Only 10% of the 300 different types of headaches have a known cause. Research says that every individual would have experienced a headache at some point in their life, and the ones who get them usually often oversee it.
Headaches are caused when a blood vessel in the head or the neck, brain tissues, and major nerves originating in the brain sends out pain or distress signals. An eye, teeth, scalp, sinus, muscle, or joint pain can also lead to headaches due to the nerve connection.
Pain signals can be sent out due to various reasons, and it’s important to know the difference between trivial and serious issues. Here are a few pointers on when to get your headache checked out:
It is important to get in touch with your family doctor because tension, migraine, and cluster headaches appear normal in CTs, MRIs, and ECGs. A medical professional who knows your family history can diagnose your headache with a physical examination. The scans are suggested to make sure that there are no silent abnormalities.
An ache caused due to tension has become highly common nowadays. A stronger dose of medicine, especially tricyclic antidepressants, prescribed by a doctor is often the best solution when it comes to an ache that has been recurring for quite a long time.
Few home remedies to manage and reduce the pain are:
For an untrained person, the symptoms of migraines and sinus are often similar. Hence, leading to a misdiagnosis. Here are a few facts about migraines that create a cause for concern:
The same agents usually trigger migraines. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the triggers to prevent an ache. Here are the warning triggers that induce migraines usually:
Migraines can occur immediately or within a few hours after being exposed to the triggers. The usual symptoms of migraine are:
Migraines can be treated with medicines only but overuse or abuse can lead to rebound attacks. Thus, therapy or preventive medicines are recommended.
Headache Type | Triggers | Duration | Pain | Treatment |
Tension | Emotional stress/Joint Pain | 20 mins – 2 hours | Squeezing pain on both sides | OTC painkillers, relaxation |
Migraine | Food and sensory triggers | Differs from individual to individual | One side and moves backward | Pain killers, preventive medicine, and therapy |
Cluster | Smoking | 30 – 60 mins | Around the eye and one side of the head | Increased oxygen intake and medicines |
Drug-Induced | High/ frequent intake of toxic drugs or medicine | Several weeks or until complete detox takes place | Dull ache on one side that worsens in the morning | Quitting the high dose or toxic drug |
Sinus Headaches | Anything can cause inflammation of the sinusitis | 10 days – 8 weeks depending on the severity | Cheekbones, forehead, and bridge of the nose. | Antihistamines, antibiotics, decongestants |
Ice Cream Headaches | Cold food and beverages | 5 – 10 mins | Forehead and temples | Slow consumption of cold food |
High BP Headache | Years of high blood pressure | Rare, so not researched yet | Feels like migraine | Opting for headache-free treatment for high BP |
Exercise/ Sex Induced | Sudden exercise or sex | 5 mins – 48 hours | One one side or on the entire head | Warming up and taking NSAIDs an hour before |
Constant or not, headaches are a cause of discomfort and pain for many of us. Prompt treatment, awareness about triggers and preventive measures are really helpful.
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