Understanding the causes and finding the treatments to eliminate sudden sharp pain. Almost everyone has had a headache, and most of us have had many. A minor headache is bit more than an annoyance that’s alleviated by an over the counter painkiller, some food or coffee, or a short rest. But if your headache is severe, sharp or uncommon, you might fret about stroke, a tumor, or a blood clot.
Why You have Sudden Sharp Pain in Head?
Luckily, such problems are rare. Still, you ought to know when a headache needs immediate care and how to manage the huge majority of headaches that are not threatening to your health.
Not brain pain
Medical professionals don’t completely understand what causes most headaches. They do know that the brain tissue and the skull are never accountable given that they don’t have nerves that register pain. But the blood vessels in the head and neck can signal pain, as can the tissues that surround the brain and some major nerves that come from the brain. The scalp, sinuses, teeth, and muscles and joints of the neck can likewise cause head pain.
Read also: headache on right side of head.
When to worry
You can care for lots of types of headaches on your own, and your doctor can give you medication to manage most of the tougher ones. However some headaches require timely medical care. Here are some warning signs:
- Headaches that first establish after age 50.
- A significant change in the pattern of your headaches.
- An uncommonly severe “worst headache ever”.
- Pain that increases with coughing or movement.
- Headaches that get steadily worse.
- Changes in character or mental function.
Headaches that are accompanied by fever, stiff neck, confusion, decreased awareness or memory, or neurological symptoms such as visual disturbances, slurred speech, weakness, numbness, or seizures
- Headaches that are accompanied by a painful red eye.
- Headaches that are accompanied by pain and inflammation near the temples.
- Headaches after a blow to the head.
- Headaches that prevent normal day-to-day activities.
- Headaches that come on quickly, particularly if they wake you up.
- Headaches in patients with cancer or impaired immune systems.
Headache types cause sudden sharp pains
There are more than 300 types of headaches, however just about 10% of headaches have a recognized cause. The others are called primary headaches Here is a rundown on some major main headaches.
Tension-type headaches
Happening in about 3 of every 4 adults, stress headaches are the most typical of all headaches. Most of the times, they are mild to moderate in seriousness and occur occasionally. But a few individuals get severe tension headaches, and some are bothered by them three or four times a week.
The common stress headache produces a dull, squeezing pain on both sides of the head. Individuals with strong tension headaches might feel like their head remains in a vise. The shoulders and neck can also hurt. Some stress headaches are activated by tiredness, psychological stress, or problems including the muscles or joints of the neck or jaw. The majority of last for 20 minutes to two hours.
If you get periodic tension-type headaches, you can look after them yourself. Non-prescription painkiller such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, other brands) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, naproxen (Aleve, other brands), or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, other brands) frequently do the trick, but follow the instructions on the label, and never take more than you should. A heating pad or warm shower might help; some people feel better with a short nap or light snack.
If you get frequent tension-type headaches, attempt to determine triggers so you can prevent them. Don’t get overtired or skip meals. Learn relaxation strategies; yoga is particularly handy because it can unwind both your mind and your neck muscles. If you clench your jaw or grind your teeth at night, a bite plate might help.
If you need more help, your doctor may recommend a more powerful pain medication or a muscle relaxant to control headache pain. Lots of people with persistent tension-type headaches can avoid attacks by taking a tricyclic antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Vanatrip, generic). Fortunately, the majority of people with tension-type headaches will do very well with simpler programs.
Cluster headaches
Cluster headaches are uncommon but extremely severe, and they take place five times more often in men than women. Although anybody can get cluster headaches, the common patient is a middle-aged man with a history of cigarette smoking.
The problem gets its name because the headaches tend to be available in clusters, with one to 8 headaches a day during a one- to three-month period every year or 2, typically at the same time of year. The pain constantly strikes one side of the head and is really severe, may appear suddenly as sharp pain in one side of the head.
The eye on the painful side is red and watery, the eyelid may sag, and the nose runs or is obstructed. The attack begins suddenly and lasts for 30 to 60 minutes. A lot of victims end up being restless and agitated during the attack; unable to sit still, they speed, jog in place, or beat their head versus a wall. Nausea and level of sensitivity to light and sound might accompany the pain.
