Headaches are incredibly common and affect millions of people daily. But if you have them frequently, and they interfere with your job or other activities, identifying the cause is crucial.
While you can manage some headaches with lifestyle changes and at-home treatments, others may require a doctor’s expertise.
At LiveWell Pain Management, interventional pain management physician Nora Taha, MD, specializes in headache treatment. Take a moment to learn more about headaches and when to see a professional for care.
Medical experts aren’t entirely sure why headaches occur. However, research suggests the blood vessels, nerves, and muscles in your head and neck regularly interact with one another. These interactions can sometimes cause the nerves to transmit pain signals, though the exact mechanism is unknown.
Even so, certain factors can increase the risk of headaches, including:
Most headaches improve with rest and over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication, but if you experience intense headaches for more than a few days per week, it could indicate an underlying health issue.
Don’t wait to contact us if:
There are more than 300 types of headaches, ranging in symptoms and severity. However, most mild headaches, like tension and sinus headaches, improve with OTC medication, like ibuprofen and acetaminophen.
More severe headaches, like migraines, have complex underlying causes and often require more specialized care.
Many types of headaches are triggered by outside factors. For example, dehydration headaches are a common side effect of not drinking enough water, while medication headaches are triggered by prescription or OTC drugs.
Not all headache triggers are as obvious as the examples above, so it may take an investigation to identify their cause. A physical and neurological exam and comprehensive lab work can help pinpoint triggers, such as vitamin deficiencies and hormone imbalances.
Many people experience headaches a couple of times a month, but others get headaches so frequently that it’s impossible to work, drive, or spend time with family and friends. Unfortunately, lifestyle factors, like poor sleep and chronic stress, can make the problem worse, creating a vicious cycle that perpetuates itself.
Working with a qualified pain management specialist like Dr. Taha can help provide relief. After identifying the type of headaches you have (and your individual triggers), she develops a personalized treatment plan to reduce their frequency and severity.
If you’re tired of frequent, intense headaches, contact Dr. Taha today. Her years of knowledge and expertise can help identify your triggers and provide lasting relief. Call the nearest LiveWell Pain Management office in Elmwood Park, Englewood, or Paramus, New Jersey, or request an appointment online.
