I Have A Severe Headache - Should I Be Worried?

Headaches are considered very common. However, if you suffer from severe headaches or a migraine problem and do not get better over time, your headache can be a symptom of an underlying disease. 

To treat your headache and find out its cause, you can consult specialists at Phoenix Mountain View Headache & Spine Institute, who will accurately examine all your symptoms and provide treatments accordingly. 

What Is A Headache? 

A headache is a pain that is usually felt in the head, neck, or face areas. It can be caused due to various reasons like nerve pain, muscle tension, dehydration, or can be a sign of an underlying disease. 

There are two types of headaches: 

Primary Headache: 

These headaches are common and usually come and go unexpectedly. They include tension headaches, migraines, or cluster headaches. Usually, these headaches go away without any medications or home remedies. 

Secondary Headache: 

Secondary headaches are more on the severe side and have an underlying cause like tooth infections, sinus, or hormonal changes in the body. These can also be caused when there is a reaction to medications. 

When Should You Be Worried About Headaches? 

Headaches not only cause discomfort but also result in a lack of productivity and concentration. If you have a continuous headache, you must go to a doctor and find the exact cause instead of just bearing it every day. 

If you suffer from a headache due to the following reasons, consult your trusted doctor: 

• You are suffering from a severe headache that does not show any signs of improvement and does not let you go on with your daily activities. 

• You see signs of a stroke. This can include a drooping face on one side, garbled speech, or trouble in lifting your arm. 

• There are signs of dehydration or sunstroke, your body feels weak, and your face is getting pale. 

• You have been bitten or stung by an insect or have ingested a poisonous substance. In this case, if you develop a headache, you must call 911 and seek immediate medical help. 

• You have been injured from a fall or a bump to the head and could have a concussion. 

Tips To Prevent Headaches 

• Consume nutritious foods that will increase your glucose levels and avoid chances of headache. 

• Keep your body hydrated. Drink lots of water, especially if you exercise or perform sports activities. 

• Avoid being in a room that is too hot or cold. Make sure there is plenty of natural air in the place you are residing. 

• To avoid muscle tension, avoid sitting or standing in the same position for long hours. 

• Avoid foods that can cause headaches, such as alcohol and caffeine. 

• Rebound headaches can be caused if you over-consume headache medications. If your usual painkillers are not working anymore, consult a doctor. 

Minimize your migraines and help your headaches with these tips!

Here Are Some Of The Things That You Should Know About Concussions

A concussion is an injury to the brain that occurs after you have a trauma or a blow to the head. Once you get a blow to the head, it is the back and forth movement of the brain as it hits the skull that causes the concussion. In Falls Church, Virginia, concussions commonly affect people who are involved in sports, but any person can suffer from a concussion after trauma to the head. 

If you have had trauma to the head, you should present yourself to the doctor for an evaluation. Once you visit the doctor in Falls Church, concussion protocols will be followed. They will take a thorough medical history that helps to rule out other causes of your symptoms. The doctor will also do a neurological examination like testing your vision, hearing, memory, and other functions of the brain. To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor may also order some imaging tests like an MRI or CT scan. 

1. What Are The Symptoms Of A Concussion? 

The symptoms of a concussion may be mild or severe, and their duration also varies. Some symptoms may develop immediately after the concussion, while others take several days before they appear. These symptoms include headaches, nausea and vomiting, blurring of vision, confusion, and ringing inside the ears. Sometimes you may experience dizziness over some time. 

Sometimes you may have a temporary loss of consciousness after a concussion, where the person who was with you may report that you had a dazed appearance and slurred speech before passing out. You may also suffer from amnesia where you forget what happened before you got the concussion. Some of the delayed symptoms that can occur after you get a concussion include sleep disturbance, difficulty in concentration, and irritability. 

