For those of us who suffer from severe headache pain, we know that there is no such thing as a “little headache.” But, one good thing to know about severe headache pain is that 95% of headaches are not life-threatening, although I think I am going to die from the pain from time to time.
However, with that said, severe headache pain is nothing to ignore. There are many different causes of severe headache pain, and they are classified into two categories—primary headaches and secondary headaches. You need to know the difference to know what to do.
Primary Headaches
These are the primary headaches that make up the more common types of headaches, and they are not associated with disease.
• Tension Headache. The common tension headache is the most common severe headache pain adults suffer from. Life can be stressful and fast-paced. It’s no surprise that 90% of adults complain about these types of headaches.
• Migraine Headache. As the second most common cause of severe headache pain, an estimated 28 million Americans suffer from throbbing migraines. Typically located on only one side of the temple, forehead, eye, or back of the head, migraines are usually accompanied by vomiting, nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound.
• Cluster Headache. Cluster headaches are headaches that come in groups. People who suffer from these excruciating headaches liken the pain to having a sharp, burning object shoved into their eye! Sorry for the unpleasant comparison, but we want to stress the fact that cluster headaches hurt. I mean really hurt. Only 0.1% of the population is affected by cluster headaches, making these severe headache pains very rare … and thankfully so.
In order to receive the best treatment for your severe headache pain, it is important to know what kind of headache is causing your discomfort even if you have to guess at it.
For the common tension headache, an over-the-counter painkiller, like an acetaminophen (Tylenol) or a Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (Advil, Aspirin) will work nicely.
For migraine headaches, painkillers are discouraged. Many doctors recommend caffeine to alleviate this kind of severe headache pain. Try coffee, coke, or tea to begin with to see which one is more effective. Some soft drinks for example have much higher caffeine level content than others so read the labels and test them out one at a time.
As for cluster headaches, your doctor may prescribe special medication, such as a calcium channel blocker.
Secondary Headaches
Secondary headaches are caused by disease. There are many different diseases that can cause this kind of severe headache pain. Some examples include:
• Brain tumors
• Meningitis
• Lyme disease
• Sinusitis
• Parkinson’s disease
• Hemorrhages
See a professional if you experience persistent severe headache pain that does not respond to an OTC pain killer.
As mentioned before, most headaches are not serious, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
You do not have to live with severe headache pain there are solutions and with persistence you can find the right thing that works for you.
For more information about severe headache pain and treatment, visit the National Headache Foundation’s website and the links below.
Click here for non-narcotic solutions for your headache pain:
Headache Pain Relief Information, and Products for headache pain
Headache and Migraine Headache Solutions Ray Attebery is the President for The Centre for Pain Relief.