The term “headache” is very general and can describe a range of conditions, from mild to severe. While you’re likely to be able to treat them yourself, you might need to see a doctor if you have severe symptoms or they don’t fade away over time. Here at Text2MD, we offer telemedicine appointments for headaches that need medical attention.
Often, it’s hard to identify one main cause for a headache or migraine, and there are multiple factors at play. Some of the most important are stress, lack of sleep, caffeine withdrawal, weather changes, certain substances, and certain stimuli. In this article, we’ll discuss what can trigger a headache and how you can get the help you need to deal with it.
There are two main types of headache you might encounter, called the tension headache and the migraine. While the former is usually a steady and moderate pain, a migraine is much more serious because it causes throbbing, and the pain is greater. Both can be triggered by similar causes such as stress, a lack of sleep, stopping the intake of caffeine, sudden weather changes, and certain foods, drinks, alcoholic beverages, and stimuli.
It’s not always easy to tell why you feel pain and where it came from, and often, your headache has several different causes. That’s why it’s hard to say what the most common reason is. Instead, you should pay close attention to all of the factors below. The next time you develop a headache, think about which one could apply, and monitor the situation. You could also consult with a medical professional, who can tell you why you might be experiencing the pain.
When you are stressed, your body reacts with the fight or flight response and releases a lot of adrenaline and other hormones. As a result, you will experience physical changes in different body parts, including the blood vessels. In many cases, this can cause a headache. Although it’s nothing to worry about if it occurs once or twice, you will need to change your lifestyle if you have this issue on a regular basis.
Similarly, a lack of sleep can also cause or contribute to the amount of pain you feel because your body produces more of the proteins that cause chronic pain when you’re sleep-deprived. Again, this isn’t anything to worry about if it happens once in a while, but it shouldn’t become a habit or a regular recurrence.
Many people enjoy their cup of coffee in the morning, not only because it is delicious, but also because it gives them that much-needed caffeine boost. When you’re in this habit, breaking it can cause a headache because caffeine narrows the blood vessels in your brain. When they widen again, this can cause you pain. Fortunately, this type of headache is always temporary, and it doesn’t usually indicate a bigger issue.
Do you dread high humidity, grey skies, storms, and rising temperatures because you always develop a headache when they occur? While this symptom doesn’t affect everyone, it’s perfectly normal, as fluctuations in the weather can cause chemical and electrical changes in your brain. This then leads to irritated nerves and pain as a result.
If you’re strongly affected by the weather, there isn’t much you can do except mitigate the other factors that could contribute to the pain. Always get enough sleep, drink lots of water, eat a healthy diet, and exercise more than once a week. Although you don’t have to be concerned about this type of headache, you can speak to your telemedicine doctor about how to best manage your symptoms.
One of the big causes of headaches is dehydration, which means that your body is losing more fluids than it is gaining. When you’re dehydrated, you will experience many different symptoms that act as warning signs, one of them being a moderate to severe headache. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means that it can cause fluid loss because it makes you urinate more frequently. For this reason, you may experience pain more frequently when you drink to excess.
Certain foods can have a similar effect, especially ones very high in sodium. Salt can increase your blood pressure, which can then promote the occurrence of a tension headache or a migraine. Interestingly, you can also suffer from pain if you don’t eat enough. Low blood sugar, which occurs when you’re hungry or haven’t eaten in a while, can also be a cause.
Certain smells and lights might be a contributing factor for some people. In particular, the nicotine contained in cigarette smoke will constrict blood vessels and therefore cause a headache. Bright lights, both flashing electrical lights and sunlight, can also be problematic for people sensitive to this stimulus. It might be possible for you to avoid being in situations where your headache is triggered, or your doctor can give you some tips on how to manage this.
Sometimes, your headache is a symptom of a more serious condition, in which case it’s vital that you see a medical professional quickly. This is especially true if your pain develops very suddenly, in 60 seconds or less. This type of thunderclap headache can often indicate a condition called a subarachnoid hemorrhage, or an aneurysm, or even a stroke. Don’t delay seeing a doctor when this occurs, as it could be life-threatening.
Similarly, you should speak to a professional if you can’t shake your headache for longer than a week or if it’s a common occurrence that’s interfering with your daily life. Although some people are more prone to migraines than others, doctors have ways of managing this and maybe even eliminating the condition. In any case, it’s worth speaking to someone to find out whether you could get help.
When you have a headache, you might wonder whether it will go away on its own or if it is something to be concerned about. In most cases, you can resolve the situation with rest, drinking water, and some over-the-counter medications. However, you should be careful if your pain starts very suddenly or if it lasts for more than a week. You can also speak to someone if you’re worried about your condition affecting your day-to-day life.
Now that you know what can cause headaches and when to get help, you might wonder how to best contact a medical professional. In many cases, the easiest way to reach a doctor quickly and with minimal hassle is to opt for a telemedicine appointment. Not only can you have your appointment in the comfort of your own home, but you will also skip the hassle of driving to your clinic and waiting until it’s your turn.
Telehealth appointments are usually much more time and cost-effective than in-person visits, and they can work great as a screening process to find out if you need more help. Let’s now go through some of the reasons why you should book yourself in for an online session the next time you’re suffering from a tension headache or a migraine.
When you’re unwell, the last thing you want to do is get dressed and leave your house. You might have to drive in busy traffic or take public transport to get to the nearest clinic, which can be a big challenge for a person with a headache. By opting for an appointment online via chat or text, you will be able to save yourself the pain of leaving your home while sick.
Instead, you can stay in bed or on the sofa and speak to a qualified, well-respected doctor from there. They will take the time to ask you about your condition, what symptoms you have, how long it’s been going on, and what you’ve already tried. Your physician might also prescribe some medicine and give you advice about how you can speed up your recovery.
We believe in making healthcare accessible for everyone, so we have created a flat fee for our service. No matter what type of illness you have, you’ll know beforehand what you will need to pay us.
A telehealth appointment with us costs $55 for new patients and $35 for returning ones, which is much cheaper than an in-person visit to your doctor’s office. In addition to the money saved on your appointment, you will also avoid having to pay for transport costs such as gas and parking.
In many medical situations, time is of the essence, so it’s important that you can get seen as soon as possible. Because of the efficiency of telehealth, you won’t have to worry about waiting for your appointment, and you can book a slot directly on the app. You also won’t need to spend any time at your clinic and wait in a waiting room, which can be a daunting process for people who are unwell.
You may wonder whether a telehealth service can be personalized. Unlike many other companies, we will allow you to see the same doctor each time and start to build up a relationship with them. You can also have free follow-up appointments for up to a month after your initial consultation. That way, you will feel supported during your recovery process.
One of the most beneficial uses of telemedicine is ruling out further complications and issues. Headaches can be benign, but they can also indicate a bigger problem, so seeing a professional can be a great way to make sure you’re not in a dangerous or life-threatening situation. If we feel that you are unsafe and need further attention, we can recommend the closest clinic to you, so you will be able to see a doctor in person.
Headaches are a common problem, and they are often caused by many different factors. These might include stress, lack of sleep, caffeine withdrawal, weather changes, and certain foods, drinks, alcoholic beverages, sounds, and smells. Fortunately, there is an easy way to access help through telemedicine. By speaking to a doctor via chat or text, you can get the help you need much sooner.
To get started, download our app and get in touch with us at Text2MD. With a simple booking system, a reasonable price, and the guarantee of unlimited follow-up appointments for a month, you can’t go wrong.
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