What illness causes nearly $36 billion in lost productivity annually and results in 113 million sick days taken? Headaches.And those statistics from the Migraine Research Foundation only include migraines.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that half of all adults have suffered from at least one headache in the past year. And 30 percent of those people have had a migraine.
Not all headaches feel the same. According to the Mayo Clinic, headaches can come on suddenly or gradually and occur on one or both sides of the head. Plus, they may present with sharp pain, dull pain and even throbbing.
The good news is that headache research has come a long way. “We know a lot more than we did 20 years ago about what causes headaches,” Dr. Charles Flippen, associate professor of neurology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA tells CBS News. “We know what areas of the brain are generating pain, but we don’t have the whole picture.”
Because all headaches are different, it helps to know a little bit about headaches in general. Here are four different types of headaches.
Tension Headache
According to Health.com, tension headaches are the most common type of headache that people experience. They give off a never-ending ache or pressure in the temples, the back of the head and the neck. But the pain isn’t as bad as it would be with a migraine. Nausea and vomiting are rare with tension headaches.
Health says that tension headaches are thought to occur when neck and scalp muscles contract and when brain chemistry changes. This type of headache can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers.
Holistic treatments may help tension headaches, and ice and heat may decrease pain. Take a long, hot shower or apply ice packs to tense muscles. Plus, cutting down on stress is essential. Reduce stress by getting a massage, attending a yoga class, or learning to meditate. Engaging in calming activities can help you to relax.
Further, the Mayo Clinic suggests working to practice good posture. This can keep muscles relaxed. To do this, stand up straight with your shoulders back. Pull in your abs and glutes and be sure not to cock your neck. If you need a little direction, stand against a wall so that you remember what standing up straight feels like. And while sitting, be sure not to slump.
Migraines
Migraines are less common than tension headaches. However, they’re a far worse problem that can be downright debilitating. Sufferers from migraines are often unable to do anything at all when a migraine occurs.
According to Achnet.org, about 28 million Americans experience migraines. That’s roughly 12 percent of the population. And three out of four of those who suffer from migraines are women.
Migraines can last a few hours or a few days. During this time, patients may feel a throbbing pain and experience nausea or sensitivity to light. They often begin with auras, which can cause visual phenomena that appear in the form of flashing lights or shapes. And vision may fade. Migraines can cause speech problems and a sense of tingling in the arms or legs.
Migraines can be treated with either prescription or over-the-counter medications, depending on the severity of a migraine and how often patients get them. Rest and relaxation can help relieve migraines as well.
Cluster Headaches
According to the Mayo Clinic, cluster headaches are rare but extremely painful headaches. Cluster headaches may cause you to wake up at night with a sharp pain on the side of your head or near your eye. And this may happen daily or many times in a day, lasting from 15 minutes to three hours, often at the same time each day.
When these headaches occur on a regular basis, it is called a cluster period. Cluster periods can last for a month and a half to three months. And headaches may occur in a certain season, like spring or fall. However, sufferers may enter a remission period in which headaches are not seen for months or even years.
The thing to know about cluster headaches is that they can come on fast and unexpectedly. Plus, you might get strange symptoms like a runny nose on the side where the headache occurs, sweaty and pale skin, tearing in one eye, swelling and redness of the affected eye, and even a drooping eyelid. In fact, the Mayo Clinic says that this can feel “like a hot poker being stuck in the eye or that the eye is being pushed out of its socket.” You may also get symptoms similar to a migraine — like auras, nausea, and sensitivity to light and noise.
While there is currently no way to cure cluster headaches, there are treatments that can help. For example, oxygen treatments can be helpful, and anesthetics and injectable treatments may be used. Plus, your doctor may prescribe preventive medications when cluster episodes occur. In severe instances, surgery may be recommended.
Exercise Headaches
Headaches from exercise? Yes. Exercise headaches are literally that — headaches that occur during and after workouts. These are said to be linked to many types of exercise.
According to the Mayo Clinic, exercise headaches often occur in hot weather or at high altitudes. Plus, those with a genetic predisposition to migraines may have an increased risk of exercise headaches.
When it comes to exercise headaches, there are two types — primary exercise headaches and secondary exercise headaches. Primary exercise headaches aren’t usually a reason for concern and can be warded off with a little medication. But secondary exercise headaches are caused by something else.
When you get a primary exercise headache, the head will usually throb during the workout or right after. Usually, both sides of the head will hurt. The pain may last for five minutes or up to two days. Prescription medications can prevent these headaches.
Symptoms of a secondary exercise headache will be similar but may cause you to throw up, pass out, see double, and cause a stiff neck. The headache may linger for one day to many days.
If this type of headache comes on suddenly and isn’t one that you’ve experienced before, talk to your doctor. A secondary exercise headache can be an indicator of certain serious health conditions.
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