Inspira Health Network, Inc.

FALL 2017

Spirit of Women magazine is a national publication presented to women by hospitals and their physicians. The magazine provides up-to-date, evidence-based healthcare information and promotes our hospitals as leaders in women's health excellence.

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19 Medication overuse headaches "Medications themselves can perpetuate and aggravate headache," explains Dr. Abdul-Malak. You can experience medication overuse headaches after taking pain medication such as Motrin, Advil, Aleve, or Tylenol for more than 15 days each month for more than four consecutive months. Stronger pain medications, such as tramadol, oxycodone or hydrocodone, can bring on medication overuse headache after use for only 10 days per month for four months. These painful rebound headaches can be coupled with other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, anxiety, depression, trouble concentrating and memory problems. If you're taking pain medication to treat headache or other types of pain for more than 10 to 15 days per month, talk to your doctor about safer medications and strategies to prevent the pain in the first place. Thunderclap headaches A thunderclap headache comes on suddenly, with pain that is dramatic and severe. "It's often described as the worst headache of your life," says Dr. Abdul-Malak. Thunderclap headache pain usually peaks within 60 seconds, but it can last from an hour to 10 days and can occur anywhere in your head. It may also be accompanied by vomiting, nausea and loss of consciousness. A thunderclap headache "could be a sign of subarachnoid hemorrhage, bleeding in the brain or sentinel bleeding," says Dr. Abdul-Malak. "Before an aneurysm—a weakened area of an artery wall—bursts completely, it can leak a few drops of blood that can cause severe headache." On the other hand, a thunderclap headache could also be nothing. "Thunderclap headaches can be related to sexual activity, coughing or sneezing. These are usually benign," according to Dr. Abdul-Malak. Don't take chances with a thunderclap headache. If you or someone else is experiencing one, call 911 immediately. In the emergency department, you can expect to undergo special imaging, magnetic resonance angiography (MR A) or computed tomography angiography (CTA) to examine the blood vessels in your brain. "We always rule out the serious possibilities before saying it's benign," says Dr. Abdul-Malak. Migraines Migraine headaches affect 30 percent of women, according to the American Migraine Foundation. With a migraine, you're likely to experience a recurrent throbbing headache, often on one side of your head. The pain can be so severe that it can keep you from going to work or school. It's often coupled with nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and noise. Movement can make migraine pain worse. Before a migraine, an aura may clue you in that the headache is coming—flashes or shimmering lights, along with numbness or weakness on one side of your body. If you experience frequent migraine headaches, be sure to ask your doctor about taking medication to prevent migraine. A variety of medications are available, such as propranolol (a beta blocker), amitriptyline (an antidepressant) and gabapentin (an anti-epileptic medication). "These medications were originally designed for other conditions, but we now use them to prevent migraine," says Dr. Abdul-Malak. Preventive medicine can be more effective and safer than treating a migraine once it occurs. Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke HEADACHE EMERGENCIES Get emergency care for a headache that: • comes on suddenly and is severe • accompanies a fever, stiff neck, rash, confusion, seizure, double vision, weakness, numbness or difficulty speaking • develops after a head injury, fall or bump • worsens despite getting rest and taking over-the-counter pain medication

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