Page 87 - (DK) Home Doctor: Providing practical advice on home treatments

COMMON CONDITIONS 85

HEAD, BACK, AND LIMB PROBLEMS

Headache

The most common type of headache is a tension headache. You
WARNING
may feel pressure around your head and behind your eyes and
have a stiff neck and shoulder muscles. Tension headaches usually Seek urgent medical attention if the
pain is sudden and incapacitating,
last for a few hours and are commonly due to stress, fatigue, or poor
follows head injury, or occurs with:
posture, which may cause tension in the neck and scalp. Other ● Drowsiness and blurred vision
triggers include certain foods, poor eyesight, hunger or dehydration, ● Stiff neck; sensitivity to light; fever;
and changes in the menstrual cycle. Headaches also occur with vomiting; possibly a rash (see p.150)
● Limb weakness
illnesses such as the flu and can be a symptom of meningitis.
See also Migraine, p.86.

What you can do yourself
DRUG REMEDIES
Use the following measures at the first sign of a
headache to stop it from becoming worse. Analgesics Take ibuprofen (see p.185) or
acetaminophen (see p.177) for a headache, but don’t
● Take an analgesic (see DRUG REMEDIES, right). It
use analgesics for more than a few days at a time. If
is best to start taking it as soon as the headache you take them regularly your body will become
begins, before the pain becomes intense. accustomed to them and you may have continuing
headaches as each dose of medication wears off.
● Take a hot bath or shower to help your neck and
shoulder muscles relax. Choosing analgesics
Soluble analgesics and liquid
● Try using heat to soothe the pain: fill a hot-water
capsules are absorbed fast.
bottle, wrap it in a towel, and rest your head on it. Chewable tablets dissolve in
the mouth.
● Ask a partner or friend to massage the muscles
at the back of your neck, using his or her fingertips
in a gentle circular motion.
● Rest in a quiet room, in darkness or with dimmed
lights. Make sure you get enough sleep at night.
● If headaches are linked to stress, try aerobic
exercise (such as brisk walking), yoga, or practice
deep breathing and muscle relaxation exercises Seek medical advice
(see PRACTICAL TECHNIQUES, pp.20–21).
Arrange to see your doctor if:
● Have your eyesight checked.
● The headache has not cleared up within
● If you work at a desk or computer workstation,
a day or two or is becoming more severe
get up and walk around regularly to reduce tension
● You feel that your headache is not a simple
in your neck and shoulders.
tension headache
● Avoid drinking alcohol and caffeine in excess, ● You have recurrent headaches or need
and smoking, all of which can lead to headaches. to use analgesics regularly