While many of us in New York have suffered from a headache at one time or another and would gladly avoid it if we could. Most of us don't think much about why we get them or what pain management NYC can do to relieve the pain.
It's because this condition is so widespread, treatments have been developed and provided many pain management techniques. Treatment for headaches may include medications, lifestyle changes, and alternative methods. If you're looking for a clinic in NYC that focuses on personalized care, All Of Pain is the right place for you. Call us today for more information.
What is headache?
Headache is a sign that something is wrong in your body and can go from mild pain to excruciating discomfort almost instantly.
It is common and we all know that headaches can be a terrible thing to deal with. They can be debilitating and spoil our entire day. When you have a headache, you might have trouble getting out of bed, completing your daily tasks, or even going outside due to the pain level.
What triggers headaches?
Headaches, one of the most common health issues in New York and other places around the world, account for more visits to a physician than any other complaint. It affects children and adults, men and women, young and old. So why do we get headaches? Well, there are a lot of reasons.
Typically, a headache follows a pattern of recurring headaches that come back in the same pattern every month or two. Other times, a headache is likely to occur when you're dehydrated or don't get enough sleep.
Headache pain is usually on one side of the head and may come and go over time. Sometimes, you may feel a headache coming on because of stress, fatigue, or anxiety. Sometimes, the pain may be so severe that it wakes you up from a sound sleep. There are times when the pain just comes out of nowhere, with no explanation behind it. Whatever the situation may be, headaches can cause excruciating pain and can change your mood from good to bad in a blink of an eye.
Some headache sufferers get headaches from stress, sleep deprivation, fatigue, or eyestrain. But there are also several other common causes of headaches:
• Alcohol use
• Poor posture or muscle tension in the neck and shoulders
• Anxiety and stress
• Autoimmune disorders
• Certain foods (such as processed foods)
• Changes in the weather (such as heat waves)
• Caffeine withdrawal
• Chemical exposure (like ammonia)
• Changes in hormone levels (pregnancy, menstruation, menopause)
When a person gets a headache, it is usually the result of increased pressure in the skull or pain in one or more nerves that supply the head and face. The pain can be throbbing or non-throbbing, lasting from a few hours to several days. Allergies may cause itchy eyes or sneezing, which can also lead to pain in the back of the head. The nasal passages become irritated when allergens enter the body through the nose or mouth. The irritation causes inflammation in the blood vessels that supply your brain with blood and oxygen. This inflammation causes pain by affecting blood flow to your brain and causes headaches.
What are the types of headaches?
There are many different types of headaches, but most can be traced back to tension or muscle strain in the neck and shoulders. It is not uncommon for people with chronic headaches to suffer from depression, anxiety, memory loss, and other neurological problems as well.
Here are some common types of headaches:
Tension headaches. Tension headaches are the most common type of headache and can affect anyone at any age but most often occur in adults between 20 and 50 years old. They're characterized by mild to moderate pain on both sides of the head that builds up gradually over time. They're usually caused by muscle tension and spasms in the neck and shoulders, especially when you have poor posture or do repetitive tasks such as typing or driving for long periods of time. You might also get a tension headache from stress or anxiety.
Migraines. Migraines are much less common than tension headaches but much more severe — they're often accompanied by nausea and light sensitivity (photophobia). In addition, involve intense pain on one side of the head that lasts anywhere from 4-72 hours. The pain may make it difficult for you to function normally during this time period. Migraines can also cause sensitivity to smells and tastes, fatigue, double vision, and dizziness due to low blood pressure during an attack. These symptoms may occur before, during, or after the actual headache phase of your migraine attack.
One type of migraine is called classic migraine, consisting of throbbing pain on one side of the head and other symptoms like nausea and vomiting. Another type is called an aura migraine, which causes visual disturbances before the actual pain starts; this type usually affects young women more often than men.
Cluster headaches. Cluster headache is a rare but severe condition characterized by recurrent episodes of severe unilateral pain around one eye associated with tearing and redness on one side of the face and eyelid closure. In addition, cluster headaches are often associated with other symptoms such as sweating and increased salivation.
The effects of headaches are often underestimated. Headaches can be very uncomfortable and even life-threatening. They can affect your quality of life, causing you to miss work or school, adversely affect your relationships with friends and family members, and lead to sleep deprivation when you're unable to get relief from your headache pain.
However, a headache is not always just a headache. Some types of headaches are more serious than others. In addition, some underlying health conditions can cause chronic headaches, such as high blood pressure (hypertension), low sodium levels (hyponatremia), or anemia (low red blood cell count). If you're not sure what type of headache you have, get help from a pain management specialist immediately.
When to see a pain doctor?
Like any kind of physical pain, it can be treated. Unfortunately, for many people, the first instinct when experiencing a headache is to pop an over-the-counter painkiller and wait for the pain to subside. While this seems like the most logical method of dealing with a headache, it actually addresses the symptom of a headache while ignoring the underlying cause, which can often lead to more frequent and severe headaches. Therefore, when you have a headache that is different from usual or accompanied by other symptoms, you should see a pain doctor.
Seek medical care if you experience these symptoms:
You have a fever over 102°F (38°C) with your headache
Your headache is accompanied by problems speaking or walking — such as numbness or weakness on one side of your face or body
Your headaches are on both sides of your head and are worse when coughing, sneezing, or stooping
You have had 15 or more headaches in the past month that last for 10 minutes or longer (or come back after being gone for less than an hour)
If you have a headache, you probably want it to go away as soon as possible. But there are steps that you can take to reduce the frequency and severity of headaches. There are many different types of headaches, and each type has its own treatment options, but sometimes it takes some patience and hard work to get rid of them.
New York pain management center
Understandably, thinking about the causes of headaches can be overwhelming and confusing. Most headaches are temporary and will go away on their own with time. However, if you find that you have frequent headaches or if you have a headache that does not go away after three days, it is important that you seek medical attention from a pain specialist.
There are many possible reasons one might experience a headache. The easiest way to get started on your headache pain management journey is by figuring out what kind of headaches you're dealing with. Obviously, all headaches are different in their own ways, but there are some basic categories that most fall into. You may find that your headaches fit into one specific category, or you may find that you experience a combination of several types of headaches – either way, this information can help you piece together what the problem could be (and how to fix it).
Pain management center can help patients suffering from chronic pain and headaches receive treatment specific to their needs. Pain management centers are designed to treat chronic pain that doesn't respond to traditional treatments or pain medications. Instead, they use a combination of therapies like acupuncture, physical therapy, massage therapy, and other alternative treatments to help patients manage their symptoms.
If you suffer from chronic headaches or migraines, our pain management center may be able to help you get relief. Our specialists will work with you to come up with a plan that will help reduce your headaches and prevent them from returning. Our approach to treating headache pain at our pain management NYC center is based on comprehensive procedures and techniques that can help you get back to living your life without the limitations of chronic pain.
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