The Best Solutions for Migraine and Headache Pain
When headaches are ruling your life, it’s time to find an effective, long-term solution. Whether your headaches are intermittent, persistent, or they never seem to go away, all you want is complete and lasting relief. But what are the best ways to manage your headache pain?
At Apex Neurology, Northern Medical Care PC in Forest Hills, New York, our expert team specializes in diagnosing and treating many different types of headache pain. Led by experienced neurologists Omar Ahmed, MD, and Inan Seniha, MD, they can help you find the relief you’ve been looking for.
What causes headaches and migraines?
Virtually everyone experiences headaches from time to time. Chronic headache or migraine pain that affects your daily life, on the other hand, is a problem that should be addressed.
But what exactly causes headaches? The pain from a headache is thought to be caused by aggravated nerve cells that stimulate the surrounding muscles and blood vessels, leading to pain, discomfort, and other bothersome symptoms.
Chronic headaches aren’t usually random or spontaneous. More typically, something prompts, or “triggers,” migraines and persistent headaches. While many headache triggers are obvious, others can be more difficult to pinpoint.
Figuring out what triggers your headache pain can help you prevent them in the future. So what are some common headache triggers? Here are a few things that can prompt persistent headaches and migraines:
- Stress and depression
- Bright lights and strong odors
- Alcohol consumption
- Recurrent eye strain
- Posture-related neck strain
- Seasonal weather changes
- Sleep pattern changes
Once you understand what’s prompting your headaches, you can learn how to better manage them — or prevent them altogether.
Solutions that can help
If you’re tired of suffering from headaches or migraines, you want to find ways to relieve your pain. However, going to the doctor every time you have a headache isn’t ideal. Luckily, there are many effective, at-home solutions that can help you ease your pain.
The simplest way to get lasting relief from chronic headaches or migraines is to determine your personal triggers, and then avoid or minimize them.
For example, if drinking alcohol seems to prompt headache pain, avoid alcoholic beverages or at least try to cut back on your consumption. The same goes for eating. If you find a certain food or ingredient seems to trigger your headaches, keep it out of your diet.
Avoiding triggers won’t help, however, when you’re in the midst of an attack. Once a headache or migraine begins, all you want is fast relief. These strategies can help you ease your pain:
- Breathe deeply, relax, and rest
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever
- Apply heat to ease muscle tension
- Make sure you’re fully hydrated
- Drink a small amount of caffeine
- Get a head and neck massage
For headaches and migraines that are particularly persistent or severe, our team may also prescribe medications that work to decrease the frequency and intensity of your pain.
BotoxⓇ is another effective solution for tough-to-treat headaches and migraines. Botox injections provide lasting relief by relaxing the tight cranial muscles that contribute to your head pain. This treatment approach is most effective for chronic migraines and tension headaches.
When to see a doctor
If your headaches don’t seem to get better — even with diligent at-home care — it’s time to schedule an appointment with the team at Apex Neurology. Sometimes, headaches can be symptomatic of a more serious health problem, such as a mini stroke or meningitis.
Signs that indicate you should see a doctor for your headache include:
- Worst headache of your life
- Nausea or vomiting
- Vision changes
- Numbness or tingling
- Neck pain or stiffness
- High fever; confusion
- Fainting or dizziness
It’s also a good idea to see our team if you experience severe headache or migraine pain that seems to be occurring more often than usual or doesn’t improve with conservative measures.
If you’re tired of dealing with persistent headache or migraine pain, we can help. Call 347-201-4665 to reach our office in Forest Hills, New York, today, or use the easy online booking tool to schedule a visit with one of our headache experts any time.