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Headaches are one of the most common phenomena a person suffers from at least once or more in his/her lifetime. Most people commonly come across migraine headaches, headaches due to sinus infections, headaches due to eye problems, sleeplessness, tension, etc. If there are common causes, then they can be managed with over-the-counter medications and lifestyle modifications. In case the problem is serious and a headache is happening due to an underlying issue, the diagnosis of the cause becomes important.
Different types of Headache
There are many different types of headaches as classified by the neurologist in Bangalore, with most of them falling into two main categories: primary headaches and secondary headaches.
Primary headaches are the most common type of headache. They are not caused by any underlying medical condition. A few common primary headaches include:
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Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. They are caused by muscle tension in the head and neck. Tension headaches are usually mild to moderate in pain and can last for hours or days.
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Migraine headaches are more severe and are often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. In migraine headaches, one part of the brain is affected. It may occur occasionally, once in a week, and once in fifteen days.
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Cluster headaches are a very severe type of headache that occurs in clusters (one-sided head pain). Cluster headaches last for 15 minutes to 1 hour and can occur up to 8 times a day.
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Hormonal headaches are caused by changes in hormones. Hormonal headaches are most common in women and can occur before or during menstruation, during pregnancy, or after menopause.
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Hypnic headaches are rare and occur during sleep and wake the person up with dull, throbbing, or sharp pain lasting for 15 minutes to 4 hours. It can occur at the same time and thus is called an alarm-clock headache.
Secondary headaches are headaches that result from an underlying medical condition
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Sinus headaches are caused by inflammation of the sinuses and can result in pain in the face, forehead, and around the eyes. You may get sinus headaches if you are down with a fever, runny nose, and nasal congestion.
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New Daily Persistent Headache (NDPH) begins suddenly and occurs every day for a long period. It is a subtype of chronic headaches. Blood clots, head injuries, meningitis, or others may be the causes of NDPH.
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Hypertension headaches are due to high blood pressure. It is often worse in the morning with a dull, pounding pain. Dizziness, nausea, and vomiting can also occur in high BP patients.
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Exertion headaches are caused by physical activity. Exertion headaches usually occur during or after strenuous exercise.
What Are the Common Causes of Headaches?
Most primary headaches are common and may begin if – you don’t sleep well, have anxiety, are exposed to the sun for a long time, are eating particular food substances (alcohol, nicotine, etc.), or are under a lot of stress.
Secondary headaches are associated with health conditions such as brain tumours, blood clots in the brain, infection of the brain, hypothyroidism, dehydration, and high blood pressure (hypertension).
Thus, it is important to diagnose where the headache is coming from – is it a migraine, sinus, eye problems, anxiety, tension, or other underlying medical condition?
How Can You Effectively Manage and Prevent Headaches?
As most headaches occur due to environmental and dietary factors, adopting a good lifestyle can help you manage this condition:
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Go for sound sleep of 6 to 8 hours daily.
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Make sure to have good nutritious food on time.
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Drink lots of water during summer to prevent dehydration.
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Avoid triggers, such as high volume, and bright light which may worsen your condition.
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Take medication if you have a sinus problem to keep the headaches at rest. Refer to the blog "High Blood-pressure and Stoke-treatment" to get an idea about preliminary measurement in case of serious symptoms.
How to Know If a Headache Indicates Something Serious?
These red flags indicate that your headache may be associated with something serious:
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Headache with recurrent vomiting
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It is associated with blurring of vision
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Loss of consciousness
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Headache with any abnormal behaviour
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Continuous headache for several days
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If the person feels the headache to be one of the worst headaches in his life.
If any of the red flags are encountered, immediately get to the root cause of your headache through
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MRI or CT of the brain
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Vision test
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Look for increased pressure in your skull
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Check your reflexes
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Many blood tests like CBC, ESR, and KFT may be recommended.
Common headaches are completely curable and treatable. Home remedies, analgesics, and caffeinated drinks may help to manage them. If any serious medical conditions are detected, your neurologist will suggest the appropriate treatment method, surgical or conservative.
Meet a Consultant in neurology at Manipal Hospitals Millers Road to receive the best treatment for your headache types.
Frequently Asked Questions on Severe and Recurrent Headaches (FAQs)
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What is the most common type of headache?
Tension-type headache is the most common headache.
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What is the first thing a person can do when having a headache?
Lie down in a dark and quiet room, and drink sufficient fluids.
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What’s the best way to determine the serious cause of a headache?
An MRI or a CT-SCAN can help diagnose the underlying cause of a headache.
