Common causes of headaches are sinusitis, common cold, stress, eye strain, pressure
and lack of sleep or food. However injuries to the head or spine can also
result in headaches.
Migraine is more severe than normal headaches but they
are not as common. It sometimes occur for no apparent reason and
cannot normally be traced to any particular disorder. However they may follow
lack of food, noise, heat, travelling or emotional disturbances.
The treatment is the same for both conditions.
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SYMPTOMS
Headache
- pain anywhere in the head which may be constant, throbbing
or intermittent.
Migraine
- Casualty may experience 'flickering' vision.
- Casualty will be feeling nauseated and may already be vomiting
- Intense throbbing headache which may only affect one side of the
head
- Casualty cannot tolerate light or noise
- Casualty may look very pale
AIM
To relieve discomfort
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TREATMENT
1. Place a cold compress or covered hot-water bottle on the casualty's
forehead.
2. Advise the casualty to take one or two of his own pain killing tablets
if available
3. If practical, advise the casualty to lie down in a darkened room
4.If the headache persists, or if it is accompanied by a feeling of
nausea, vomiting, fever, stiff neck, disturbed vision,
obvious head injury, confusion or gradual loss of consciousness, seek
medical help.
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