Why Do We Get Headaches? – and How To Find the Right Treatment!

Hello All, today we are going to look at the Different Types of Headaches and Their Causes.  Why Do We Get Headaches? – Symptoms Explained!

A headache can be caused by a myriad of different reasons.  Most are not of serious concern.  Although, sometimes, on the other hand, they also can be caused by very serious conditions.  Indeed, a headache may be caused by eating an ice lolly or ice cream. It’s generally called a brain freeze, but on the other side of the coin, it could indicate something far more unpleasant.  Such as a Brain Tumor! or a Head Injury!

There are a whole host of different reasons you could get a headache.  Usually, nothing to really worry about you may just be suffering from dehydration.  However, it is always helpful to know about the different types of headaches.

Just in case this an indication of something far more troublesome.

So, Let’s dive in and learn some of the causes in today’s post:

Why Do We Get Headaches? – Symptoms Explained!

Examples of Primary Headaches

• A Tension Headache is generally a mild to moderate pain in your head.  It feels like a tight strap around the head.  Tension headaches are the most common form of headache, and yet they are the least understood!
• Migraines can cause severe throbbing pain, usually just on one side of the head.  They are often accompanied by feelings of sick and a strong aversion to light and sound.Migraine attacks can last for hours even for days at a time.  The pain can be so severe that you find it very difficult to do anything else other than lie in a quiet dark room.  For some people, a warning symptom known as an aura can come before the headache.  An aura can include problems with vision, such as flashes of light or blind spots.In extreme cases, you can feel a tingling sensation on one side of the face or in the arms or legs.  As well as having difficulty speaking.
• Cluster Headaches are one of the most painful types of headaches.  A cluster normally wakes you up in the middle of the night with severe pain in or around one eye.  Combined with pain on one side of your head.  You can suffer from regular attacks, known as cluster periods.  These can last for weeks or even months!  After the attacks, you can go into remission where the headaches stop.You can be in remission for long periods of time, even for years.
• Exercise Headaches can occur during or after physical exercise.  Exercises such as running, rowing, tennis, swimming, and weightlifting can cause this type of headache.  Doctors divide exercise headaches into two categories.Primary Exercise Headaches are usually harmless.  They aren’t connected to any underlying problems and can often be prevented with medication.Secondary Exercise Headaches are caused by an underlying, often serious problem within the brain — such as bleeding or a tumor, as well as coronary artery disease.  These may require emergency medical attention to be administered.
• Chronic Headaches:  Most people have headaches from time to time.  If you have a headache more days than don’t, you could have chronic daily headaches.Rather than a specific type of headache. Chronic refers to how often the headache occurs and how long it lasts.The constant nature of chronic daily headaches makes them one of the most disabling kinds of conditions.  Aggressive initial treatment and steady, long-term management might reduce pain and lead to fewer headaches.
• Cough Headaches are a very unusual type of headache triggered by coughing or sneezing; blowing your nose, laughing, crying, singing, bending over.  Even a simple bowel movement can cause one.   Doctors divide this cough type into two different categories.  Primary Cough Headaches are usually harmless.They occur less frequently and eventually get better on their own.
  Secondary Cough Headaches:  Also called the symptomatic cough type.  These are more serious, as they can be caused by problems within the brain.  Such as encephalitis and aneurysms.

Why Do We Get Headaches? – Symptoms Explained!

Causes of Primary Headaches

Some of the usual causes of Primary types include;

1. A Poor Diet
2. Incorrect Posture
3. Not Eating Regularly
4. High-Stress Levels
5. Not Getting Enough Sleep
6. Drinking too much alcohol (Especially Red wine!?)

As for Secondary Headaches…

The more serious type that can often mean there is a problem.  Symptoms include:

1. Sinus infection:  This can cause throbbing facial pain or a headache.
2. Brain aneurysms:  These are said to cause very sudden headaches and are very severe.
3. Brain Arteriovenous Malformations:  May cause you to have chronic headaches.
4. A Brain Tumor: Headaches are the most commonly reported symptom.
5. A big indicator of Dehydration is cramps and a dull prolonged headache.
6. Encephalitis:  These ones are very severe.
7. Concussion:   This is known to cause what feels like a migraine.
8. Meningitis:  The symptoms of this include a severe headache as well as vomiting and fever.
9. Monosodium glutamate (MSG):  An amino acid found in processed food and it can give you very bad headaches.
10. Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder:  People who suffer from these disorders are more prone to migraines.

Please note:  The Secondary is generally caused by other underlying medical conditions.

Why Do We Get Headaches? – Symptoms Explained!

Consulting A Doctor

If you get headaches you should consult a doctor when:

• They happen more often than usual
• Are more severe than normal
• If you use an over-the-counter medication and your symptoms don’t get better
• If it stops you from doing normal activities such as working and sleeping
• If they cause you to become distressed and you would like to know how best to treat and cope with the problem.

Treatment Options

With so many types and causes of a headache, there is a number of different treatments available.  For example, if you suffer from the Cluster type you would be offered oxygen therapy or a drug called sumatriptan.

There is no cure, all you can do is control the severity of the symptoms.

Tension headaches are usually treated with over-the-counter medication. Including NSAIDS such as Paracetamol, Aspirin, Nurofen or Ibuprofen.

Cough headaches may be so bad that they require surgery.

Chronic headaches can be helped by drinking less caffeine, reducing stress, getting enough sleep, and making sure you eat healthily and regularly.

Exercise Headaches can be controlled or prevented by making sure to drink plenty of water before during and after exercise as well as consuming a piece of fruit.

My Final Thoughts

Are you shocked by the number of different headaches there are? I was as well. We have covered this subject comprehensively and you have hopefully found out a lot of information that you didn’t know before.

Thank you very much for reading this article. If, you have a question or would like to leave a comment you can do so below. If, you know anyone else who would appreciate this then please feel free to share it. I love hearing from you and I will always get back to you as soon as I can.

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Many thanks, and

Take great care of yourself because you are worth it. ❤

Alex C

PS:  This article is intended as advice only. It’s not to replace medical advice. You should always speak to your doctor if you are concerned about any medical condition.

About Author

Alex Chivers

Alex is the founder of DynamicIdeas4life.com A Health researcher and blogger covering several sub-niches related to healthy living and wellness.

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