Your Health Q& A:I feels my head heavy today!

 

Headache commonly described by one if it arises around the head or neck region involving the tissues or structures around the skull or brain because the brain itself has millions of nerves causing pain. The symptom varies from throbbing to pounding from days to months , plus can be mild to serious too depending on the causes.

What are the causes of headaches?

• Dehydration
• Muscle tension
• neuropathy
• Fever
• Caffeine withdrawal
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Sensitive to certain food
• Hormonal changes
• Pregnancy
• Side effects of medication
• Brain tumour
• Vertigo
• Brain infection such as meningitis and encephalitis
• Idiopathic
• Hypertension
• Secondary to vision deterioration
• Sinusitis

What are the common types of headache?

What are the "red alarms" of headache?

You should be concerned or take them seriously when headache coupled with the following symptoms:

• Sudden, new and severe headache
• Weakness
• Dizziness or nausea
• Sudden loss of balance
• Numbness or tingling
• Paralysis
• Trouble with speech
• Confusion
• Seizures
• Personality changes
• Nose bleeding
• Blurring of vision

Those symptoms tied with red alarms or serious because it could be due to a more sinister illness such as brain tumour, stroke or bleeding in the brain.

What can I do for immediate relieve?

You may opt for simple pain killer such as paracetamol but advised to seek medical attention if symptom worsening or persist. Also, work to find the cause(s) or withdraw the trigger. Apart from that pressure point at the back of the neck called Hegu(L1-4) is located between the base of your thumb and index finger. Doing this acupressure on this point to relieve pain and headaches.

Why do I feel pain the first in the morning?

Lack of sleep or poor quality of sleep will result in morning headaches because your body's level of internal pain reduction may be lowered in the learning morning hours. Additionally, our body may make more adrenalin during this time.

What are the foods specifically good for headaches?

• orange, yellow and green vegetables
• brown rice
• non-citrus fruits like cherries and cranberries
• ginger or lime tea
• banana
• coffee

How long does a headache last?

From a few hours to days, but headache which persists or worsening warrants medical attention.

What will be next course of action if I meet a physician due to headache?

Firstly, pharmacological if look not concerning or serious and further advice is given. However, proceed to vital signs and physical examination. This is followed by blood investigations and imaging like CT or MRI scan in the tertiary centre if needed.

From kitchen to remedy:

• Apply peppermint oil
• Eat raw ginger or mix ginger powder in a glass of water
• Apply sandalwood paste at forehead for 10-15minutes
• Drink chamomile tea regularly
• Boil some basil leaves in water, add honey and consume

Happiness is the moment you realize the headache is gone!