Headaches
Learn about different headache types and how to control them
Headaches are something that everyone experiences from time to time. Usually, they can be treated with over-the-counter analgesics, but if you suffer from chronic or migraine headaches, you should see a doctor. More aggressive treatments may be needed, or you may be afflicted with an underlying medical condition that will need to be addressed in order to relieve your headaches.
Headache Types
Medical researchers have classified headaches into numerous types, and it's important that you understand what type of headache you have to get the fastest and most effective relief.
Tension headaches are the most common and are usually brought on by stress or fatigue. The hallmark symptom of a tension headache is feeling like a band is wrapped around your head and being pulled tighter and tighter. They are usually centered in the region of your temples or in the back of the head.
Migraine headaches usually start out as a dull ache, then increase in intensity. Often, they "bunch up" in one hemisphere of the head or settle in the temple region. Symptoms of migraine headaches often include photosensitivity, nausea or vomiting and a heightened sensitivity to noise.
Cluster headaches come on suddenly, can be very intense, and typically last for about 30 to 45 minutes. They tend to recur with relative frequency, and most people who suffer from cluster headaches report that they happen with greater regularity in the spring and autumn.
Other headache types include high blood pressure headaches, which are brought on by hypertension, and fibromyalgia headaches, which occur in people who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia.
How to Manage Chronic Headaches
Over time, you may find that over-the-counter painkillers do not provide you with effective or lasting relief from your headaches. If this happens, you should talk to your doctor about a headache management strategy. Typically, this includes a preemptive rather than abortive strategy—in other words, you'll be given medicine designed to prevent headaches from occurring, rather than medicine that stops a headache once it's started.
It can be helpful to keep a journal that tracks headache occurrences. This may help you identify underlying causes, such as the use of certain medications, unsatisfying nights of sleep, menstruation, dietary or environmental factors, or other headache triggers that you can be proactive about avoiding.
