Upper headache is a fairly common complaint. The causes can vary, ranging from tension headaches to migraines. So that your activities are not disturbed by upper headaches, let's find out ways to overcome them.
Headaches can occur in various parts of the head, such as in the back, on the right or left side, in front, or even on the top of the head. Headaches that appear on the top of the head are called coronal headaches.
The appearance of pain in the upper head can be motivated by many things. However, this condition is generally not dangerous if it only appears occasionally and can subside on its own.
Causes of Upper Headache
Upper headaches are generally experienced by tension headaches that often attack adults, especially women. Tension headaches are caused by tense muscles around the shoulders, jaw, and back of the head or neck.
Many things can trigger tension in these muscles, including:
- Severe stress, for example due to problems in family relationships, loneliness, approaching exams, starting or losing a job, heavy work pressure, or problems in personal relationships with a partner
- Excessive anxiety
- Depression
- Lack of sleep and fatigue
- Hunger or late to eat
- Drinking too much caffeine or alcoholic beverages
- Dehydration
- Flu or sinus infection
- Jaw or tooth disorders
In addition to the top, tension headaches can also be felt on the front and right side of the head. Such headaches can be caused by migraines and cluster coconut pain. Other symptoms that can occur in headaches due to this condition are:
- Tired easily
- Hard to sleep
- Sensitive to light or sound
- Muscle ache
- Concentration disturbed
How to overcome Upper Headache
Treatment for upper headaches is generally done to relieve pain and prevent it from coming back. Here are various ways that can be done to deal with upper headaches:
1. Reduce stress and get enough rest
Excessive stress and lack of sleep are some of the factors that often cause headaches. Therefore, to prevent and treat headaches, it is recommended that you get enough sleep every night for 7–9 hours.
To relieve headaches, you also need to reduce stress by doing relaxation, exercise, yoga, or pursuing a hobby, such as cooking, listening to music, or watching a movie you like.
2. Taking drugs
You can also treat upper headaches by taking over-the-counter headache relievers, such as paracetamol or aspirin.
However, in certain cases, especially in headaches that often recur or don't work with over-the-counter medications, you may need drugs that can only be obtained through a doctor's prescription, such as antidepressants, sedatives or anti-anxiety drugs, and medications to control blood pressure.
3. Stop certain habits
Upper headaches can sometimes also appear due to unhealthy habits, such as too much or frequent consumption of caffeine, alcoholic beverages, and smoking. Therefore, you need to limit or stop the habit to prevent the headache from coming back.
However, abruptly stopping caffeine consumption may cause headaches due to side effects caffeine withdrawal in some people. If you find it difficult to stop drinking caffeine, try consulting a doctor for treatment.
In addition to the various ways above, upper headaches may also be relieved by several alternative ways, such as acupuncture, head massage, and aromatherapy.
Those are the various causes of upper headaches and how to overcome them. However, you need to remember that taking pain relievers, especially over-the-counter ones, generally only relieves symptoms and doesn't necessarily treat the cause. So, you should avoid taking too often headache reliever medication, and it would be better to consult a doctor.
In addition, you are also advised to immediately consult a doctor, if the tension headache is accompanied by other symptoms, such as seizures, visual disturbances, decreased consciousness or fainting, or weakness in the limbs, so that the cause of this condition can be treated appropriately.