Medication
You may have a tension-type headache if:
- You feel pain on both sides of your head.
- The pain isn't severe.
- You have tight pressure rather than throbbing. It might feel like your head is in a vice or like there's pressure all the way around it. ...
Therapy
- Unlike medication, there are no dangerous side effects with electrotherapy. ...
- Treating a migraine with electrotherapy is a non-invasive and painless method and is therefore generally recommended.
- A stimulation current treatment can be used in the prevention of migraine and can significantly reduce the frequency of occurrence of migraine attacks.
Self-care
Here are some common ones to know:
- Throbbing head pain, typically on one side
- Light or sound sensitivity
- Trouble concentrating
- Blurred vision
- Blind spots or vision loss
- Nausea and vomiting
- Overwhelming fatigue
Nutrition
- Anticonvulsants. These are medicines that prevent or reduce seizures. ...
- Beta-blockers. These relax your blood vessels. ...
- Botulinum toxin (Botox). A doctor can inject small amounts around your face and scalp every 3 months to keep migraines from happening.
- Calcium-channel blockers. ...
What is the difference between tension and migraine?
How to use TENS unit for migraine treatment?
How to cure a migraine?
How to choose a preventive medication for migraine?
What is the best therapy for migraine?
Options include:Blood pressure-lowering medications. These include beta blockers such as propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran XL, others) and metoprolol tartrate (Lopressor). ... Antidepressants. A tricyclic antidepressant (amitriptyline) can prevent migraines. ... Anti-seizure drugs. ... Botox injections. ... CGRP monoclonal antibodies.
What is the difference between tension and migraine headaches?
A tension headache typically feels like a steady ache or discomfort in the head. The pain may be distracting, but not debilitating. On the other hand, a migraine is a severe, throbbing headache.
What causes migraines besides stress?
Strong smells — such as perfume, paint thinner, secondhand smoke and others — trigger migraines in some people. Sleep changes. Missing sleep or getting too much sleep can trigger migraines in some people. Physical factors.
What are alternative therapies for migraines?
Massage, spinal manipulation, and acupuncture are examples of complementary therapies that may be beneficial for people with migraines. “Migraines can be a sign of underlying imbalance,” says Starr Ramson, ND, a naturopathic doctor with the Nourish Medical Center in San Diego.
What is the fastest way to get rid of a migraine?
Try these tips and get to feeling better fast.Try a Cold Pack. If you have a migraine, place a cold pack on your forehead. ... Use a Heating Pad or Hot Compress. ... Ease Pressure on Your Scalp or Head. ... Dim the Lights. ... Try Not to Chew. ... Hydrate. ... Get Some Caffeine.
Can a muscle relaxer help with a migraine?
Muscle relaxants can be surprisingly effective for the prophylactic treatment of migraine headaches. It is surprising because migraine is a brain disorder and not a disorder of muscles.
Can migraines be a symptom of something else?
When you think of migraine, you probably think of a bad headache. While head pain is the most common (and sometimes the most intense) sign of migraine, you can also have other symptoms. You might confuse some signs of migraine with other conditions, including scary ones like stroke or epilepsy.
What are the four types of migraines?
And migraine medications can work to treat them.Menstrual. These usually happen 2 days before the start of a woman's period and last through 3 days after. ... Ocular (or Retinal) This form of migraine is very rare. ... Vestibular. With this type of migraine, you also get vertigo. ... Status Migrainosus.
What is a vestibular migraine?
A vestibular migraine is a nervous system problem that causes repeated dizziness (or vertigo) in people who have a history of migraine symptoms. Unlike traditional migraines, you may not always have a headache. There are many names for this type of problem. Your doctor might also call it: Migraine-associated vertigo.
What is the best natural treatment for migraines?
Speak with a doctor about a treatment plan that works for you.Avoid certain foods. Diet plays a vital role in preventing migraine attacks. ... Apply lavender oil. Inhaling lavender essential oil may ease migraine pain. ... Try acupuncture. ... Look for feverfew. ... Apply peppermint oil. ... Ginger. ... Sign up for yoga. ... Try biofeedback.More items...
How do you permanently cure a migraine?
Consider the basics:Be consistent. Eat at about the same time every day.Don't skip meals. Fasting increases the risk of migraines.Keep a food journal. Keeping track of the foods you eat and when you experience migraines can help identify potential food triggers.Avoid foods that trigger migraines.
What helps chronic migraines naturally?
Here are 18 effective home remedies to naturally get rid of headaches.Drink Water. Inadequate hydration may lead you to develop a headache. ... Take Some Magnesium. ... Limit Alcohol. ... Get Adequate Sleep. ... Avoid Foods High in Histamine. ... Use Essential Oils. ... Try a B-Complex Vitamin. ... Soothe Pain with a Cold Compress.More items...•
What is the best treatment for migraine headaches?
Migraines can be treated with two types of drugs: abortive and preventive. Abortive: The goal of abortive treatment is to stop a migraine once it starts. Abortive medications stop a migraine ...
How to stop migraines?
Abortive medications can be taken by self-injection, mouth, skin patch, or nasal spray. These forms of medication are especially useful for people who have nausea or vomiting related to their migraine, and they work quickly.
What is the best medication for migraines?
Preventive treatment medications include the following: Medications used to treat high blood pressure: beta-blockers ( propranolol, timolol, metoprolol) calcium channel blockers ( verapamil)
What is the name of the device that sends electrical pulses through the forehead to stimulate a nerve linked with migraine
These include: Cefaly , a small headband device that sends electrical pulses through the forehead to stimulate a nerve linked with migraines. Spring TMS or eNeura sTM, a device for people who have an aura before migraine headaches.
