Do you suffer from constant headaches? You're not alone. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 50% of the world's adult population experience headaches at least once a year.
According MedlinePlus, the website of the National Library of Medicine of the United States, headache or cephalalgia manifests as discomfort or pain in the head, scalp or neck.
Below, we'll explore the causes and types that exist, as well as various strategies to alleviate them.
Let's talk about headaches
Mayo Clinic indicates that it can occur in any region of the head, as a severe ache, a throbbing sensation, or a dull, steady ache. It can develop gradually or suddenly and can last from less than an hour to several days.
What types of headaches are there?
Primary headaches
According to Medical News Today, a UK medical website, these are not caused by any disease or allergy, including:
- Migraine: You may experience increased sensitivity to light, nausea, and even vomiting. You may also experience zigzag lines, flashing lights, or dots, partial vision loss, numbness, throbbing, and stabbing.
- Tension headaches: It presents as a constant pain on both sides of the head. Symptoms may also include tenderness in the face, head, neck, and shoulders; a feeling of pressure behind the eyes; and sensitivity to light and sound.
- Cluster headache: They are severe and frequent, characterized by intense burning or stabbing pain behind or around one eye. They may include redness and sweating on the side affected by the headache, nasal congestion, and watery eyes.
- Exertion headaches: pThey can be triggered by physical exercise or activities such as running, jumping, lifting weights, or coughing. They present a stabbing pain that can be felt throughout the head and are usually short-lived, although they can last up to two days.
- Hypnic headaches: sThey manifest at night, with a mild to moderate stabbing pain that can occur on both sides of the head.
Secondary headaches
Unlike primary symptoms, they are a symptom of some disease.
- Pain from medication overuse: Also known as rebound headache, it is a common type of secondary headache, often with migraine-like symptoms. Medications that can cause it include opioids, paracetamol, triptans, aspirin, or ibuprofen.
- Sinus headache: according to Mayo Clinic, they feel like a sinus infection. You may feel pressure around your eyes, cheeks, and forehead. This headache is caused by sinusitis.
- Menstrual headache: lThe decrease in estrogen just before your period can cause headaches, which can occur before or during menstruation, according to the Mayo Clinic.
What are the causes of headaches?
Mayo Clinic details the different causes:
Primary headaches: can be triggered by factors related to lifestyle.
- Alcohol intake, especially red wine
- Consuming processed meats containing nitrates
- Changes in sleep or lack of sleep
- Bad posture
- Stress
- Not having frequent feeding times
Secondary headaches: iinvolve these possible causes:
- Acute sinusitis
- Excessive use of painkillers
- Panic attacks
- Dehydration (when the body does not have enough water)
- Influenza
- Hangover
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
How to relieve headaches?
Primicias recommends visiting a health professional if they are persistent, but in cases of mild pain, the following is suggested:
- Perform cold compresses
- Massage the scalp
- Stay hydrated
- Take short naps
Remember, headaches, although common, can have a significant impact on quality of life. It's essential to pay attention to your body's signals, whether they are persistent or severe.
Likewise, it is recommended that you visit a healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis and treatment. If you are a BMI client, schedule your appointment at https://360ec.bmicos.com/
