A Guide to Headaches: Causes, Symptoms, and Cures
Headaches are a very common health complaint and almost everyone has experienced one, if not many, over the course of their life. Headache can affect almost anyone regardless of their lifestyles, age, race, or gender. A headache may be caused due to several different reasons and most headaches go away on their own and doesn’t require professional medical attention. International classification of headache disorders, classifies headache into two types, Primary and secondary headaches
Primary headache, which means these types of headaches are disorder in themselves and not due to any other factors.
Primary headache Types
- Headaches due to migraine: Migraine is one of the most common primary headache disorder. This is the third most common headache cause in the world. Migraine headaches are generally on one side of the head and are very painful.
- Headaches due to Tensions: This is one of most common and feels like a constant ache on both sides of the head.
- Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalagias or Clustered headaches: Cluster headache are another type of headache that causes severe pain and occur for periods of time. Cluster headache usually occur around the eye area.
- Exertional headaches also known as sexual headaches: These headache are associated with the physical activities. These can be very severe after some strenuous activities like, sex, exercise, weight lifting or running, etc.
Secondary Headache
This types of headaches are the result of secondary symptoms due to another disorder.
Headache due to trauma or an injury
This is one of the most common secondary headache types occurring due to injury in either neck or head
Headaches due to some cervical disorder
This cervicogenic headache is sometimes misunderstood as Migraine pain or the Tension headache, similar to migraine and tension headache, starts from the back of neck and head and then move towards the frontal head. This pain is also accompanied by reduced range of motion of neck, stiffness in neck, pain around the eyes, nausea, etc.
Headaches due to Medication overuse
This are kind of side effects of medicinal drugs taken in excess to reduce or alleviate headache.
Stabbing headache
Also known as “ice pick headache” are intense headaches that lasts only for seconds.
Hypnic headache
This headache types are also known as “alarm clock headache” because it wakes up people from sleep. Hypnic headaches attacks people in sleep.
Headache due to infection
This kind of headaches are associated with some illness, infection, cold or fever.
Headaches due to high altitude
Altitude sickness or headaches usually occurs over 2600 Meters above sea level.
Headache due to fasting
If the blood glucose level fall too low, you may experience severe headache. Delayed or irregular meal can also cause headache.
Headaches due to accident
Injury caused by sudden jerk to the head, often in car accident can result in this type of headache. This can last for 2-3 weeks. In case, it is persistent and taking longer time to calm down, one must see doctor immediately.
Headaches due to Sinusitis
This pain is caused due to inflammation of sinus as it reduces the ability of mucus to drain this increasing pressure within sinuses.
Headache due to hangover
The best way to avoid this headache is to keep yourself hydrated. This headache is the result of dehydration and dilation of blood vessels.
Headache Cure
To treat a regular headache, getting lots of rest and drinking water is recommended. Using pain medication or headache relievers is also very common and may alleviate some of the pain due to headache. There are lots of general pain medications found over the counter, but doctors can prescribe specific medications that may be preventative or require a stronger dose to fit your needs. There are also many other alternative forms of treatment available but a lot of these haven’t been scientifically proven. It is best to consult your primary care physician before starting an alternative treatment. Alternative treatments to cure headache include acupuncture, hypnosis, meditation, or herbal remedies.
There are many things you can do to prevent it. Drink lots of water. Drinking less than the recommended eight cups of day for excessive periods of time may be a cause for headaches. Be sure to get lots of sleep. A lack of sleep causes people will leave you feeling tired and groggy and the brain won’t have enough time to recharge causing you to have a headache throughout the day. Maintain a good diet. Overly eating unhealthy foods cause blood pressure to rise which may lead to uncomfortable headache. Finally, try to reduce stressors in your life. Lots of stress and tension often cause headache. See a therapist if you’re having emotional distress or experiencing depression of anxiety.
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