Increased sensitivity to light and noise, changes in the sensations of taste and smell, and psychological problems like depression are other possible symptoms that develop some time after you get a concussion. A young child with a concussion can be irritable, cry excessively, have no interest in playing, vomit, and be unable to sleep or feed well. Visit a doctor when you get any of these symptoms to prevent complications. 

2. What Are The Complications Of Concussions? 

The complications of a concussion include post-traumatic headaches where you may continue to have headaches for more than a week after the concussion. Post-traumatic vertigo is another complication of concussions where you get a spinning sensation and dizziness that can last for more than a month after the concussion. 

The post-concussion syndrome presents with headaches, impaired thinking, and dizziness that can last for more than three months after the concussion. Second impact syndrome develops when you get a second concussion before recovering from the first one. The subsequent concussion can injure your brain with fatal outcomes in some cases. 

3. How Can You Prevent Concussions? 

Since prevention is always better than cure, you can prevent the complications of a concussion by wearing protective headgear when engaging in sports like cycling and snowboarding. You can also prevent concussions by avoiding falls on slippery floors and watching where you step. Wearing a safety belt when in a car will protect you from getting a concussion in case there is an accident. Using window guards and blocking the stairways will keep your children safe. 

Concussion Conclusion

In conclusion, a concussion is an injury to the brain that occurs when your brain moves back and forth hitting the skull. Falling and sports injuries are some of the most common causes of concussions. The symptoms of a concussion vary in severity and they include headaches, dizziness, and blurring of vision. Preventing falls and seeking medical attention after a blow to the head helps to avoid complications.

The Cost Of Treating A Concussion

A concussion is one of the most common brain injuries from which you can suffer. San Diego concussion cases are more than many would estimate. 

A concussion is quite expensive to treat immediately after it happens. Moreover, the lifetime costs of treating a concussion may astound you. 

Not enough is known about concussions and there is more research being done in the field than ever before. Not everyone who suffers a brain injury is a famous athlete or actor so many of those who suffer from concussions cannot afford to get them treated which has adverse effects for the rest of their lives. 

Many concussion patients have to live with a life-long disability due to their concussion which further exacerbates the cost of the concussion. Families are affected by the financial, emotional and physical stress of dealing with a loved one’s concussion. 

One of the issues that increase the life-long costs of a concussion is that the symptoms can fade soon after the injury and the person will continue to engage in dangerous physical activity without knowing the full extent of the injury. Athletes are the best examples in this case. 

By the time the full extent of the concussion is known, it is too late. Unfortunately, not all concussion patients can go on to have a successful career which further increases the stress of dealing with the condition. 

Financial Costs 

It is said that numbers do not lie and the numbers of the costs of treating a concussion are astounding. The lifetime costs of treating a concussion can range anywhere from $85,000 to $3,000,000. 

The high cost of treating concussions and brain injuries only leaves individuals such as athletes to afford the treatment since the cost of treating concussions does not seem like it will reduce any time soon. 

Such economic burdens are bound to have an effect on family and loved ones who may be forced to help with the situation. Insurance may also help cater for some of the cost. 

Another concerning factor that worsens the situation for most concussion patients is that the unemployment rate of such patients after two years of diagnosis is 60%. Being unable to pay for the cost of treating your condition after losing your job is an extremely solemn situation. 

Emotional Cost 

In addition to the financial cost of treating concussions, the emotional cost is also huge. The cost emotionally does not only affect the patient but it also affects family and other loved ones. 

A person suffering from concussion syndrome or CTE will need a lot of help from loved ones often. It will often mean that they sacrifice what they have to do to help the patient. 

When the effects of a concussion are deep, it may include increased irritability and mood changes. Such emotional imbalances will significantly affect the emotional well-being of the patient and also affect others. 

Unfortunately, many are not able to handle the financial and emotional cost of treating concussions, CTE, and other brain injuries. Therefore, if you suffer from a concussion, you should look for as many ways to pay for the treatment as possible as it may end up being too large of a burden to bear.