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Suggest Treatment For Persistent Headache Along With Heart Palpitations
Question: Hi, I've had a persistent left temple headache for 8 weeks with throbbing pain when I stand up too quickly or exert myself too much. Since the 3rd week of the headache I have been feeling heart palpitations, stronger than normal beats, 3 or 4 time daily, that lat about 3-4 seconds. Tried the sinus infect route 6 weeks ago, two rounds of antibiotics, no change. My new internist put me on a calcium chanel blocker to alleviate the throbbing but I got very nauseous and dizzy 48 hour in. I am male, 49 years old, I have normal blood pressure, 50-60 heart rate, and a recreational cyclist. Brain CT scan was negative, temporal arteritis blood work was negative. Any ideas? Thanks, XXXXX
Brief Answer:
It should help if you take naproxen one or two tablets as required
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have carefully gone through the details provided and understand your concerns. Your headache could be due to migraine or cluster headache and in either case nothing will show up on the tests. I would suggest you to take Aleve (naproxen) as and when required. It should give you relief from headache. Another possibility is a link up with sinusitis, if you have it. The sinuses have poor blood supply and antibiotics cannot easily reach there and hence are ineffective. I would suggest taking steam inhalation instead. It can reach deep inside and can provide relief.
Feel free to contact back in case you have any further queries.
Regards
It should help if you take naproxen one or two tablets as required
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have carefully gone through the details provided and understand your concerns. Your headache could be due to migraine or cluster headache and in either case nothing will show up on the tests. I would suggest you to take Aleve (naproxen) as and when required. It should give you relief from headache. Another possibility is a link up with sinusitis, if you have it. The sinuses have poor blood supply and antibiotics cannot easily reach there and hence are ineffective. I would suggest taking steam inhalation instead. It can reach deep inside and can provide relief.
Feel free to contact back in case you have any further queries.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
My headache does not fit the description of either migraine or cluster as it is present and persistent all day and night except when sleeping or lying down. I tried both naproxen and ibuprofen early on with no good results, they stopped working after the 2nd week of the headache. My internist told me that the CT scan showed no sinus issues, does that include sinusitis? I have also tried steam inhalation and a Neti pot with only short term results.
Brief Answer:
You could be having tension headaches.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
I would like to ask if you have a tendency to catch cold or whether you often have cold related symptoms. A CT scan showing no sinus issues does not rule out sinusitis. If stem inhalation has been helpful even for short term, I think that you should continue it.
Going by the description however, it seems that you could be having stress related headaches. In such a case trying anxiolytics should help. But these are prescription medicines and you would need to get them prescribed by your treating physician. Taking alprazolam 0.5 mg half a tablet twice daily can be helpful. Try it and see if it helps.
Also be sure to get your eye power checked, if you have not done it already.
Regards
You could be having tension headaches.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
I would like to ask if you have a tendency to catch cold or whether you often have cold related symptoms. A CT scan showing no sinus issues does not rule out sinusitis. If stem inhalation has been helpful even for short term, I think that you should continue it.
Going by the description however, it seems that you could be having stress related headaches. In such a case trying anxiolytics should help. But these are prescription medicines and you would need to get them prescribed by your treating physician. Taking alprazolam 0.5 mg half a tablet twice daily can be helpful. Try it and see if it helps.
Also be sure to get your eye power checked, if you have not done it already.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I do not have a tendency to catch colds and do not have cold related symptoms.
If this is a stress related condition wouldn't it be helpful to try some stress relief before trying anxiolytics? It feels like the headache is stuck no matter how relaxed I get it won't move from my left temple.
I will also get my eyes checked.
If this is a stress related condition wouldn't it be helpful to try some stress relief before trying anxiolytics? It feels like the headache is stuck no matter how relaxed I get it won't move from my left temple.
I will also get my eyes checked.
Brief Answer:
Try relaxation techniques and meditation.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
Your situation is a bit bleak and it is hard to give you a proper solution before the actual cause can be pinpointed upon.
Since you do not have increased tendency to catch colds and assuming that you do not have blocked nose, probably sinusitis can be ruled out as a possible cause. In such a case it is more likely to be stress related. Relaxation techniques and meditation are definitely likely to be helpful and in case you can relax adequately probably anxiolytics would not be needed at all.
Getting your visual acuity checked would be the right thing to be done.
Regards
Try relaxation techniques and meditation.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
Your situation is a bit bleak and it is hard to give you a proper solution before the actual cause can be pinpointed upon.
Since you do not have increased tendency to catch colds and assuming that you do not have blocked nose, probably sinusitis can be ruled out as a possible cause. In such a case it is more likely to be stress related. Relaxation techniques and meditation are definitely likely to be helpful and in case you can relax adequately probably anxiolytics would not be needed at all.
Getting your visual acuity checked would be the right thing to be done.
Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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