Take Charge of Your Health - Oh My Aching Head!
I'm very brave generally, he went on in a low voice: but today I have a headache.
-Lewis Carroll
Did you know there are more than 150 different types of headaches? In fact, virtually all of us will experience headaches during our lifetime. For many, the headaches are easily treated and dissipate within hours, but for others, headaches can be severe, reoccur often, and have a major, long-term impact on quality of life.
Headache pain results from the activation of specific nerves in our head, neck, and face that affect our muscles and blood vessels and send pain signals to the brain. The pain-sensing nerves can be “set off” by a host of things such as muscle tension, stress, enlarged blood vessels, or swollen sinuses.
Headaches are segmented into “primary” and “secondary” categories. Primary headaches include migraine headaches, cluster headaches, new daily persistent headaches (NDPH), and tension headaches. These types can be very different in terms of pain, severity, location, and frequency and are not caused by an underlying medical condition. Tension headaches are the most common and can feel like a tight band around your head. While pain is usually mild to moderate in a tension headache, migraine headaches are extremely painful and can cause debilitating fatigue, nausea/vomiting, vision problems, numbness, mood changes, and other adverse symptoms. Cluster headaches can cause severe, one-sided pain, typically occur many times a day (hence the name), and last for weeks or even months. Fortunately NDPH are a rare disorder, since typically these headaches will not stop and do not react to common treatments.
Those who are experiencing primary headaches should first consider the following triggers: alcohol, nicotine, diet, (especially processed foods), skipping meals, lack of sleep, too much exertion, dehydration, exposure to allergens and/or strong odors such as chemicals. It also should be noted that headaches, especially migraines tend to run in families.
Secondary headaches are a symptom of an underlying medical condition that activates the pain-sensitive nerves in the head. Some types are not very dangerous and resolve when the underlying condition is treated. Good examples of these include headaches from sinus infections, dehydration, or the overuse of pain medication. Dehydration headaches typically resolve once you drink water and take over the counter pain relievers. Sinus headaches are caused by sinus infections and can lead to a dull pain behind your eyes, in your cheekbones, or forehead. The headaches go away once the infection clears. Medication headaches can be a vicious cycle–you have a headache and so you take medication. If the headache does not go away, you keep taking more and more medication which only aggravates the headache.
Some types of secondary headaches can be signs of a very serious medical condition. Spinal headaches and thunderclap headaches are examples. These are intense and if not treated can cause severe complications.
If you are concerned about the headaches you are experiencing, schedule an appointment with your primary care physician. And to make the most of your visit, have the following information on hand:
When the headaches first started
What the headaches feel like and your pain level
How often the headaches occur and how long they typically last
Things you believe may trigger your headaches
History of any head injuries
A description of your stress and anxiety levels, sleep habits, and family history of headaches.
To diagnose the cause of headaches, your physician may recommend blood labs, x-rays of the sinus, an MRI, CT or CAT scan. Thankfully, a range of headache treatments are available. Depending on your headache type, frequency, and cause, options include: stress management/relaxation techniques, biofeedback, as well as over the counter and prescribed medications. Further, self-care treatments such as applying heat or cold packs to your head, massage, or resting in a dark, quiet room can provide comfort.
If you are experiencing a very sudden headache, a severe headache with extreme pain, or a headache with some of the following symptoms: confusion, trouble speaking, seeing and/or walking, fainting, numbness, weakness or paralysis, stiff neck, nausea or vomiting, Call 911.
For more detailed information on specific types of headaches, please visit these online resources:
https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-clinics/headache-clinic.html
https://www.ohsu.edu/brain-institute/headaches-and-migraines
https://www.brighamandwomensfaulkner.org/programs-and-services/headache-
center/our-services