What to do when you have a pounding headache?

What to do when you have a pounding headache?

Treatment

1. Rest in a quiet, dark room.
2. Hot or cold compresses to your head or neck.
3. Massage and small amounts of caffeine.
4. Over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) and aspirin.

How do you describe a pounding headache?

A throbbing headache is a sensation of pounding, pulsating, rhythmic, or explosive pressure in the head. It can affect all or just a portion of your head. The sensation of pain is subjective, meaning that each person experiences it differently.

Why is my head pounding with no pain?

Most conditions that result in head pressure aren’t cause for alarm. Common ones include tension headaches, conditions that affect the sinuses, and ear infections. Abnormal or severe head pressure is sometimes a sign of a serious medical condition, such as a brain tumor or aneurysm.

Why do I feel pulsating in my head?

Overview. A throbbing sensation is one symptom often associated with headaches, a common medical condition. When you develop a headache, blood rushes to the affected area of the head in an effort to remedy the problem. Throbbing results from the dilation of your blood vessels from the increased blood flow.

When I stand up my head starts pounding?

Orthostatic hypotension — also called postural hypotension — is a form of low blood pressure that happens when you stand up from sitting or lying down. Orthostatic hypotension can make you feel dizzy or lightheaded, and maybe even cause you to faint.

What are the red flags for headaches?

“Red flags” for secondary disorders include sudden onset of headache, onset of headache after 50 years of age, increased frequency or severity of headache, new onset of headache with an underlying medical condition, headache with concomitant systemic illness, focal neurologic signs or symptoms, papilledema and headache …

What disease causes severe headaches?

Conditions that might cause nonprimary chronic daily headaches include:

• Inflammation or other problems with the blood vessels in and around the brain, including stroke.
• Infections, such as meningitis.
• Intracranial pressure that’s either too high or too low.
• Brain tumor.
• Traumatic brain injury.