Headaches

[tiggerblue10]

Throughout my life I have very rarely had headaches, but recently I've been getting them more and more often. They are not severe enough for me to take painkillers so I just ride them out. Any ideas on why I'm getting them now and would this be something to worry about or go to my GP for?

[Buenchico]

See here for some possible causes:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/headaches-tension-type/Pages/Introduction.aspx

[tiggerblue10]

Thanks chris, I'll have a read :o)

[Old_Jim]

If it hurts at the back of your head, it's probably stress. Is there something bothering you more than normal? If it hurts over your eye's it's usually eye strain. Do you need glasses - or new glasses? If it hurts on one side and you get blurring of vision, it's migraine. That's often caused by neck strain. Put ice on your neck and if it persists see a chiropractor.

If all else fails, see your doctor and he'll tell you to take paracetamol.

[tiggerblue10]

I have been under a bit of stress lately, mainly to do with work. I've got pain behind my eyes and at the back of the head. In fact the pain is all over.

[smurfchops]

Could be dehydration, drink a couple of glasses of water.

[boxtops]

Tiggs, it may not be what you want to hear, but I developed really bad headaches, later migraines, in my mid-thirties - undoubtedly hormonal and linked to my monthly cycle. I couldn't get by without medication. Worth logging when they happen, to see if there's a pattern developing, or noting what you've been doing when the headache starts to come on, to see if there's a common theme. (personally, and TMI I know, but I still get headaches if I am even slightly constipated...)

[tiggerblue10]

Good idea to start noting down when I get these headaches. Could be hormones as due on any day. In fact I'm a couple of weeks late but I put that down to the stress at work unless that is an indication of something else - just turned 43?!

My mum keeps telling me to go to my GP to check for high blood pressure etc., but I thought I'd get some opinions here and check them out before I book an appointment.

[dunnitall]

It can be due to high blood pressure I guess it wouldn't hurt to check that one out to eliminate it at least...x

[tiggerblue10]

If they carry on for another few days then I'll go to my GP. Trouble is I can never get an appointment when I need one although my mum says that its changed now and I can get an appointment on the day. Knowing my luck they'll all be filled by the time I ring up!

[boxtops]

I'd recommend you ring up at 8am, that's when our surgery tells us to phone if we want an appointment that day.

[tiggerblue10]

I'll ring up tomorrow morning.

Thanks all x

[pixie373]

You've been having sugar cravings, too,haven't you? Are they related to that? Dehydration.

[tiggerblue10]

Not sure whats going on with my body to be honest Pixie. I was craving sweet things quite badly yesterday but not today. I usually crave sweet things when I'm due on so I put it down to that but I don't know about these headaches. I don't normally get them when I'm due. Been going on for a few months now.

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

Have a neck and shoulder massage. It may just be tension

[tiggerblue10]

Sounds good. just need to find someone to do it!

[Hopkirk]

Sinuses?

Low air pressure associated with the bad weather?

[tiggerblue10]

Never though of that. I sometimes get a heavy head during the summer when we have a thunderstorm.

[Hopkirk]

That's the booze

[tiggerblue10]

Lol, must be the fumes from the pub down the road considering I rarely drink.

[Postdog]

I don't want to be a scaremonger because there can be an entirely innocent reason why this is happening, but by the same token, not so innocent too. See a doctor as soon as you can.