We have all suffered from headaches during some point of our life. However headaches can be of different kinds. They can have their own set of symptoms, and may happen for unique reasons. Sometimes they can be more complicated than most people realize. It is important to figure out what type of headache is causing you pain, that helps in correct treatment.
Did you know?
There are 150 different types of headaches.
Some of the most common ones are listed below:
Tension headaches: Also called as stress headaches or chronic daily headaches they are the most generic type among adults and teens. They cause mild to moderate pain and come and go over time. Some symptoms include headache upon awakening, chronic fatigue, irritability and disturbed concentration.
Migraines: This affects and disturbs the lives of many adults. They cause pounding and throbbing pain. They can last from 4 hours to 3 days and usually happen one to four times per month. Migraines can run in families . Along with the pain, people also have other symptoms like sensitivity to light, noise, or smells, nausea, loss of appetite and upset stomach.
Mixed headache syndrome: Also called transformed migraines, this condition is a mix of migraine and tension headaches. Both adults and children can have it.
Cluster headaches:Cluster headaches are intense and feel like a burning or piercing pain behind the eyes. It’s the least common but the most severe type of headache. They tend to happen in groups, appear suddenly and are characterized by severe, debilitating pain on one side of the head and are often accompanied by a watery eye and nasal congestion on the same side of the face.
Sinus headaches: With these, you feel a deep and constant pain in your cheekbones, forehead, or bridge of your nose. They happen when cavities in your head, called sinuses, get inflamed. The pain usually comes along with other sinus symptoms, such as a runny nose, feeling of fullness in the ears, fever, and swelling in your face.
Hormone headaches: Women suffer from these due to changing hormone levels during their periods, pregnancy and menopause.
Chronic progressive headaches: Also called traction or inflammatory headaches, these get worse and happen more often over time. They make up less than 5% of all headaches in adults and less than 2% of all headaches in kids. They may be the result of an illness or disorder of the brain or skull.
What causes Headaches?
The pain you feel during a headache comes from a mix of signals between your brain, blood vessels and nearby nerves. Specific nerves of the blood vessels and head muscles switch on and send pain signals to your brain.
Getting a Diagnosis
The first step is to talk to your doctor about your headaches. It is important to give detailed descriptions like things that cause headaches, make them worst and what helps you feel better. Sometimes, doctors may suggest a CT scan or MRI to look for problems inside your brain that might cause your headaches.
If your headache symptoms get worse or happen more often despite treatment, do visit our specialists at KDAH https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/ to get a complete diagnosis.
