Everybody has had that persistent headache that makes your head hurt. It can frequently be challenging to identify the underlying source of the pain when dealing with a variety of headache kinds. There are four basic headache types that are frequently experienced by people:
- Migraines Tension-type Headaches
- Recurring headaches
- Other main aches and pains
Head or neck trauma and traumas, stroke, cerebral bleeding, and vascular abnormalities are frequently secondary causes of headaches. Primary headaches are those that you could encounter frequently, whereas secondary reasons are more severe and impact your life in multiple ways. Let’s examine some of the major headaches:
Migraines
Because the fundamental cause of migraines is still unknown, many persons who experience frequent migraines may not even be aware of the trigger. Hormone levels are also a factor, but research has proven that genetics have a role in who gets migraine headaches. We also know that women have migraines three times as frequently than males.
While there is no proven cause for migraines, there are a variety of triggers that are suspected to start an attack. Uncertainty surrounds the strength and importance of the association with the triggers. The most frequently mentioned migraine triggers include stress, hunger, and even exhaustion.
Stress-Related Headaches
In between 30% and 70% of people, tension-type headaches are the most prevalent primary headache type. So, what exactly is a headache of this type? It happens when the muscles in the neck or head stiffen up, frequently in response to stress, an injury, or activities that require holding the head in an uncomfortable position for a long time. Other potential triggers could be:
- Alcohol\sCaffeine
- Jaw clenching or teeth clenching
- Fatigue
In either case, it’s crucial to identify what tension is causing your headache because doing so could either help you stop getting headaches altogether or at least catch them early enough to get them treated before they get worse.
Cluster Headaches
The precise cause of cluster headaches is also uncertain, much like for migraines. But it is believed to be connected to a sudden release of histamine or serotonin, which may be brought on by a variety of things, such as:
- High Altitude
- Heat Exertion
- Alcohol
- Cigarette Smoking
- Bright Light
Another explanation for cluster headaches is that they can be brought on by an anomaly in the hypothalamus, the region of the brain that controls the biological clock. The fact that episodic cluster headaches frequently strike at the same time every day lends credence to this notion.
Although the specific cause of the majority of headache types is unknown, patients with headaches may be able to find some relief with the right diagnosis and therapy. Due to incorrect self-diagnosis, it is fairly uncommon for a patient with cluster headaches to mistake it for a migraine headache. Despite the fact that the etiology of migraines, tension headaches, and cluster headaches may not be identified, patients do not have to endure their frequently excruciating pain.
Groups At Risk for Headaches
There are thousands of various triggers for headaches. However, there are some things that can make someone more likely to get headaches. For instance, as we previously mentioned, women are three times as likely as males to experience migraine headaches. That is a lot, no doubt. Teenagers and adults who smoke, are fat, and get little exercise have a much higher risk of migraines than those who don’t have any of these lifestyle characteristics.