Headache pain relief. Carolyn A. Bernstein, MD, Department of Neurology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, describes types of headaches and headache treatments.

There are many different kinds of headaches including migraine headaches or tension headaches in which patients feel like something is squeezing their brain. Cluster headaches are shorter in duration but are very intense and very painful. Headaches may also accompany more serious conditions such as a stroke.

Some people are more susceptible to developing headaches than others. Migraines in particular are genetic. With migraines there's also a difference between men and women. Women tend to have headaches three times more frequently than men. We think the reason for this is hormonal. Many women who have migraines notice that their migraines occur less frequently once they go through menopause. Migraine headaches, often one sided, are accompanied by vomiting and light sensitivity. Sometimes people experience symptoms before they get a headache. Symptoms include seeing flashing lights, trouble speaking, or getting numb on one side of the body.

An important part of headache management is identifying what triggers headaches and avoiding those triggers. Triggers may include bright lights, certain foods, sleep levels or even dehydration.

Medical treatments for headaches include different types of medications and interventional treatments such as botulinum toxin injections or nerve blocks. Integrative therapies that are used to treat headache include acupuncture, yoga, or Tai chi. Often a combination of treatments is recommended.

Learn more about headache care at the John R. Graham Headache Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital: [ Ссылка ]

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