Don't Ignore Left-Side Headaches

Hollisteristic.com - Left headache can occur due to several things. Usually the left headache can recover within a few hours and there is no need to worry. However, if the pain is intense or does not immediately disappear, you should visit a doctor for proper treatment.

Left-Side Headaches

When the left headache attacks, your daily activities will certainly be disrupted. In order for your headaches to be resolved appropriately, you must know the underlying cause and how to deal properly with it.

Recognizing the Causes of Left Headache

The cause of left headache can be caused by various factors. One of them is lifestyle factors, which include:

• Drink alcohol
• Delay eating
• Lack of sleep
• Stressful

In addition, although not everyone feels it, certain foods can also trigger left-sided headaches, such as foods that contain preservatives, nuts, and processed meats.

There are also several other conditions that can trigger left-sided headaches, including:

• Infections and allergies

Respiratory tract infections such as flu, often accompanied by fever followed by complaints of headaches. While in allergic reactions, narrowing of the airways and sinus cavities can occur, causing frequent headaches.

• Trigeminal neuralgia

This nerve disorder occurs in the trigeminal nerve which functions to deliver sensations or stimuli from the face area to the brain. Trigeminal neuralgia is generally characterized by pain on one side of the face, so it can trigger a left headache.

• High blood pressure

Although it does not have specific physical symptoms, high blood pressure can trigger a tight sensation in the neck, until a headache, including the left headache.

• Stroke

Sudden and severe headaches can be a sign of a stroke. Therefore, you need to be vigilant if you experience severe sudden headaches and you should immediately consult a doctor, especially if accompanied by weakness on one side of the body.

• Concussion

Concussion is usually caused by a collision or a hard blow resulting in injury to the brain. Concussion can be the cause of someone having a left headache.

• Brain tumor

Brain tumors are a condition of the growth of abnormal cells in the brain. Tumors can cause intense headaches, appear suddenly and repeatedly, accompanied by other symptoms such as loss of vision, difficulty walking, and seizures.

The above conditions can cause several types of headaches, including migraines that feel like throbbing on one side of the head, although it may also be felt in all parts of the head, and cluster headaches, characterized by severe pain on one side of the head, pain that felt often felt until the eyes on the side of the head are sore.

How to Overcome Left Headache

In dealing with the left headache, you can try doing treatment at home, which is with warm or cold compresses on the head that hurt, soak in a warm bath, and rest. If needed, you can take over-the-counter drugs such as ibuprofen, paracetamol, or aspirin.

However, it would be better if you still see a doctor, because home care generally only relieves pain and does not deal with the cause of your headaches.

Usually before dealing with this condition, the doctor will ask about the characteristics of your headache, for example what kind of headache you feel and how long you experience it. If you feel it is necessary, your doctor may advise you to undergo an investigation, such as a CT scan or MRI of the head, to find out the cause.

After knowing the underlying cause, the doctor will provide treatment in accordance with the cause, in addition to drugs intended to alleviate the complaint of left headache that you experience. Among these medicines, include:

• NSAIDs

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as naproxen, can help relieve headaches.

• Beta blocker drug

This drug is usually used to treat high blood pressure, it is also a mainstay to prevent episodic migraines. Types of beta blocker drugs include atenolol, metoprolol, and propranolol.

• Anticonvulsant medicine

Some anti-seizure drugs can prevent migraines and are commonly used to prevent chronic headaches, namely topiramate, divalproex sodium, and gabapentin.

• Antidepressant medication

Some antidepressant drugs such as amitriptyline can help treat depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders that accompany chronic headaches.

• Botulinum toxin

The injection of onabotulinumtoxin A (Botox) can relieve tension in the head muscles, and this might be the right choice for those who cannot tolerate other medicines properly.

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Important information that you need to know from a variety of drugs is that you can only take it with a doctor's prescription. That is because the doctor who knows what medication is right for dealing with pain in your head, according to the cause.

Therefore, it is better to consult a doctor if you experience symptoms of left headache, especially those that occur suddenly, persist or recur, to be handled appropriately.

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