Not only are headaches a nuisance, they can also bring your busy day to a screeching stop. While most headaches are not a sign of serious illness, there are some that can be due to life-threatening conditions. For this reason, it’s best to consult your doctor if you have a headache that is excruciating, persistent, and out of the ordinary.
Determining the cause of your headache helps doctors recommend the appropriate treatment plan to relieve your symptoms. Here are the most common types of headaches and what causes them.
Tension Headaches
A very common type of headache people experience is a tension headache. It is characterized by a constant dull pain on one or both sides of the head that lasts at least 30 minutes. Other symptoms may include sensitivity to light and sounds, tenderness in the face and neck, and pressure behind the eyes. This type of headache responds well to NSAIDs and does not usually restrict you from doing other activities.
Tension headaches are usually caused by triggers like hunger, dehydration, inactivity, lack of sleep, eye strain, stress, anxiety, and depression.
Cluster Headaches
A cluster headache is characterized by a piercing and burning sensation in or around the eyes and a non-throbbing pain typically on just one side of the head. It is usually accompanied by watery eyes, swollen eyelids and debilitating pain. Cluster headaches can repeatedly come back for a few months at a time. The exact cause of cluster headaches is not known, but tests have shown activity in the hypothalamus during a cluster headache attack.
Hormonal Headaches
This type of headache is related to changes in hormone levels that are linked to a woman’s menstrual cycle. Menstrual migraines do not respond well to NSAIDs once the headache starts, which is why treatment usually involves preemptive pain relief. Hormonal headaches may occur during ovulation, which is usually due to the fluctuation of estrogen levels. The symptoms are similar to that of a migraine and the pain can be severe.
Migraines
A migraine is categorized as a primary headache. It is characterized by throbbing pain usually occurring on one side of the head. A person experiencing migraine is highly sensitive to bright lights, sounds, and smells, which is why nausea and vomiting usually accompany migraines. Some migraine sufferers experience an aura before the migraine manifests. The aura can last for an hour in some cases.
Doctors do not fully know the cause of migraines, but there is evidence that genetics play a role. People with relatives who suffer from migraines have a higher risk of getting migraines, as well.
Headache Treatment in Palm Beach, Florida
At Advanced Medical in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida, we provide a variety of treatment methods to effectively relieve the symptoms of headaches.
With a combination of compassionate care, medication, and lifestyle changes, we can help make your headaches less severe or prevent episodes altogether.
We want you to achieve a better quality of life, and we do this by offering a high standard of primary and urgent care. If headaches are preventing you from living your life, call (561) 434-1935 or request an appointment now.
