Headaches have been a common problem for us all. We usually experience them during our work hours when we are sitting in front of a screen doing our work. There are many other reasons for our headaches, but we don’t seem to care too much about them as they usually go away. Without knowing the true cause, we tend to blame any other factors that appear to have contributed to it, based on our experience and knowledge, such as a lack of sleep, air pollution, a lack of water, or work-related stress. It is usually accompanied by a stiff back or neck.
It is very rare that we take any medication for our headaches unless it gets too painful for us to bear. Almost everyone experiences headaches due to our busy lifestyles, but none of us seems to take this matter seriously.
Firstly, let us understand this irritation before we jump into medical advice.
So, what is a headache?
It is common to get headaches from lack of sleep, fasting, bad weather, or stress, and it is experienced by everyone, but Dr Praveen Gupta, who is the principal director of the neurology department at Fortis, Gurugram, said that there is no such thing as a normal headache. Dr Praveen Gupta divided the headache into two different types: primary headache and secondary headache.
This type of headache is accompanied by associated features or the disorder itself, like migraines, tension headaches, and cluster headaches.
This type of headache is caused by other factors or disorders like head injuries, meningitis, systemic infections, brain tumours, subarachnoid haemorrhage, and vascular disorders.
Sometimes our headaches are related to our eyes, like glaucoma or a refractory error, which requires a change in the number of glasses.
What do the different locations of your headaches mean?
When your headache starts in your back or travels to your neck, then it could be a sign of migraine or tension. It can also happen due to arthritis in the upper back, but that is very rare.
If you are experiencing a headache in the forehead or hairband area, then it could be a sign of migraine or tension. But migraine could be differentiated via visual changes or nausea, and if the intensity of the pain is between severe and moderate, then it is a migraine.
If you have pain behind your cheeks or brow bone, you have sinus pain; if you have pain behind one eye or on one side of your head, you have cluster pain. If your pain starts behind your ear and then travels to your head, then it is possible that it is due to a dental problem or an ear infection.
If your temples hurt, then it may be a sign of a problem with your face muscles or jaw. It can be either due to stress or due to TMD (temporomandibular disorders). Arthritis could be a reason for the elderly. A muscle tension headache is a common headache in the bilateral temple accompanied by stiffness.
A cluster headache is another common type of headache that lasts for a short amount of time and is one-sided. It is accompanied by redness of the eyes and laceration. Males are more prone to this. It ruins your sleep with intense pain, and it occurs in cyclical patterns.
How can you deal with a mild headache?
If you are facing a mild headache, then you can try some of these remedies without consulting a doctor.
- Manage your stress properly and drink plenty of water.
- If your sleep is not proper, then you’ll be facing a lot of headaches, so it is important to sleep and wake up at a consistent time.
- You should exercise regularly as doctors say it releases endorphins into your body, which act as a natural painkiller. Some of the exercises you can try are walking, jogging, cycling, and swimming. They are moderate exercises and are good for your mental as well as physical health.
- You can also try drinking coffee (the caffeine should be below 150 milligrams per day) as it is suggested by experts.
Dr Hyacinth Peninnah Paljor, who works at the department of internal medicine of Faridabad-based Amrita hospital, said that it is necessary to take a break from your screen time (mobiles, computers, laptops, tablets, TVs, etc.), as too much exposure can lead to headaches as you scroll down constantly.
When can you seek medical advice?
It is important to understand that different types of headaches are triggered for a number of reasons, so it becomes necessary to reach out to a doctor for medical advice.
If your headache is accompanied by a painful red eye, then you should consult a doctor as it can become frequent. When your temples are tender and painful, then you’ll need medical advice. If your headache gets worse due to you moving or coughing, then it is necessary to consult a doctor. Some headaches could be a sign of heat stroke, dehydration, high blood pressure or even cancer. If you are a migraine patient and your headache is getting worse day by day, then it would be wise to consult your doctor.
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