Headaches - a real pain - Trinidad & Tobago Express Newspapers
HEADACHES are one of the most prevalent disorders of the nervous system. They’re not just caused by pain, but in the situation of migraines they may be debilitating and impact social, occupational and recreational activities. In some cases, headaches are also associated with the use of excessive painkillers that can trigger additional headaches or cause a headache to worsen. This is the reason it is crucial to know the type of headache you suffer from and take preventative measures like identifying triggers in order to prevent any recurrence according to neurologist Dr. Avidesh Panday.

The majority of the time headaches aren’t a sign of an intracranial disorder like cancer however they can be annoying and could impact your working and living. It is a common occurrence for tension headaches as well as migraines are some of the most frequent headaches.

The tension-related headache can be usually accompanied by a constant , low-grade constant headache that is like a tight sleeve on the head. Although most people are able to endure the day without issue, there can be some discomfort that could affect the way they function. There are migraine headaches that are more frequent and common among women because of the link between migraines as well as hormonal fluctuations.

“The primary factor that differentiates migraines from tension headaches is that migraines are more likely to come with different accompanying symptoms like vomiting and nausea. People might feel sensitive to light or sounds. They might also experience other neurological signs, like visual changes, they might be suffering from dizziness and vertigo, and in certain instances they might feel weak which could be a sign of stroke. A migraine can be very debilitating,”stressed Panday.

Common kinds

of headaches

There are many kinds of migraines There are people who experience migraines frequently, which can last for between one and four days. And then there are those who experience migraines at least three times each week.

The most frequent kinds of headaches in Trinidad is the rebound headache. If a person experiences headaches, the first option is to take an opioid painkiller such as paracetamol and other nonsteroidal medications that are classified as an abortive medication. In other words, it doesn’t fix the problem however it helps relieve the discomfort.

“Many sufferers abuse painkillers, and the result is that the initial headache becomes a continual headache that’s there every day and the patient begins to panic because they believe that they’re taking all the pills, yet the headache isn’t improving, but it is increasing in frequency and severity.

Patients may have kinds of headaches and not everyone is only confined to one type of headache. In fact, some patients might suffer from a combination of several headaches,” explained Panday.

A neurologist who meets patients suffering from headaches must determine whether there are any red flags or something in the patient’s medical history that requires urgent imaging or treatment.

“Whenever we talk to patients, we attempt to determine the type of headaches they are suffering from as well as the total amount of days in a month that they experience headaches, and the dosage of painkillers they’re taking so that we can to get the full picture.

The neurologists will determine any issue that requires urgent imaging or therapy,” said Panday.

A few warning signs of headaches that need urgent attention include:

Headaches and a loss of consciousness

Headaches and progressive visual symptoms which can cause loss of vision or experiencing black spots in your vision or hearing ringing (these are indications that pressure is too high in your brain)

headaches that can be accompanied by permanent weakness that may indicate a neurological impairment.

When a neurologist is confronted with a person suffering from persistent headaches and headaches, he will take into consideration the patient’s familial background as certain headaches could be genetic in origin and One of the initial things to be examined is the blood pressure of the patient.

Examining the optometrist

One of the major elements of the exam is checking the back of the eye to determine whether there is swelling of the nerves that can suggest that something is happening within the brain.

Many patients suffering from headaches might visit the optometrist thinking there’s something wrong with their eyes, and the optometrist is the person who will be able to identify the issue and recommend the patient to the neurologist or ophthalmologist.

In addition, some individuals may experience headaches that manifest as facial pain, which could be mistaken for dental issues and later realize that it is an nerve problem that affects the facial area.

In his many years of practicing medical practice, Panday has observed that individuals from Trinidad have good tolerance to pain, they are more likely to use too many painkillers.

Panday recommends being proactive and acting by identifying the headache type you suffer from and then focusing on effective treatment which will reduce medication and the amount of headache days.

“One thing that I often tell my clients is that having a migraine similar to a fire that has been extinguished, and first appears with an ignition.

A lot of people believe they can fight it off or lay down and just wait for the migraine to go away but it’s much more difficult to control an ember when it has taken hold than a spark so if you sense the symptoms are surfacing, that’s the time to treat it. don’t attempt to sleep it off. Try to remove the issue before it spreadsand you’ll experience better results and you’ll require fewer tablet,” he advises.

Be aware of your triggers, says the neuroologist. The most commonly used food items that cause migraines include red wine, certain types of cheeses dark chocolate, nuts caffeine, coffee and a few dairy products, as well as MSG.

Avoid factors that trigger a reaction for certain people. It could be specific scents or smells, or certain shades of light and reduce your time on screens.

To ease the strain of digital eyes, Follow the American Optometric Associates’ 20-20-20 rule. This means taking 20 seconds to look at something from 20 feet each 20 minute period.

“Not all migraines require treatment. It could be a matter of finding the root of your migraine and avoiding triggers” Panday says. Panday.