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0 Headaches are considered as one of the worst kinds of pain to exist. They are among the most common health complaints as people of all ages can be affected.
The intensity of headache can range from mild ache to excruciating pain, significantly impacting the daily life of the patient. Hence, it is really necessary to understand the types of headaches and the available options for headache treatment in order to manage your condition effectively.
Headaches could be caused by stress, tension, or any medical condition/issue. Seeking proper medical care can help you have a pain-free life. Let’s learn about the various types of headaches, its symptoms, and the highly effective tips for headache treatment.
Types of Headaches
Multiple types of headaches exist with each having its own distinct characteristics, symptoms, triggers, and treatment options.
Tension Headaches
The most common type are the tension headaches. These are often triggered by immense stress, lack of sleep, poor posture, or emotional burden/strain. Tension headaches cause constant pain around the forehead or the back of the head and neck. The intensity of the pain could be mild to moderate. Also, they may last for a few hours or even several days. Tension headaches are comparatively easy to identify and manage because they are not usually associated with other critical symptoms like nausea or sensitivity to light.
Tension headache treatment is easily possible with certain changes in routine life or medications. In case the tension headaches are more frequent, it is always advised to visit expert medical professionals and explore other treatment options.
Migraine Headaches
Migraines are the worst type of headache. They cause excruciating pain on usually any one side of the head. It can get so severe that one may actually be unable to move their face or open their mouth to eat. Migraines can last for a couple of hours or even several days. The triggering factors of migraine are hormonal changes, any foods that your body does not accept, stress, and environmental factors. The most common symptoms of migraines are nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound.
For a timely relief or prevention of migraine, the treatment typically involves certain medications including antidepressants, or anti-seizure drugs. Mild headaches may be treated with moderate painkillers but more severe migraines may require prescribed medications. These medicines reduce the frequency and severity of the migraines by contracting the blood vessels in the brain. People who suffer from chronic migraines, should always consult a medical professional, to get access to advanced treatment options.
Over-the-counter pain relievers may help alleviate mild symptoms, but more severe migraines often require prescription medications such as Triptans, which work by constricting blood vessels in the brain. Preventive medications such as beta-blockers, antidepressants, or anti-seizure drugs may also be prescribed to reduce the frequency and severity of migraines.
Cluster Headaches
Another type of headache is known as cluster headache. Comparatively, they are far less common than tension or migraines. As the name suggests, these headaches occur in clusters. They are known for their extreme intensity and can typically last for weeks or even months. In a cluster headache, the patient may feel throbbing and excruciating pain, which is usually centered around one eye or one side of the head. The early symptoms of these headaches are nasal congestion, watery eyes, sweating on the left side of the face.
Cluster headaches often occur in cyclical patterns. The patient experiences frequent attacks and then for a certain period the symptom or pain decreases or vanishes completely, even though the condition is still there. The root cause of these types of headaches has not been completely understood yet. The exact cause of cluster headaches is not fully understood, but they may be linked to the part of the brain known as hypothalamus which controls various internal processes and biological functions such as body temperature, blood pressure, or hormone release.
When to Seek Medical Help?
There are certain symptoms of headaches that require immediate medical attention, especially if they are frequent or severe. Most headache types can be managed at home, but if you experience any of the following symptoms then it is important to get professional medical help for your headache treatment.
- If you get a sudden and severe headache that is unlike any pain that you ever had before.
- If your headache is getting progressively worse over time.
- If your headache is causing changes in vision, difficulty speaking or any sort of confusion.
- If your headache started after a head injury.
- If you experience frequent migraines or chronic tension headaches.
In such cases, a trusted medical clinic will offer highly specialized care which is very effective for severe or chronic headache patients, diagnose the root cause of the pain, and prescribe an effective treatment plan for you.
Effective Treatment Options for Headaches
Highly effective treatment for headaches mostly requires certain prescribed medications, depending on the type and cause of headache. Following are some of the general treatment options:
Medications
For effective treatment, various medications are used. These include certain over-the-counter painkillers, preventive medications, and even medical drugs like antidepressants or anti-seizure medicines. Painkillers are highly effective against mild headaches, while strong medicines are required when the pain worsens off, like during migraines or cluster headaches.
Lifestyle Changes
To prevent any future headache, you should consider making some changes in your lifestyle. This has a huge impact in providing relief against pain. These changes can include regular exercises, stress management, fulfilling daily water intake, and eating healthy food. This can help you reduce the frequency and severity of headaches as well.
Physical Therapy
For tension headaches and neck-related issues, physical therapy can be highly effective. Physical therapies can provide significant relief in pain. These can include manual therapy, massage therapy, strengthening exercises, oxygen therapy, and postural training can help release tension and prevent any future headaches.
Botox Injections
For chronic migraine treatment medical professionals often use Botox injections. These injections are FDA-approved and can help reduce the intensity of the pain for better headache treatment. Botox injections basically target specific nerves that cause such pain.
Nerve Stimulation Therapy
The condition of patients is unresponsive against strong medications. These people are prescribed nerve stimulation therapy. This is a highly advanced treatment procedure that helps reduce the pain to a great extent.
Conclusion
Headaches are a common condition that can seriously disrupt daily life depending on the severity of the pain. Hence, it is crucial to understand the symptoms, the types of headaches, and various headache treatment options for effectively managing the condition. The right treatment can help remove pain and improve quality of life. In case if the headache gets worsens off and gets extremely severe, then you should consider seeking professional medical help that can provide specialized treatment as per your condition.
