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Recognizing the type of headache

A headache refers to a pain that arises anywhere in the head or neck. A headache may be a symptom of different conditions of the head and neck. But any how headaches become too disturbing and you find it very difficult to concentrate on your work. It is always important to identify the type of headache you are suffering from be it tension, sinus, cluster, migraine or rebound. Whatever the case may be you need to take proper treatment for it. A 2004 study stated that around 80% of patients had diagnosed sinus headache but had no signs of sinus infection they met the condition for migraine actually. If you are going through such situation here is a list of symptoms to help you know your pain.

1. Tension headaches

These are some of the very common types. You will feel a regular ache or pressure in the region of the head, particularly at the temples or back of the head and neck. The pain would not be as severe as migraines and they do not accompany vomiting and nausea but do not allow you to do your regular work. Tension headaches are usually treated easily by over-the-counter treatments, including aspirin, acetaminophen (tylenol) or ibuprofen. These types of headaches are caused due to contraction of neck and scalp muscles and perhaps due to changes in brain chemicals.

2. Cluster headaches

Men are more prone to cluster headaches than women. It includes recurring headaches that take place in cycles or groups. You will feel the headache all of sudden and have a severe, devastating pain on one side of the head. This headache also accompanies very often watery eye and nasal congestion and at times a runny nose on the similar side of the face. The sufferers get restless and find it uncomfortable lay down during an attack in the same way like someone with a migraine does. The man cause for this type of headache is unknown, but are said to have some kind of genetic component. There is as such no complete cure for cluster headaches but taking medicines may reduce the frequency of the attacks.

3. Sinus headaches

Sinus headaches usually cause a deep, excruciating pain in the front part of your head. It is due to the inflammation of the sinus through any infection that leads to pain. Sinus generally comes along with a fever, and sometimes feels the need to get diagnosed by CT scan or MRI to detect alteration in fluid levels). The presence of pus can also be seen through a fiber-optic scope. Headaches caused by sinus infections can be easily cured with antibiotics and decongestants or antihistamines.

4. Rebound headaches

If you are constantly using pain killer to get away with headaches, this can in turn cause rebound headaches. The main culprits for these headaches comprise over-the-counter medicines, such as like aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen and several prescription drugs. It is seen that most people complaining of daily headaches have rebound headaches or due to overuse of medications. It is always seen that too much medication end up giving you ill effects. It can shift the brain to an excited state, prompting frequent headaches. At the same time, these headaches are an indication of the dropping effect of medicine in the blood level.

5. Migraine headaches

Migraine headaches are mainly generated due to some neurological disorders that can be seen in families and are defined under criteria, such as no less than five earlier incidents of headaches that last for around 4 to 72 hours. If you are suffering from headaches, you must be facing any of these four problems; one-sided pain, excruciating pain, moderate-to-severe pain and pain that disrupts your routine activities. You might also have nausea and/or vomiting or you may be sensitive to light and sound.

While you are getting a treatment for your migraine headaches, keep in mind two things; to lessen the pain as well as avoid future attacks. Once the doctor diagnoses migraine, he will begin treatment considering the factors that triggers it. You will need to maintain a list of your daily activities, beverages, foods, prescription, environmental and physical factors, sleep patterns and many more.

When you feel that you are getting headaches frequently instead of popping up pills visit your doctor and check out whether it is a normal one or one of the above. It’s always good to get the treatment in earlier stages as it works well.

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