No one enjoys having a headache and while we love to lay down and sleep it off, that’s not always possible. Thankfully, knowing the type of headache you’re dealing with can help you choose the right treatment options. In most cases, you’ll be able to treat your headaches quite easily and can even work on preventing future headaches.
Let’s take a closer look at the types of headaches and the treatment and prevention options.
Types of Headaches
The four most common types of headaches include sinus, cluster, tension and migraine headaches.
- A sinus headache can cause pain around the eyes, ears, nostrils, and mouth. These headaches usually occur due to seasonal allergies, but may also be the cause of a sinus infection.
- A cluster headache is in and around one eye.
- A tension headache is brought on by tension in the head, neck, shoulders, and back. Tension headaches are usually the result of stress.
- Last, but not least, migraines are the worst type of headache. Migraines have many causes ranging from stress to heredity. The problem with migraines is that they may come with other symptoms including nausea, light and sound sensitivity, vision problems, and even difficulty speaking.
Treatment
The treatment will of course depend on the type of headache. For example, while you may be tempted to take only a pain killer to treat a sinus or cluster headache, it can be much more beneficial to take a combination pain killer/sinus medication.
Tension headaches are often treated with ibuprofen or a similar over-the-counter pain killer. In extreme cases, you may need a prescription strength pain killer.
Lastly, migraines can often be treated with a normal dose of ibuprofen, if they are treated upon first detection. If you wait too long, you may need a pain killer made specifically for migraines. It also helps to lay in a dark room, away from noise while waiting for the pain killer to take affect.
Prevention
Again, prevention methods will depend on the type of headache. With a sinus or cluster headache you should avoid trigger allergens. For example, if you’re allergic to pollen, you may want to stay indoors during high pollen days.
When it comes to tension headaches, knowing how to limit and release stress can greatly improve your chances in preventing this type of headache.
Lastly, migraines are something that you may have to take medication to prevent. It all depends on the cause of your migraines.
While learning about the different types of headaches can help you treat and prevent the pain, nothing beats visiting your doctor when headaches occur frequently. Your doctor can help you determine the cause of your headaches and help you create a prevention plan that works best for you.
Dane Thielemann has suffered from headaches for years but found significant relief when he started to take active preventative measures. He’s currently going to school to learn about ultrasound technology (visit ultrasoundtechnician.info for more on his career) and hopes to one day help others diagnose and prevent headache disorders.
