All is well — until a headache strikes. So you get into your medicine cabinet and grab an aspirin or ibuprofen for quick relief.
Sound familiar? You may be surprised to learn that may not be the best decision.
“Most recurring headaches are due to self-medicating,” says Mary Beth Donovan who is a board-certified acute care nurse practitioner at Beaufort Memorial Primary Care. “You get a headache, so you take an ibuprofen. Do this often enough, and it can lead to a cycle of more headaches. Instead of doing that, it’s better to learn what is causing your headaches. Then, you can prevent them from happening in the first place.”
Top Causes of Headaches
Donovan estimates that half of the patients who come to her for recurring, frequent headaches experience them due to taking medication too often. However, self-medicating is not the only cause of headaches. Other common causes include:
- Alcohol consumption
- Allergies
- Cigarette smoking
- Dehydration
- Excessive caffeine consumption or caffeine withdrawal
- Eye strain
- Hunger
- Stress
Read More: Stress SOS — Calm the Chaos
Home Remedies for Frequent Headaches
Once you understand the root cause of your headache, you’re in a position to treat the problem and prevent it in the future. If you learn that your headaches are caused by taking over-the-counter pain medication, stop taking them and try the following strategies when a headache strikes:
- Drink a glass of water instead of coffee, tea or soda.
- Eat on a regular schedule.
- Identify your allergy triggers, because allergies can also cause headaches.
- Quit smoking.
- Try peppermint essential oil, a natural remedy that works for some people and can be diffused in the air, added to a warm bath or applied directly to your skin.
- Use meditation or exercise to get your stress levels under control.
- Wear appropriate prescription eyeglasses, if necessary.
It may take a couple weeks to get rid of medication-related headaches, but fighting through the pain can help you avoid more medication-related headaches moving forward.
When a Headache Indicates a Bigger Problem
Most of the time, headaches are nothing more than a nuisance. They slow you down, but they don’t stop you in your tracks. In some cases, however, a headache is a signal that something more is going on with your body. Headaches can be a symptom of high blood pressure, which your primary care provider can treat. Recurring headaches, marked by moderate to severe, throbbing pain, could be migraines, another form of headache that your primary care provider can help address.
Read More: 8 Health Problems You Should Never Ignore
Seek emergency medical attention if your headache:
- Causes fever, stiff neck, nausea and vomiting
- Is accompanied by vision changes or numbness
- Is the worst headache you’ve ever experienced
Call 911 if you or a loved one experiences a headache accompanied by stroke symptoms. Classic stroke symptoms can be remembered with the acronym FAST:
- Facial drooping or numbness, particularly on one side of the face
- Arm weakness and inability to hold both arms up for 10 seconds
- Speech difficulty, such as slurring or strange speech or inability to speak
- Time to call 911 to prevent permanent damage or even death
Read More: Five Ways to Help a Stroke Survivor
“Multiple sclerosis, brain tumors, stroke and anything else affecting the brain can present as a headache,” Donovan says. “Thankfully, that’s rarely the case. Headaches are much more common because of dehydration and other issues that can be resolved easily. But if in doubt, seek medical attention. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”
BMH Care Anywhere, our telehealth app, can help the next time you have a bad headache and want to speak with someone quickly. Board-certified healthcare providers are available 24/7/365.
