preventive medication, while up to 38 percent actually need it. Preventing migraine greatly improves quality of life and productivity.

If OTC pain relievers don’t reduce your migraine pain during an attack, Triptans in the form of nasal sprays, pills, and injections might be prescribed to decrease inflammation and change the flow of blood within your brain.

Cluster Headache

Cluster headaches are another very distinct type of head pain characterized by sudden-onset severe sharp pain. They generally recur behind one eye or on one side of the face. Cluster headaches tend to occur one to eight times a day and after one headache is mitigated another will soon follow. The pain lasts from 5 minutes to 3 hours and usually occurs in the same way each time.

Nasal congestion, eye tearing, swelling, redness, flushing, and sweating often occur on the side affected by the headache.

Cluster headaches can be brought on by alcohol or tobacco use. They are more common in the spring and fall. Surprisingly they are three times more common in men.

Treatments may include lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking; oxygen treatment; Verapamil, a medication that relaxes blood vessels; or Prednisone, a steroid medication to reduce inflammation and swelling.

The most common secondary headaches

Secondary headaches are a symptom of medical or neurological condition. This group of headaches include sinus headaches, medication overuse, headaches of an infection and blood vessels in the brain, head injury, trauma, or a tumor. If the trigger of your secondary headache exists during a certain time, it can become chronic.

Allergy or Sinus headaches are associated with a deep and constant pain in the cheekbones, forehead, or bridge of the nose. The pain usually comes along with other sinus symptoms, like nasal discharge, fullness in the ears, fever, a swollen face, foul taste in the mouth, and pain over the involved sinus. The condition may worsen with movement or straining. Moreover it can sometimes spread to the teeth and jaw.

Sinus headaches can be treated with OTC painkillers and nasal decongestants. Antibiotics may also be prescribed if your doctor diagnoses a bacterial infection. If you suffer from an allergy, your doctor will prescribe antihistamines.

Iron deficiency or iron deficiency anemia may cause headaches, dizziness or feeling of lightheadedness. With iron deficiency, the amount of oxygen which reach your brain cells is depleted. That’s why your head hurts if you are iron deficient. Iron supplements especially before and during menstrual cycle can help with preventing iron loss headaches.

Medication-overuse headache (MOH) is a secondary disorder caused by excessive use of over-the-counter analgesics or prescribed painkillers such as opiates and sedative hypnotic tablets. Doctors prescribe these medications for headache management. The location, character, and severity of medication-overuse headache can vary among individuals. However, most of the time it occurs daily or nearly daily, and is usually present upon awakening.

Nausea, anxiety, irritability, asthenia, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, memory problems and depression are the symptoms that occur along with pain during MOH.

When to see a doctor

If you suffer from morning headaches, headaches that wake you during night, severe nausea and vomiting, sudden weight loss or any type of headaches consistently with or without unusual symptoms, it’s important to speak with your GP so they can help create a treatment plan or refer you to a specialist.

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional regarding any medical condition. While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information presented in the blog and to describe best generally accepted current practices we cannot accept any liability for errors or omissions or for any consequences from application of the information given.

What is iron deficiency anemia?

When Your Body Cries for Help in PMS! Take Best Supplements to Live Happily

Keywords : , ,