Headaches are something that almost everybody will experience at least once in their lifetimes, and more likely be a frequent nuisance throughout their lives. Although most are passing and nothing more than an annoyance to suffer through, others could indicate a more serious, underlying issue that should be checked out to see if there are any health problems causing them. But before you decide to contact your health insurer and demand an MRI scan, it’s worth taking a step back and gaining an understanding as to what the various headaches are that exist and how to alleviate them at home.
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Migraines May Require Medication, And Quiet
No headache is particularly pleasant, but certain types tend to be a whole lot worse than others. A migraine is a specific sort of headache that can be defined as a complex neurological disorder characterized by recurring episodes of moderate to severe head pain and which is often accompanied by a range of other symptoms. These chronic headaches are usually felt on one side of the head and result in throbbing or pulsing feelings that can range from utterly unpleasant to severely debilitating. In more serious situations, they can last for hours and cause a raft of other symptoms, including light sensitivity and possibly even nausea from its sheer peculiarness. Most people who suffer from migraines can also experience what is known as auras, which are experiences that tend to precede the onset of a migraine and are temporary sensory disturbances such as flashing lights, zigzag lines, and a possible feeling of numbness. They are considered to be stress headaches, meaning that they are often brought on by:
- Stress
- Hormonal changes
- Certain foods and drinks
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Environmental factors
While medications like paracetamol and NSAIDs can help slightly alleviate the discomfort, in almost all cases, the best cure is usually to find a quiet space and close your eyes until it passes. To be honest, you won’t really be able to do much else while in the throes of a migraine anyway, so you might as well sleep it out, and then once you’ve regained a sense of normalcy, make sure to drink plenty of warm water and avoid staring at light sources like phone or computer screens for too long.
Tension Headaches Respond To Relaxation Techniques
You might find a pattern emerging in this post: Many headaches respond best to relaxation techniques that help to depressurize the tension and get you back on your feet again. Tension headaches are a broad category of headaches that are often described as feeling like a tight band or pressure around the head. They’re usually not a sign of anything too serious, but if they’re frequent enough, you might want to look at some underlying causes. These can include poor posture and muscle tension, which, when you know are culprits of such headaches, can be easily remedied so that you experience them less often. They also respond reasonably well to medication like the usual aspirins and paracetamols and pretty much anything you can get over the counter.
Cluster Headaches Often Need Urgent Treatment
If you’ve never experienced a cluster headache before, count yourself lucky. These are often described as being some of the worst pain that humans can suffer from, and in most cases, there is no respite due to the neurological causes. To call it excruciating may even be an understatement, for it can feel like a piercing pain in one specific section of the head but is typically located around one eye and can radiate to other areas of the face, head, and neck. The reason they’re referred to as cluster headaches is because they happen frequently over a period of weeks or months, followed by periods of remission. While they don’t necessarily cause damage to the brain, the more frequent they are, the more likely they are to cause severe distress and dramatically impact one’s quality of life. Additionally, most over-the-counter medications are ineffective at best, and if you take them too often, they could even cause a dependency without even fixing the problem. Instead, treatments, such as high-flow oxygen and triptan medications, are usually required in specialist settings.
Sinus Headaches Benefit From Antihistamines
The reason they’re called headaches and just brain aches is that they can originate from almost any part of the entire head. A case in point is the ubiquitous sinus headache, which is among the more common headaches worldwide. They can occur from a variety of causes, including but not limited to:
- Sinus infections (sinusitis)
- Allergies
- Nasal congestion
Sinus headaches are relatively straightforward to treat. Treatment options include pain relievers, decongestants, and possibly even antihistamines if the headache is related to allergies.
Hormonal Headaches Relate To Menstrual Cycles
Hormonal headaches are often triggered by fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone and predominantly affect women (although they can afflict men to a certain degree). These headaches can arise before menstruation due to declining estrogen levels, during the hormonal shifts of pregnancy, or as a result of perimenopause. Even some hormonal birth control methods can exacerbate these headaches, meaning that they aren’t limited to those of a more mature age. They typically present as migraines characterized by throbbing pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and sometimes nausea; however, they may also resemble tension-type headaches. Treatment options vary in severity, ranging from over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen to prescription triptans designed for migraines. Lifestyle changes, hormone therapy, and preventative medications may also be helpful, as they can be with almost all of the different types of headaches that we all experience from time to time.
Stress Management Aids In Headache Prevention In Most Cases
Many headaches that aren’t connected somehow to genetics or hormonal changes tend to be associated with stress and tension of some description. Consequently, the best cure is to figure out techniques to reduce your stress in ways such as meditation or even yoga. When it comes to headache prevention in general, yoga can be an excellent yet not well-known option since it reduces stress while correcting any postural imbalances that may also be a culprit.
Headaches can range from an inconvenience to utterly debilitating and really everything in between. When it comes to the cure, it’s best to consult with a doctor before attempting anything yourself.