Identify Your Headache Before You Treat It
Tension – Migraine – Sinus – Cluster
Some of those headache terms may be familiar. But, when it comes to diagnosing your own headache, it may become a bit confusing.
If you’ve ever had a debilitating headache, or even a headache that restricts your ability to function normally throughout the day, you know that prompt diagnosis of the type of headache you have is crucial to treatment.
Of course, you should ask your health professional if headaches of any kind persist, but being able to figure out which type of headache you experience may help you and your doctor decide what treatment is best.
I’m listing here common headaches and the symptoms that typically help you diagnose which type you are experiencing.
Tension headache – Probably the most common, this headache is normally felt on both sides of the head, starting at the back of the head and reaching around to the front. Mostly described as feeling dull or tight. Picture your head in a woodworker’s vice or someone squeezing your head with their hands. This type of pain seems to hang in there, not necessarily getting worse, just not getting any better for a long time.
Migraine headache – The most typical, and well known, symptom of a full-blown migraine is the visual disturbances coupled sometimes with nausea. Most people describe what they feel as pounding or throbbing. Sufferers often complain of the pain on one side of their head, then spreading to both sides. Migraine headaches often give the sufferer a warning that it’s coming. This warning is called an “aura” because the warnings can produce visual changes like seeing an aura of light, followed by dark, or different colors, and even sounds. This headache will get worse before it gets better and requires the sufferer to lie very still, and normally in the dark.
Sinus headache – If your pain is in the front of your head, around your eyes, cheeks, and nose, you may be suffering from an inflammation in the sinus passages. This pain can increase if you bend forward. It is also normally worse when you wake up. With a sinus headache, you may also have secondary symptoms like postnasal drip, dark or bloody discharge from the nose, and sore throat.
Cluster headache – These headaches are less known than the others and are quite rare. Typical symptoms include sharp, extremely painful headaches that can occur as often as several times each day for months and then stop completely for the same amount of time. The symptom to pay attention to here is that these headaches are cyclical – following very definitive patterns.
If you suffer any type of headache that sends your day into a spin, seek advice from your health care professional. It could be something as simple as taking a break from your computer for a few minutes every hour or so. You might require medication. You need to learn how to identify the first signs of a headache so you can be proactive in the treatment BEFORE it knocks you out.
I hope if you suffer headaches like so many of us do, you’ll take a few minutes to diagnose your symptoms and get the help you need so you can enjoy every, single day! Have a great Wednesday!
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