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Headaches
Headaches
Living with headaches is quite literally a pain. The World Health Organization 's Global Burden of Disease Study reveals that severe migraine is one of the four most disabling conditions suffered over a lifetime; others include total paralysis, dementia and psychosis. The most intractable headache sufferers, typically those with high frequency migraine and tension or sinus symptoms, may experience mood, relaxation, sleep and social or work difficulties.
Trained specialists diagnose and treat a wide variety of headache disorders.
| Headache |
Cause |
Characteristics |
Provokers |
Treatments |
| Migraine |
80% family history of headache |
Disability – can’t function fully normally; nausea or light sensitivity can occur |
Stress, sleep issues, menses, weather |
Rest, ice, treat before migraine is definite with Triptans and NSAIDs |
| “Sinus” |
88% have migraine |
Runny or stuffy nose; itchy, watery eyes with migraine characteristics |
Weather, barometric pressure, stress, sleep disturbance, menses
|
Same as migraine |
| “Tension or Stress” |
Most common headache type; most of those with migraines have this headache type |
Tight sore muscles, otherwise featureless; no disability |
Stress, poor posture
|
Rarely, unless daily, requires medical care; over-the-counter medications
|
| Cluster |
Unproven |
Short-lasting, at night, cyclical |
Smoking, alcohol |
Oxygen Imitrex® SQ, Zomig® NS
|
| Secondary |
Tumors, vascular, trauma, substances |
New; different; fevers, HTN; recently progressive
|
Cancers, stroke risks, trauma
|
Address the cause |
With a better understanding of your headache symptoms, specialists at Park Nicollet Neurosciences' Headache Clinic can help you manage headache disorders to improve function and decrease disability. See Park Nicollet's step-by-step approach, which starts with a referral by your primary care doctor. Call 952-993-3200 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
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