Often, migraine, tension, and cluster headaches are triggered by your lifestyle or environmental factors such as stress, changes in weather, caffeine, or lack of sleep.
Photo via Harvard Health
Did you know that there are over 300 types of headaches? According to the Harvard Health Publishing, some headaches include headaches from high blood pressure, sinus headaches, ice-cream headaches, medication headaches, headaches from exercise, and more!
What causes headaches?
We’re not really sure, and doctors aren’t sure either! But, they do know that the brain tissue and the skull are never responsible since they don’t have nerves that register pain, however, the blood vessels in the head and neck can signal pain.
When to worry?
Headaches are usually easy to take care of ourselves and sometimes the doctor would prescribe medications to control most of the tougher headaches. But some headaches require prompt medical care.
A major change in the pattern of your headaches
An unusually severe headache
Head pain that increases with coughing or movement
Headaches that get steadily worse
Changes in personality or mental function
Headaches that are accompanied by fever, stiff neck, confusion, decreased alertness or memory, or neurological symptoms such as visual disturbances, slurred speech, weakness, numbness, or seizures
Headaches after a blow to the head
Headaches that prevent normal daily activities
Headaches that come abruptly, especially if they wake you up
The major primary headaches
#1 Tension headaches
Usually occurs in about three or four adults, tension headaches are the most common of all headaches. In most cases, these headaches are mild to moderate in severity and occur infrequently.
Some people get severe tension headaches while others are troubled by them for three or four times a week.
If you get frequent tension-type headaches, try to identify the triggers so you can avoid them. Don’t get overtired or skip meals, and learn relaxation techniques like yoga which is particularly helpful because it can relax both your mind and your neck muscles.
#2 Migraine
Migraines happen less often than tension headaches, but they are usually much more severe, and they are more common in women than men.
Neurologists believe that migraines are caused by changes in the brain’s blood flow and nerve cell activity. Genetics also play a huge role as 70% of migraine victims have at least one close relative with the problem.
Although migraine can come on without warning, it is often set off by a trigger. The things that set off a migraine vary from person to person, but usually remains sensitive to the same triggers:
Changing weather
Fatigue
Lack of sleep or oversleeping
Emotional stress
Sensory triggers: bright or flickering lights, loud noises, strong smells
Dietary triggers: missing a meal, chocolate, aged cheese, and increase or decrease in caffeine
Because migraine symptoms vary widely, at least half of all migraine sufferers think they have sinus or tension headaches, not migraines.
#3 Cluster Headache
Cluster headaches are very uncommon and they are severe headaches that happen five times more often in men than women. Although anyone can get cluster headaches, the typical patient is a middle-aged man with a history of smoking.
The cluster headache got its name because the headaches tend to come in clusters, with one to eight headaches a day during a one- to three- month period every year or two. The eye on the painful side will be red and watery, the eyelid may droop, and the nose runs or is blocked.
The attack is abrupt and lasts for 30 to 60 minutes.
Photo via Amayaan
Many of us can ease the problem with simple lifestyle measures and nonprescription medications - relaxation techniques like yoga and acupuncture may also help. But, for some of us, headaches are a big problem!
Learn to recognize the warning signs and work with your doctor to develop a program to prevent and treat serious headaches.
By: Aishah Akashah Ahadiat
