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Headaches Specialist

Akachi Primary and Urgent Care

Primary Care Practice & Urgent Care located in Greenbelt, MD

Up to 75% of adults have suffered at least one headache in the last year. At Akachi Primary and Urgent Care in Greenbelt, Maryland, the dedicated and conscientious team of providers headed by Mercy Eseme-Efobi, DNP, FNP-BC, MSN, and Clement Efobi, PMHNP, MSN, MPH, understands how disruptive headaches are, especially when they happen frequently. The team offers headache diagnosis and treatment with compassion, so call the office or use the online scheduling feature for help now.

Headaches Q & A

What causes headaches?

There are more than 150 different types of headaches, and each may have its own specific causes. Headaches are either primary or secondary.

Primary headaches

Primary headaches aren't related to another disease or condition. They happen for many reasons, but ultimately they're related to oversensitivity or abnormal reactions in the pain-sensing structures within the head. 

A few of the most common types of primary headaches include tension headaches, migraines, and cluster headaches. These headaches may all have different triggers, with common ones including lack of sleep, stress, drinking alcohol, and eating certain foods. 

Secondary headaches

Secondary headaches happen when you have an acute or chronic illness that causes your brain's pain structures to activate. A few common reasons for secondary headaches include high blood pressure, sinus infections, and head injuries. 

Both primary and secondary headaches are treatable and, in many cases, preventable.

When do I need help with headaches?

Many people think that headaches are just a fact of life. To some degree, that's true — after all, nearly everyone has the occasional headache. However, chronic headaches are different. 

Chronic headaches happen often, usually 15 days or more each month and continuing for at least six months in a row. 

When you have headache pain this frequently, or even just a few times a week, it can be overwhelming and even debilitating because over-the-counter pain relief doesn't always work. 

If headaches are interrupting your sleep, ruining your concentration, and preventing you from accomplishing everything you need to do, it's time to see the Akachi Primary and Urgent Care team for pain relief and long-term headache prevention.

How are headaches treated?

The Akachi Primary and Urgent Care team performs a complete evaluation to determine what kind of headache you have and what caused it. In some cases, you may need in-office lab testing or other types of tests to check for underlying conditions. 

After they determine what causes your headaches, the team can help you with both headache prevention and management. Prevention may include lifestyle changes, particularly avoiding any known triggers. 

You may need oral medication, or in some cases, injected medications, to manage your headaches as they occur. There are also preventive medications for migraine and cluster headaches.

With secondary headaches, treatment always starts with resolving your underlying condition. In most cases, doing so helps you avoid further headaches. 

Instead of coping with chronic headaches, you can overcome them with help from Akachi Primary and Urgent Care. Book your appointment online or call the office now.