Headaches affect everyone at some point. They are also one of the most common medical complaints handled by healthcare professionals. From minor, temporary headaches to severe cases with exhausting symptoms, headaches can be a sign of other health issues. There are also different types of headaches, which are important to know to access effective treatment and make informed decisions about your lifestyle.
What Are Headaches?
Any pain or discomfort in the face and head is considered a headache. It can be caused by different factors, such as illness, tension, and more. In case of frequent or severe headaches, it is important to find the root cause and address it immediately.
Generally, headaches have been categorized into two types:
Primary Headaches are the result of abnormal brain activity, tension, or blood flow to the head. Migraines and tension headaches are perfect examples. They are usually caused by lifestyle factors and stressful situations.
Secondary Headaches are the effects of medical issues like sinus infections, concussions, and other health issues. They are symptoms of other underlying conditions.
Types of Headaches
Based on the causes and symptoms, some common types of headaches are:
Tension Headaches
Tension headaches are the most common type of headache, causing pain in the forehead and temples. These are mostly caused by muscle tension around the head, neck, and shoulders, affecting the scalp muscles.
Symptoms
A constant yet dull pressure around the forehead, temples, and back of your head.
Sensitivity to sound and light
Aching neck and shoulder muscles
Feeling tightness or squeezing on the sides of your head.
Irritability, agitation, fatigue, and difficulty focusing.
Causes and Triggers
Stress
Emotional conflict
Neck strain due to poor posture
Eye strain due to staring at screens and documents
Sleep disorders
Anxiety and depression
Smoking or drinking
Dehydration
Treatments
Tension headaches are usually simple conditions that can be cured with simple medications, exercises, and lifestyle changes.
Medication: Over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen, aspirin, and acetaminophen can provide immediate relief.
Techniques: Managing stress with yoga, meditation, and deep breathing can also help manage headaches.
Therapy: Mental and physical therapy can relieve tension in the neck and shoulder muscles.
Migraines
Migraines are severe attacks that cause debilitating pain as one of their symptoms. They last from several hours to several days and cause throbbing, one-sided pain, disrupting daily life.
Symptoms
Intense throbbing pain in one side of the head
Nausea and vomiting
Sensitivity to sound, light, smell, and movements
Visual issues like flashing lights or blind spots and other sensory problems
Causes and Triggers
Genetics
Hormonal changes
Lack of sleep
Stress
Consumption of certain foods/drinks like alcohol, chocolate, cheese
Treatment Options
Preventive medication like beta-blockers, antidepressants, and anticonvulsants
Prescription medications such as triptans and antiseizure medications
Lifestyle changes include keeping a migraine diary, avoiding trigger foods, and managing stress.
Cluster Headaches
Cluster headaches are extremely painful headaches that affect one side of the head and occur in cyclical patterns or clusters. They can last 15 to 30 minutes and may happen multiple times a day. Cluster headaches can last for weeks and months and then disappear.
Symptoms
Severe sharp burning or stabbing pain
Watery and red eyes
Droopy eye on the affected side
A runny or stuffy nostril
Sweating
Causes & Triggers
The actual cause of cluster headaches is still unknown. However, a few possible causes can be:
Abnormalities in the hypothalamus of the brain
Dysfunction in body’s circadian rhythms
Release of histamine or serotonin near the trigeminal nerve.
Genetics
Treatment Options
. The following treatment options are available for this condition:
Preventive Medication: Medicines help to prevent headaches and provide longer-lasting relief.
Oxygen Therapy: Breathing in 100% pure oxygen can also help relieve pain.
Sinus Headaches
This is a secondary headache caused by inflammation of the sinus cavities. A sinus infection triggers it and causes pain in the cheekbones, forehead, and bridge of the nose. If the pain lasts for more than a week, you should get professional help.
Symptoms
Sinus headaches are caused by swelling of sinus tissues due to infection. It causes symptoms such as:
Deep throbbing pain around the forehead, cheeks, and eyes
Nasal congestion
Mucus drainage
Fever
Achy and tender face
Causes and Triggers:
Sinus infections
Common cold
Allergies
Structural sinus issues
Smoking
Weak immune system
Treatment Options:
Sinus infections are diagnosed with physical examinations and imaging. The available treatment options are:
Decongestants: To relieve the swelling of the sinuses.
Nasal steroids: To reduce inflammation.
Pain relievers: To ease headache pain
Antihistamines: To prevent allergies
Steam inhalation and warm compresses: To help open nasal passages and ease sinus congestion
Antibiotics: To cure bacterial infection
Rebound Headaches
Taking medication regularly (2-3 days a week) for chronic headaches causes rebound headaches. They are also known as medication overuse headaches.
Symptoms
These are caused by taking medicine for other headaches like migraine and cluster headaches. Frequently taking medicine provides relief for a while, but when the pain returns, it is often much worse.
These occur almost daily.
These are worse after waking up in the morning.
Causes & Triggers
These headaches are caused by the overuse of over-the-counter or prescription medications (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or triptans).
Treatment Options
The ways to manage and treat rebound headaches are:
Gradual reduction of medication use with medical supervision.
Taking preventive measures such as taking antidepressants and anticonvulsants.
Alternative treatments include acupuncture, physical therapy, and biofeedback to treat headaches.
When to See a Doctor
If your headaches start to get worse and are more frequent than normal, you might want to consider visiting a pain management doctor. The following conditions require immediate medical attention:
Sudden and severe headaches
Headache after a head injury
Headache with symptoms like vision changes, numbness, or difficulty speaking
The doctor will perform diagnostic tests like physical examination, X-rays, CT Scans, and MRI to detect the type and cause of the headache. They will provide the correct treatment plan for your condition.
Preventing and Managing Headaches
Certain initiatives and lifestyle changes can also make a huge difference in preventing and curing headaches. Some of them are:
Regular exercise with a balanced diet and sufficient hydration
Enough rest and sleep can also relieve headaches
Managing stress with techniques such as mindfulness, meditation, and relaxation exercises.
Maintaining proper posture, taking regular breaks, and reducing eye strain while working