Can triptans help with headaches?
The triptans are used only to treat headache and do not relieve pain from back problems, arthritis, menstruation, or other conditions. People with certain medical conditions should not take these medications. The following drugs are sometimes used for nausea related to migraine headaches, in addition to migraine treatment: ...
What are the barriers to treatment for migraine?
Barriers to appropriate treatment of migraine include lack of access to providers, misdiagnosis, and acute and preventive therapies not being prescribed. Acute, rescue, and preventive treatment options are extensive, and new classes of treatments are either available or in development.
Is migraine a headache?
Migraine and tension-type headache are highly prevalent. Migraine is associated with significant work- and family-related disability. Migraine is underdiagnosed; it reasonable to err on the side of migraine when choosing between primary headaches.
Why are migraines so difficult to treat?
Migraines can become transformed and difficult to treat if a person has a history of treatment-responsive migraines but then experiences a psychological problem. The transformer, for example, could be a divorce, death of a loved one or anxiety.
What is transformation migraine?
Transformed migraine initially has a typical migraine presentation. The migraines have an obvious start and finish with discrete headache-free periods between attacks. Gradually the headaches increase in duration with fewer and fewer pain-free days. The use of analgesics may increase over time with less and less response. The etiology of transformation may be time, under-treatment, or a comorbid condition. Transformed migraine can be sub-classified as pseudo-transformed, rebound, or psychological and are discussed in the following sections.
How many migraines are resolved with one triptan?
If only one oral triptan is used then, at best only 60-70% of migraines will be resolved. The remaining 30-40% will then be labeled “triptan unresponsive,” when in fact, the migraine responds to a different triptan or to the nasal spray or injection form.
What is the difference between a transformed psychological migraine and a migraine caused by psychological issues?
The difference between a transformed psychological migraine and a migraine caused by psychological issues is the timing of the migraines and the psychological issue. In transformed migraines, treatment-responsive migraines were present prior to a new psychological issue.
Why isn't a second triptan taken?
The patient may be so happy that the migraine was partially relieved by the first triptan that a second dose is not taken because (1) the patient does not know he or she can, (2) cost issues, (3) side effect issues, or (4) he or she is simply happy with a 50-75% improvement in the pain.
What is rebound migraine?
It can occur with any type of analgesic and can even occur with triptans. Rebound is actually a form of withdrawal syndrome characterized by excess or uncontrolled central nerve transmission. 6 A common example is butalbital.It may only lessen the pain without treating the underlying condition of 5HT binding site activation. Initially butalbital may be required several times per month progressing to several times per week, then to daily use and quickly progressing to multiple doses per day. Use can escalate to as much as six, eight or even twenty doses per day. The concern is heightened considering that 4gm of acetominophen a day can be a hepatotoxic dose. As infrequently as 2-3 doses per week can cause rebound in a susceptible individual.
Can triptans cause migraines?
While triptans are the best treatment for migraines, they are sometimes not used in the correct fashion. For instance, frequently a patient single doses triptans and does not know that he or she can take a second dose in the same day. The patient may be so happy that the migraine was partially relieved by the first triptan that a second dose is not taken because (1) the patient does not know he or she can, (2) cost issues, (3) side effect issues, or (4) he or she is simply happy with a 50-75% improvement in the pain. However, 87% of patients desire to be pain-free. 3
Symptoms
Migraines and tension headaches are considered primary headaches, which means they are not caused by another condition. A headache caused by an underlying condition is known as a secondary headache.
Causes
The cause of migraines and tension headaches isn't fully understood. Tension headaches were previously thought to be caused by contraction of the neck and scalp muscles, but researchers have found that not to be true. 6
Diagnosis
If you are experiencing chronic tension headaches or migraines, you should see a neurologist to find out the cause.
Treatment
Getting a proper diagnosis for a tension headache or migraine is crucial because treatments vary between the two.
Prevention
Prevention of migraines and tension headaches involves avoiding triggers. Triggers such as lack of sleep and not eating can be easily remedied by ensuring that you don’t skip meals and are getting enough sleep every night.
Summary
While tension headaches are more moderate, migraines can be so severe that they hinder your ability to participate in daily activities. Migraines and tension headaches are treated using pain relievers, but other forms of treatment can also be used.
A Word From Verywell
Dealing with chronic head pain from either a tension headache or a migraine can be difficult. The good news is that there are things you can do to manage and cope with tension headaches and migraines.
What is the best treatment for headaches?
Behavioral treatments ( relaxation, biofeedback, and cognitive-behavioral therapy) possess the most evidence for successful headache management. They have a long history of randomized trials showing efficacy and are considered first-line preventive options.
What is the importance of educating patients about headaches?
Educating patients about headache and its management, identifying and managing triggers (via diaries), modifying lifestyles, and understanding the importance of adopting and adhering to interventions (either pharmacologic or nonpharmacologic) are relevant to all persons with headache.
What are nonpharmacologic treatments?
Strong candidates for nonpharmacologic treatment include individuals with significant headache-related disability, comorbid mood or anxiety disorders, difficulty managing stress or other triggers, medication overuse, and patients who prefer a specific treatment. Behavioral treatments (relaxation, biofeedback, and cognitive-behavioral therapy) ...
Diagnosis
Treatment
Clinical Trials
Lifestyle and Home Remedies
Specialist to consult
Preparing For Your Appointment
- If you have migraines or a family history of migraines, a doctor trained in treating headaches (neurologist) will likely diagnose migraines based on your medical history, symptoms, and a physical and neurological examination. If your condition is unusual, complex or suddenly becom…