What is a Headache?
Headache is a very common condition that occurs to anyone at any age and time. Moreover, headache by the name itself means experiencing pain in regions of the head. Headaches affect the regions of the face, head, and neck specifically. Also, there are various types of headaches that occur at various levels. There are various reasons why headaches happen to someone. According to the International Headache Society, there prevail more than 150 types of headaches of primary and secondary division.
Headaches occurring due to other underlying medical conditions have their line of treatment. Also, headaches can be a sign or symptom of other conditions. It can be also a side effect of a certain medicine. Headaches occur to everyone more than once in their life. Tension at work and poor eating and sleeping habits can also lead to the condition of headaches.
What are primary and secondary Headaches?
We classify headaches into primary and secondary types broadly. The explanation of them are as follows:
Primary Headache
Primary headaches are painless, reoccurring headaches that are not brought on by an underlying illness or structural issues. For instance, a primary headache can also be a migraine. Also, primary headaches can be quite painful and incapacitating on a regular basis, but they are not harmful physiologically.
Secondary Headache
Underlying illnesses, such as an infection, head injury, vascular condition, brain bleed, stomach ailment, or tumor, might result in secondary headaches. Also, the dangers of secondary headaches are real. Some “red flags” or cautionary indicators also suggest a subsequent headache that can be harmful.
What are the types of Headaches?
According to the International Headache Society, there prevail more than 150 types of headaches of primary and secondary division.
Sinus Headaches
This type of sinus headache occurs due to an infection in the sinus that leads to inflammation and congestion in the sinuses. Moreover, the symptoms include:
- Foul taste in the mouth
- Patient’s cheekbones and forehead hurt
- Face swells
- Ears feel heavy/full
- Sudden movement or strain makes the headache worse
- Heavy mucus discharge
- Fever
Migraine
Another most common type of primary headache includes signs like:
- Headaches ranging from moderate to severe levels
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Throbbing or pulsating pain
- This pain lasts for a few days or hours
- Sensitivity to noise and odors
- Light sensitivity
Tension Headache
Headaches that occur due to some kind of tension is known as tension headache and it consists of symptoms like:
- Constant throbbing pain
- Head pain in mild or moderate levels
- Bilateral way of headache
- You can treat it with simple consumption of generic pain killers
- The pain gets worse when you’re doing some physical activity or work
Cluster Headaches
A most severe type of primary headache. It comes in a group or cluster during the seasons like spring and fall. Furthermore, this type includes signs like:
- Intense burning and stabbing sensation during headache
- Usually occurs behind one eye region
- Constant throbbing pain
- Lasts for two weeks to three months
- Completely disappears and reappears after some time again
Headaches due to medicines
Medication overuse headaches (MOH) happen when you frequently take headache painkillers. Moreover, the signs of MOH include:
- Frequent headaches
- Days go through headaches mostly
- Headache worsens in the morning
- The more you take that medicine, you feel more head pain
What are the signs and symptoms of Headaches?
However, depending upon the severity (mild or chronic), type, and classifications (primary and secondary) of headache, your signs and symptoms may vary. Here is a list of common signs and symptoms that one may face during headaches as follows:
- Your head starts to pain after you wake up
- Moreover, you experience headaches in patterns
- There is a certain type of frequency in headache like it comes back as some hour or days passes by
- Your neck, head, and face areas are paining
- Furthermore, the pain feels throbbing or stabbing
- You feel your head pulsating or burning
- You feel dull and heavy head
- There is a persistent headache that lasts for at least 24 hours.
What are the causes of Headaches?
Headaches occurring due to other underlying medical conditions have their line of treatment. Also, headaches can be a sign or symptom of other conditions. It can be also a side effect of a certain medicine. We can also divide the causes on the basis of primary and secondary classifications.
Causes of primary Headaches include:
- Primary cough headache
- Cluster headaches
- Primary sex headache
- Hemicrania continua
- Trigeminal neuralgia or occipital neuralgia
- Primary stabbing headache
- Hypnic headache
Causes of secondary Headaches include:
- Post-ictal headaches
- Temporal arteritis
- Acute closed-angle glaucoma
- Brain tumor
- Ruptured aneurysm
- Arteriovenous malformation
- Intraparenchymal hemorrhage
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage
- Intracranial hemorrhage
- Meningitis
What are the natural ways to treat Headaches?
Headaches are quite common and can affect anyone. To some extent, we can also treat this condition of headache with the help of home remedies. Furthermore, here is a list of home remedies as follows:
- Maintain your body build levels with water
- Take some Magnesium-rich diet and supplement
- Limit or quit smoking and alcohol
- Get proper adequate sleep
- Avoid Histamine rich foods
- Apply essential oils to the headache area
- Consume Vitamin B-Complex and Coenzyme Q10
- Apply Cold Compress
- Follow elimination diet
- Consume Coffee or Tea or ginger tea
- Go for acupuncture
- Practice meditation and yoga
- Avoid things, places, or smells that trigger your headaches
- Go for herbal or ayurvedic remedies
- Avoid foods that contain nitrogen
- Get into physical activity like exercise
How do treat Headaches through medicines?
People suffering from mild to moderate headaches can take over-the-counter medication. Although, in cases of severe headaches doctors may prescribe you other medicines and combinations of certain treatments. Furthermore, here is a list of headaches as follows:
- Acetaminophen
- Aspirin
- Fenoprofen
- Flurbiprofen
- Ibuprofen
- Ketoprofen
- Nabumetone
- Naproxen
- Diclofenac
- Ketorolac
- Meclofenamate
- Carisoprodol
- Orphenadrine citrate
- Methocarbamol
- Cyclobenzaprine HCL
- Metaxalone
Conclusion
Headache is a very common condition that occurs to anyone at any age and time. Moreover, headache by the name itself means experiencing pain in regions of the head. Furthermore, headaches affect the regions of the face, head, and neck specifically. Furthermore, we classify headaches into primary and secondary types broadly. However, depending upon the severity (mild or chronic), type, and classifications (primary and secondary) of headache, your signs and symptoms may vary.
Additionally, headaches occurring due to other underlying medical conditions have their line of treatment. Also, headaches can be a sign or symptom of other conditions. To some extent, we can also treat this condition of headache with the help of home remedies. People suffering from mild to moderate headaches can take over-the-counter medication. Although, in cases of severe headaches doctors may prescribe you other medicines and combinations of certain treatments.
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