There are over a hundred types of headaches out there, that are mainly divided into three categories. Primary, secondary and other. Primary are the ones that are not caused by anything, and themselves stand out as disorders. Secondary, on the other hand, are symptoms of other disorders.
Your treatment relies on the type of headache you are having and how frequently you have it. Therefore, it’s best to know beforehand what type of headache it is that you are experiencing. During headaches, you can feel pain beneath your scalp, forehead, and beneath your eyes. And if it is not dealt with quickly, your headache can turn out to be violent in minutes.
Below we will be discussing types of headaches, how you can distinguish them from each other, and then finally get rid of them.
TYPES OF HEADACHES
1. Tension Headache
It is the most common headache people suffer from. And it can be treated easily unless it’s chronic, meaning you have it nearly every other day. But in general, tension headaches are episodic and come with mild but constant pain in your head and neck. Although, the pain and other symptoms are not extreme so it doesn’t affect your normal activities. Tension headache can occur due to work pressure, lack of sleep, alcohol, or mental stress. That’s why it is commonly called a stress headache as well. Symptoms of a tension headache include:
- Mild pain in your forehead, back, or both sides of headache equally
- Muscle pain
- Difficulty in focusing
- Sensitiveness to light and noise
- Tiredness
One of the most worthwhile ways to treat it is taking a painkiller like Aspirin. However, to achieve instant results, you can speed up the process by undertaking some home remedies as well. Simply laying down in a quiet room, drinking water, rubbing your head, compressing an ice pack over your head and vice versa can give you fast relief from pain.
2. Hormonal Headaches
Another common headache that arises because of hormonal transformations. Women are more likely to get it during their menstrual period. This is why hormonal headache is also called menstrual migraine. The symptoms of it are similar to migraines. You would feel a throbbing pain in one side of your head, and you may feel others symptoms including vomiting and nausea. Here are a few symptoms that you might experience during menstrual migraine.
Â
- Decreased urination
- Overall tiredness
- Intense sensitivity to light, noise, and even touch
- Craving for the salt or sweets
Taking a painkiller can be comforting. However, there are home remedies you should do to prevent the pain from getting severe. For instance, avoiding light and noise, skipping work, breathing exercises, drinking water, massage, and placing an ice pack over your head. You should never skip meals during menstrual migraines. It will only make it worse.
3. Migraine
According to a survey, 15 percent of adults in the US experience migraines once or more every month. Migraine is among the most common disorders of the human nervous system. However, it is the monster among all other headaches. It can last somewhere between 4 hours to 72 hours. Effects of it vary from person to person. There are many types of migraines, but they are usually classified into two. Classic migraine meaning with aura, in which you can catch symptoms before the headache. The second is a common migraine without aura. However, the most typical migraine symptoms are as following:
- Fatigue
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Change in mood
- Constant thirst
- Extreme sensitivity to light and noise even before a headache
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Numbness at one side or in your whole body
- Heaviness
- Change in taste
It’s highly suggested to consult a doctor in this case and get diagnosed. Especially if you have them very frequently. Using medications on your own can turn your episodic migraine into a prolonged illness. And it can affect your life. Even though the underlying cause of migraine is yet unknown, several factors can define why you suffer from migraine. For instance, age, sex, family history, and different medical conditions. Migraine runs in the blood, if your parents suffer from it, the risk of you encountering migraine at a young age immensely increases.
There can be many triggers to migraines. But most common is stress, medications, menstrual period, and certain types of food. Nevertheless, home remedies like stress reduction, applying an ice pack can ease the pain. But they aren’t a permanent antidote.
SECONDARY HEADACHES
Secondary headache appears because of another medical disorder, and it results in a symptom of it. The cause behind secondary headaches can vary from flu to cancer. It could be a head injury, pregnancy, some type of sinus infection, or even being accustomed to painkillers for headaches.
If you feel dizziness during a headache, and have trouble sleeping or walking. It is advised that you visit a nearby doctor because behind your headache might lie an unknown serious medical condition.
