An overview of Headache

A headache is a pain in your head or face that’s often described as a pressure that’s throbbing, constant, sharp or dull. Headaches can differ greatly in regard to pain type, severity, location and frequency.

Headaches are a very common condition that most people will experience many times during their lives. They’re the most common form of pain and are a major reason cited for days missed at work or school, as well as visits to healthcare providers.

While most headaches aren’t dangerous, certain types can be a sign of a more serious condition.

Tension-type headache : This is the most common form of headache, affecting three-fourths of the general population. Tension-type headache was previously called muscle contraction headache. It is associated with the muscles of the neck, face, and jaw. They cause mild to moderate pain and come and go over time. They usually have no other symptoms.

Cluster headache : These headaches are the most severe. You could have intense burning or piercing pain behind or around one eye. It can be throbbing or constant. The pain can be so bad that most people with cluster headaches can’t sit still and will often pace during an attack. They’re called cluster headaches because they tend to happen in groups. You might get them one to three times per day during a cluster period, which may last 2 weeks to 3 months. Each headache attack lasts 15 minutes to 3 hours. They can wake you up from sleep. The headaches may disappear completely (your doctor will call this remission) for months or years, only to come back later. Men are three to four times more likely to get them than women.

Migraine Headaches : Migraine headaches are often described as pounding, throbbing pain. They can last from 4 hours to 3 days and usually happen one to four times a month. Along with the pain, people have other symptoms, such as sensitivity to light, noise, or smells; nausea or vomiting; loss of appetite; and upset stomach or belly pain. When a child has a migraine, they may look pale, feel dizzy, and have blurry vision, fever, and an upset stomach. A small number of children's migraines include digestive symptoms, like vomiting, that happen about once a month.

Chronic Daily Headaches : You have this type of headache 15 days or more a month for longer than 3 months. Some are short. Others last more than 4 hours.

Sinus Headaches : With sinus headaches, you feel a deep and constant pain in your cheekbones, forehead, or on the bridge of your nose. They happen when cavities in your head, called sinuses, get inflamed. The pain usually comes along with other sinus symptoms, like a runny nose, fullness in the ears, fever, and a swollen face. A true sinus headache results from a sinus infection so the gunk that comes out of your nose will be yellow or green, unlike the clear discharge in cluster or migraine headaches.

Medication overuse headache : Also known as rebound headaches and medication-misuse headaches, this type occurs in people who take medications to treat their headaches too often. People with primary headache disorders like migraine often develop medication overuse headaches. These can cause migraine episodes to occur more frequently and become more severe. Instead of alleviating symptoms, the medications cause headaches and increase their intensity and frequency. MOHs tend to result from taking opiate-based medications, such as those that contain codeine or morphine.

Thunderclap headache : These are sudden, severe headaches that people often describe as the worst headache of their livesTrusted Source. They reach maximum intensity in about 30 seconds to a minute and slowly fade within a few hours.

Headache disorders are painful, with discomfort felt in the head, neck, and shoulders. A headache occurs because of a primary or secondary cause.

Primary headaches

A primary headache is not a symptom of an underlying illness. Instead, these headaches result from problems involving the structures of the head and neck.

A primary headache may be due to overactivity of — or problems in — pain-sensitive structures in the head, including: specific areas of the brain, blood vessels, muscles, nerves, brain chemicals

Common primary headache disorders include migraine, cluster, tension, and medication overuse headaches.

Secondary headaches

This form of headache is a symptom of an underlying medical condition. The cause of a secondary headache may be: pregnancy, systemic conditions, such as an infection, hypothyroidism, giant cell arteritis, stroke brain tumor

The characteristics of a headache — and the effects on daily life — can vary. A headache may:

1. affect one or both sides of the head

2. radiate from a central point

3. involve sharp, throbbing, or dull pain

4. have a vise-like quality

5. come on gradually or suddenly

6. last from under an hour to several days

The features of the pain depend, to some extent, on the type of headache.

When thinking about how to prevent your headaches or migraine attacks, it may be best to identify and avoid your triggers.

For example, you notice your headaches get a bit worse when you have two cups of coffee instead of one. In this case, you would always try to avoid the second cup and look for alternate ways to get your energy boost.

Also, if your headaches are getting worse or seriously impacting your daily life, it may be time to speak with a doctor. They can identify what is causing your headache or the type of headache you have and treat it appropriately.

Even though headache disorders are common, you shouldn‘t always ignore them. Instead, it is best to listen to your body and seek help if needed.

Once you get your headaches diagnosed correctly, you can start the right treatment plan for your symptoms.

The first step is to talk to your doctor about your headaches. They’ll give you a physical exam and ask you about the symptoms you have and how often they happen. It’s important to be as complete as possible with these descriptions. Give your doctor a list of things that cause your headaches, things that make them worse, and what helps you feel better. You can track details in a headache diary to help your doctor diagnose your problem.

Most people don’t need special diagnostic tests. But sometimes, doctors suggest a CT scan or MRI to look for problems inside your brain that might cause your headaches. Skull X-rays won’t help. An EEG (electroencephalogram) is also unnecessary unless you’ve passed out when you had a headache.

If your headache symptoms get worse or happen more often despite treatment, ask your doctor to refer you to a headache specialist.

Rest and pain relief medication are the main treatments for headaches.

Options include:

1. over-the-counter pain relief medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

2. prescription pain relief medications

3. preventive medication for specific conditions, such as migraine

4. other treatments for underlying conditions

It is crucial for a person to follow their doctor’s guidance to prevent medication overuse headaches.

Treating medication overuse headaches involves reducing or stopping the medication. A doctor can help develop a plan to ease off the medication safely. In extreme cases, a person may need a short hospital stay to manage withdrawal safely and effectively.

Certain care strategies can help prevent headaches or ease the pain. A person may try:

1. using a heat or ice pack against the head or neck, but avoiding extreme temperatures and never applying ice directly to the skin.

2. avoiding stressors whenever possible and using healthy coping strategies for unavoidable stress

3. eating regular meals, taking care to maintain stable blood sugar levels

4. getting enough sleep by following a regular routine and keeping the bedroom cool, dark, and quiet

5. exercising regularly to boost overall health and lower stress

6. limiting alcohol intake and drinking plenty of water

7. taking breaks when working to stretch and prevent eye strain