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Verified By Apollo General Physician December 9, 2023
Headaches are a common health problem you might experience quite often. While you overlook it at times, if it turns severe, it might affect your day-to-day working. If you have been experiencing throbbing pain for the past few days, do not ignore it.
Your doctor can determine the underlying cause(s) and the right treatment depending on the symptoms of your headache. Although most headaches do not necessarily mean that you have any severe health complications, some might be due to a serious and even life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention.
Lifestyle factors such as inadequate sleeping or eating patterns, consumption of alcohol and feeling stressful can lead to severe pain in your head.
While most of the headaches are not life threatening, some headaches can be triggered by an underlying disease such as sinus, concussion, brain tumor, stroke etc.
Every headache is different, so you might observe different symptoms for different headaches and require specific treatment.
While there are over 150 types of primary and secondary headaches, some of the most common types of headaches observed are-
This is one of the most common types of headaches. It is also called a “hatband” headache, as the pain is usually around the back of the head, temple and forehead, in the areas where you wear a hat. While it’s usually mild and moderate, it can last upto days in severe cases.
These headaches are usually observed on one side of the head, hence they are termed as migraine. They can last from a few hours to a couple of days and are often accompanied by nausea,vomiting and sensitivity to sound or light. Migraine pain is usually throbbing in nature, making it difficult for the person to perform daily activities.
Cluster headaches, as the name suggests, happen cyclically or in cluster periods. It is one of the most intense forms of headaches.
A cluster headache is more likely to wake you up while you are sleeping in the night with sharp pain. The pain is usually one-sided and arises in and around one of your eyes.
The episodes of headaches are called cluster periods. These can come and stay for weeks to even months, followed by periods of remission when you are fine with no pain in your head. The remission periods can last for months and years.
When your sinus has an infection, they get swollen and the mucus in the drain gets blocked. This increases pressure in your sinuses and the resulting pain feels like a headache. Some of the symptoms are: fever, running nose and swelling on the face.
Primary headaches
A primary headache does not mean that you have any underlying health condition. You have got pain-sensitive spots in your head. If these structures become overactive or there is any problem(s) with them, you may experience a primary headache.
Other crucial factors that can cause primary headaches to include the following:
For some people, it is their genes that make them more susceptible to headaches.
Here are some of the most common headaches that you can call primary:
There are certain types of headaches that are, although considered a primary headache, are not much common. They exhibit distinct characteristics. For example, extreme pain related to doing a certain type of task activity. Although these headaches are known as primary, each one of these pains is more likely to be a synptom of an underlying health condition. It includes:
Many lifestyle factors can trigger some of the primary headaches. It includes:
Secondary headaches
A secondary headache indicates an underlying health condition that can trigger the pain-sensitive spots (nerves) of your head. There could be many possible causes of secondary headaches. It includes the following:
A secondary headache is the symptom of a illness that can activate pain-sensitive nerves of the head. Any number of conditions (varying significantly in severity) can cause secondary headaches.
The characteristics and their effects on daily life can vary.
The pain could depend on the headache causes and types. You would need to visit a doctor if the pain is excruciating.
There are certain factors associated with developing frequent headaches. This includes-
When To See A Doctor
Usually, headaches go away within 48 hours, but if you observe any of the issues mentioned below, do not ignore it.
Headache causes could be a sign of serious health conditions and might require treatment beyond over-the-counter medications and home remedies.
If you observe any of the above issues, it is better to get it checked by a doctor.
Call 1860-500-1066 to book an appointment.
The main purpose of treatment for headache is to relieve the pain, symptoms and reduce the frequency of occurrence. The headache;s causes can be prevented through rest and pain relief medication. These include-
The severity and frequency of headache can make your quality of life poor. The other complications include-
Secondary headaches indicate an underlying cause and the complications will depend on the cause .
Taking care of your body and mind can help you in avoiding daily chronic headaches. Strive towards having a work life balance and avoid carrying forward the stress of your office to home. Developing a hobby and spending time with your family will enrich your soul and also ensure that you are not burned out.
Conclusion
You might ignore the headache , but if it worsens or lasts long , do not overlook it. Rather than overdosing on medications, it is better to book an appointment with doctors at Apollo Hospitals and understand the headache cause.
With proper treatment and care, not only will your headaches reduce, but you will also understand the triggers which cause them in the first place.
1. Are migraines hereditary?
In most cases, migraines are observed in people with a family history of migraine. In rare cases, some people can develop migraine-like symptoms due to head trauma.
2. Will lifestyle change help with a headache?
Studies have reported that people who have a routine of eating, sleeping, and exercise have fewer headaches observed over time. Doctors recommend having a healthy lifestyle to reduce the occurrence of headaches.
3. Is migraine dangerous?
While usually, they are not, some migraines such as complicated migraine, a hemiplegic migraine, and basilar migraine are known for increasing the risk of stroke in a person. People suffering from migraines with other stroke risk factors should work on reducing such risk factors . Quitting smoking; reducing high cholesterol are important and they should work with their doctors for making adequate lifestyle changes and medications.
Call 1860-500-1066 to book an appointment.
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