Inhaling pure oxygen can help the attack. Sumatriptan is typically reliable, particularly when given by injection. Other triptans may also help. Some patients favor lidocaine nose drops, dihydroergotamine injections, or other treatments. The most efficient medication for avoiding attacks is verapamil, a calcium-channel blocker. Other drugs that may help include divalproex, topiramate, and lithium.
Other headaches
Doctors have detected hundreds of conditions associated with headaches. Here are just a few:
Medication headaches. Lots of drugs number headaches amongst their side effects. And although it seems paradoxical, numerous medications used to treat headaches can likewise cause medication overuse headaches or rebound headaches. Migraine victims are particularly vulnerable to a vicious cycle of pain causing more medication, which activates more pain.
If you have frequent headaches and use medication, OTC or prescription, or both, for more than 10 to 15 days a month, you may have medication overuse headaches. The method to discover is to discontinue or taper your medication– but always consult your doctor first. A corticosteroid such as prednisone might help control pain during the withdrawal period.
Sinus headaches. Severe sinusitis causes pain over the forehead, around the nose and eyes, over the cheeks, or in the upper teeth. Stooping forward increases the pain. Thick nasal discharge, blockage, and fever identify the issue to the sinuses. When the severe infection deals with, the pain vanishes. Sinusitis is not a typical cause of chronic or reoccurring headaches.
Ice cream headaches. Some individuals establish unexpected, sharp head pain when they eat anything cold. The pain is over in less than a minute, even if you keep eating. If you are troubled by ice cream headaches, attempt eating slowly and warming the cold food at the front of your mouth prior to you swallow it.
High blood pressure. Except in cases of extremely high blood pressure, hypertension does not cause headaches. In truth, the majority of people with high blood pressure don’t have any symptoms at all, and a study of 51,234 people reported that hypertension was related to a decreased incidence of headaches. However that’s no reason to neglect your blood pressure. Hypertension leads to strokes, cardiovascular disease, heart failure, and kidney disease, so all men need to have their pressure checked, and after that take steps to correct abnormalities.
Workout and sex. Abrupt, strenuous exercise can induce a headache. Steady warm-ups or treatment with an anti-inflammatory medication prior to workout can help. Sexual intercourse may also set off headaches; some men keep in mind just dull pain, however others suffer from severe attacks called orgasmic headaches. The conventional preventive treatment is the NSAID indomethacin (Indocin, generic) taken 30 to 60 minutes prior to intercourse; beta blockers and triptans can also help.
Checking
Modern medicine depends on tests to detect numerous problems. For many headaches, however, an excellent old-fashioned history and physical will get the job done. In fact, CT scans, MRIs, and EEGs (brain wave tests) look normal in tension-type headaches, migraines, and cluster headaches. Still, these tests can be important in patients with indication or other worrisome headaches.
Dealing with headaches
For the majority of us, a periodic headache is nothing more than a temporary speed bump in the course of a hectic day. Even so, most men can relieve the problem with easy lifestyle measures and nonprescription medications. Relaxation techniques, biofeedback, yoga, and acupuncture may also help. But for some of us, headaches are a huge problem.
Learn how to recognize indication that call for timely treatment. Work with your doctor to develop a program to prevent and treat migraines and other serious headaches. And don’t fall under the trap of excessive using medications; for some gents, rebound headaches are the most significant pain of all.
How to stop sharp headache at home naturally
To stop a sharp headache at home, one can try different natural remedies.
Firstly, applying a cold pack, such as a chilled, wet washcloth or cold compress, can provide temporary relief from the pain.
Another option is to use a heating pad or hot compress. It’s important to ease pressure on the scalp or head and dim the lights to reduce any discomfort.
Chewing should be avoided while experiencing a headache. Hydrating is also essential to relieve headaches, and one should consider adding foods with high water content like watermelon, celery, and cucumber to their diet.
Peppermint and lavender oils can be applied to the temples or used in aromatherapy, as they have relaxing properties that help alleviate pain.
Additionally, consuming magnesium-rich foods like dark chocolate, dried figs, mackerel, and pumpkin seeds can aid in preventing headache pain.
One can also try feverfew, a herb that has been shown to prevent and treat migraine pain.
