What Your Headache is Trying to Tell You - & pain relief techniques!

Have you ever gotten a pounding headache right when you needed to focus on something important but found that it was impossible to concentrate or even perform simple tasks? So, wouldn’t it be great if you knew what your body was trying to tell you and find the cause of the pain? Headaches can be extremely debilitating but they are very common. A recent study suggested that more than 45 million Americans have them regularly, with 28 million of those experiencing migraines. Not all headaches are the same, though, and the location of the pain can give us clues as to the root cause. A headache is when you feel pain anywhere within your head or the upper part of your neck. Despite where it seems to be emanating from, there aren’t actually any pain receptors within the brain itself. Instead, the coverings of the brain, known as the meninges, as well as the coverings of the bone, the scalp, and large blood vessels are where the feelings of pain originate. The symptoms of head pain are split into two categories- primary and secondary headaches. Primary headaches account for the vast majority, and are recurrent ones that are not caused by illness or inherent faults. This category includes migraines and, while potentially debilitating, they aren’t considered to be dangerous. Secondary headaches, on the other hand, happen as a result of disease and, if not treated, can become seriously problematic. There are potentially more than 200 different types of headaches, each linked with their own triggers, so we’ll go over the 5 most common types. 1. Tension Headaches- By far the most common type of headaches are tension headaches, and they affect about a fifth of the population. They manifest as the sensation of an ache or pressure and occur on both sides of the head. They don’t have any other symptoms associated with them, and are constant, as opposed to pulsing. These headaches can be caused by high levels of stress, sleep deprivation, bad posture, and eye strain. Usually, these will only last for a few hours, and the symptoms can be reduced by drinking water or taking aspirin or ibuprofen. 2. Migraines. Migraines, on the other hand, cause a pulsing pain, and typically only affect one side of the head. They affect around one in ten people and are often accompanied by other symptoms such as a sensitivity to light and sound and, in some cases, nausea. Some people who suffer migraines will experience what is known as an aura, which is a visual disturbance that occurs for a short period before a headache begins. It’s not fully understood what causes migraines, but it’s thought to be a mixture of both genetic and environmental factors. They often run in families and are linked to psychological conditions such as depression and anxiety. In terms of treatment, aspirin and ibuprofen don’t alleviate the symptoms, but preventative medications are available to help reduce the pain. If you are experiencing regular migraines that are limiting activity, it’s worth consulting a doctor to see if they can suggest ways to help you manage the effects. 3. Sinus Headaches- Sinus Headaches occur as a result of the build-up of pressure within your sinuses, which can occur because of allergic reactions or infections. This causes pain in your forehead, cheekbones, or the bridge of your nose, and can hurt more when moving your head. To treat these kinds of headaches, you would need to deal with the underlying infection or allergy and can take pain relievers to reduce the symptoms in the meantime. 4. Dehydration Headaches- Dehydration headaches tend to occur at the front or back of your head, the sides, or across the entire head. Moving your head, or walking can make it more painful. These occur when there isn’t enough fluid in your body, which causes the brain to retract away from the skull and trigger the pain. The easiest way to reduce these symptoms is to drink plenty of water and rest while your brain recovers. 5. Cluster Headaches- Cluster headaches are described as recurring headaches that have a sudden onset, and cause acute pain on one side of the head near the eye. They can lead to nasal congestion, cause the eye to water, and are often thought to have a genetic cause. Certain things can trigger these headaches, such as alcohol and tobacco, so management techniques involve avoiding these things and, in severe cases, medications are available. As you can see, there’s far more to a headache than just the pain. The location and intensity of the sensation can provide clues as to the root cause, which will lead to management or preventative techniques that you can use to avoid them from happening. Although, some headaches, can be indicative of serious health issues, such as hypertension, so if you suffer from seizures, confusion, vision loss, or other strange symptoms, then you should consult a medical professional as soon as possible. There are a variety of other causes such as hormone fluctuations, caffeine, or overexertion, which are mostly harmless. There are also some alternative pain relief techniques that people have found useful but will vary depending on the person and headache, such as essential oils, pressure points, massages, or simple stretches, and you can give them a try as well! Thanks for watching! Do you have any good techniques for headache relief? Let us know in the comments below? And don’t forget to subscribe to our channel and click that bell icon so you don’t miss our new episodes! See you next time!