Left Headaches

Left-sided headaches can occur for several reasons. Usually headaches next to the left can be recovered within a few hours and do not worry about. However, if the pain is intense or does not immediately disappear, you should visit a doctor for proper treatment.

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 Cause of Headache Left

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

• High blood pressureEven though it does not have typical physical symptoms, high blood pressure can trigger a tight sensation in the neck, until a headache, including a left headache.

• StrokeSudden 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 tumors Brain tumors are a condition of abnormal cell growth 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 limit the left headache

In dealing with the left headache, you can try to do treatment at home , namely 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 treatment at home generally only relieves pain and does not deal with the causes of headaches that you experience.

Usually before dealing with this condition, the doctor will ask about the characteristics of your headache, such as what left 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 drugs, including:

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

• Drug b eta blockerThis 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.

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

• Drugs a ntidepresanSome antidepressants such as amitriptyline can help in treating depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders that accompany chronic headaches.

• B otulinum toxinThe 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.

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 to deal with the 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.