An ache that feels like it's in or around one eye — especially if accompanied by vision problems — can signal acute glaucoma also called closed-angle glaucoma.
Unlike open-angle glaucoma, which progresses slowly and without symptoms, acute glaucoma is a sudden buildup of pressure or fluid in the eye that damages the eye's optic nerve. It's an emergency that can lead to complete vision loss within 48 hours, so it's important to get to a hospital quickly. Morning headaches can be a sign of many different problems, including a brain tumor, neck arthritis or medication withdrawal. If other people who live with you also have headaches, carbon monoxide poisoning could be the culprit.
If you have a history of cancer, a morning headache may indicate a neoplasm in the brain. However, the most common diagnosis in older people who wake up with a headache is sleep apnea , Carver says. Sleep apnea typically causes a morning headache that gets better as the day goes on. You may also feel tired during the day.
It's important to be evaluated if you think you may have sleep apnea because if it's not controlled, you are at greater risk of stroke and heart attack. It probably goes without saying that if you have any confusion, memory problems, seizures, muscle weakness, numbness or trouble talking — along with your headache — that is a reason for concern, Carver says. Those are all neurological symptoms that indicate something is going on inside your brain, whether it's inflammation, infection or a brain tumor.
Your health care provider can order a scan and other tests to make a definitive diagnosis. Michelle Crouch is a contributing writer who has covered health and personal finance for some of the nation's top consumer publications. Note: We are currently in the process of replacing our commenting service, so it may take a few days for previous comments to appear. Login or register on AARP. You are leaving AARP. Please return to AARP. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age.
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If you get occasional tension-type headaches, you can take care of them yourself. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen Tylenol, other brands and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories NSAIDs such as aspirin, naproxen Aleve, other brands , or ibuprofen Motrin, Advil, other brands often do the trick, but follow the directions on the label, and never take more than you should. A heating pad or warm shower may help; some people feel better with a short nap or light snack.
If you get frequent tension-type headaches, try to identify triggers so you can avoid them. Don't get overtired or skip meals. Learn relaxation techniques; yoga is particularly helpful because it can relax both your mind and your neck muscles.
If you clench your jaw or grind your teeth at night, a bite plate may help. If you need more help, your doctor may prescribe a stronger pain medication or a muscle relaxant to control headache pain.
Many people with recurrent tension-type headaches can prevent attacks by taking a tricyclic antidepressant such as amitriptyline Elavil, generic. Fortunately, most people with tension-type headaches will do very well with simpler programs. Migraines occur less often than tension headaches, but they are usually much more severe.
Neurologists believe that migraines are caused by changes in the brain's blood flow and nerve cell activity. Migraine triggers. Although a migraine can come on without warning, it is often set off by a trigger. The things that set off a migraine vary from person to person, but a migraine sufferer usually remains sensitive to the same triggers.
The table lists some of the most common ones. Migraine symptoms. Migraines often begin in the evening or during sleep. In some people, the attacks are preceded by several hours of fatigue, depression , and sluggishness or by irritability and restlessness. Because migraine symptoms vary widely, at least half of all migraine sufferers think they have sinus or tension headaches, not migraines.
Visual complaints are most common. They may include halos, sparkles or flashing lights, wavy lines, and even temporary loss of vision. The aura may also produce numbness or tingling on one side of the body, especially the face or hand. Some patients develop aura symptoms without getting headaches; they often think they are having a stroke, not a migraine.
The majority of migraines develop without an aura. In typical cases, the pain is on one side of the head, often beginning around the eye and temple before spreading to the back of the head.
The pain is frequently severe and is described as throbbing or pulsating. Nausea is common, and many migraine patients have a watering eye, a running nose, or congestion. If these symptoms are prominent, they may lead to a misdiagnosis of sinus headaches. P is for pulsating pain O for one-day duration of severe untreated attacks U for unilateral one-sided pain N for nausea and vomiting D for disabling intensity. Without effective treatment, migraine attacks usually last for four to 24 hours.
When you're suffering a migraine, even four hours is far too long — and that's why early treatment for a migraine is so important. Migraine treatment. If you spot a migraine in its very earliest stages, you may be able to control it with nonprescription pain relievers.
Acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and a combination of pain medications and caffeine are all effective — if you take a full dose very early in the attack. When prescription drugs are needed, most doctors turn to the triptans, which are available as tablets, nasal sprays, or as injections that patients can learn to give to themselves.
Examples include sumatriptan Imitrex , zolmitriptan Zomig , and rizatriptan Maxalt. Some patients require a second dose within 12 to 24 hours. Patients with cardiovascular disease and those who take a high dose of certain antidepressants need to discuss the risks of using them with their doctor. Work with your doctor to find the migraine treatment that works best for you. Remember, though, that overuse can lead to rebound headaches and a vicious cycle of drugs and headaches.
So, if you need treatment more than two or three times a week, consider preventive medications. Migraine prevention. Some people can prevent migraines simply by avoiding triggers. Others do well with prompt therapy for occasional attacks. But patients who suffer frequent migraine attacks often benefit from preventive medications. Effective prescription drugs include beta blockers such as propranolol, nadolol and atenolol , certain antidepressants such as amitriptyline , and certain antiseizure medications such topiramate and valproate.
Difficult cases may benefit from referral to a headache specialist. Cluster headaches are uncommon but very severe headaches, and they occur five times more often in men than women. You can read more about different types of headaches, from hot-dog headaches to hangovers, on the Headache Australia website. Because there are so many different types of headache, there are lots of different ways they can be treated.
If your headaches are frequent, keeping a diary that lists when you get headaches might help you figure out what triggers them. Headaches not only cause you pain, but can result in loss of productivity and income.
Keep in mind that most headaches do not point to a serious illness, extra worry about your headache might make it worse!
Rarely, a headache might be a sign of a serious medical condition. You should seek immediate medical attention if you:. Skip links and keyboard navigation Skip to content Skip to site navigation Skip to footer Use tab and cursor keys to move around the page more information.
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