Family Health: Is it a headache or migraine?

WHEN A HEADACHE HITS, it can prove to be debilitating. Headaches often come with sensitivity to light, sound, and smells, throbbing temples, and even nausea and vomiting. Headaches can last anywhere from 30 minutes to a week, so when you’re suffering, it’s important to know how to manage the pain and whether you’re dealing with a dreaded migraine. So, how do you know if you have a run-of-the-mill headache, or if you’re suffering from a migraine?

The common headache can be triggered by stress, muscle strain, or sinus pressure. Most tension and sinus headaches are treatable with over-the-counter medication, heat therapy, or relaxation techniques. Migraines are triggered by stress, anxiety, sleep deprivation, and hormonal changes. Symptoms include nausea, seeing spots, pain behind one ear or eye, and possibly the loss of vision temporarily. Some even experience migraines with an aura, or precursor symptoms. These include tingling in the face and hands, unusual sense of smell or sight, and having trouble thinking.

In order to avoid migraines, eliminate trigger foods from your diet, including caffeine and alcohol. Take measures to reduce stress in your life, and treat underlying issues such as depression and high blood pressure. Once a migraine has set in, you may need to consider anti-nausea, anti-inflammatory, and triptan medication. However, it is not advised to take medication for migraines more than 10 days per month. When you feel that you might have a migraine, turn to the providers at Owl Now Urgent Care for treatment!

This column is sponsored by Owl Now Urgent Care.

CREDIT

column by DALLAS VALENTINE

BIO: Dallas Valentine is a provider at Owl Now Urgent Care in Lakeland, Florida.

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