Headaches and Migraines

We’ve all experienced headaches at one point in our lives. Whether the pain we’ve felt inside our
heads has been a mild annoyance or completely debilitating, many of us have wished the pain away
with all our might as soon as it hits.

Headache and migraine symptoms can make you feel helpless and even leave you worried about
your wellbeing. While these types of head pain are generally innocent, they sometimes require
medical intervention in order to relieve symptoms and investigate the root cause.

It may surprise you to learn that there are over 200 different forms of headaches. All of these varying
types of head nuisances can be categorized into Primary and Secondary headaches.
Secondary type of headaches are quite rare. They are a result of damage to the brain organ itself, such
as a through a tumour or meningitis. In these cases, the brain is reacting through pain. In order to
cure these types of headaches, the damage to the brain must be treated.

Primary type headaches are more common and they occur without any physical damage to the brain.
Migraines, tension headaches, and cluster headaches are all examples of primary type headaches
and can result from a wide array of issues. Causes of primary type headaches include neurological
problems, congestion, and even muscle tension. While these forms of headaches can still be rather
severe and can trigger people to worry about their health, treating them involves focusing on symptom
relief as opposed to trying to cure a physical problem.

Because of the lack of physical symptoms, head pain is often difficult for physicians to accurately
diagnose. A doctor must rely on the patient’s recounting of his or her headache. If you experience
recurring pain, pay close attention to any patterns associated with the presence of your head pain. For
example, pay attention to how your headaches feel, when they occur, and what does and doesn’t help
relieve your symptoms. Important clues like these are incredibly useful for helping your physician
diagnose your head pain.

Even minor headaches can cause a great deal of discomfort and affect your day-to-day life. Luckily,
their symptoms can usually be managed at home. If you are suffering from mild head pain, here are a
few things you can try:

• Stretching your neck and shoulder muscles can help relieve the tension of a headache.
• Cold compresses can provide relief from tension or inflammation.
• Over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can be effective for short-term,
  mild headaches.
• Staying hydrated can help prevent and relieve the symptoms of a mild headache.

By staying in tune with your body and knowing your headache triggers, you can more easily avoid the
triggers that cause them, whether they be caffeine, alcohol, certain noises, or specific foods.

Enlisting the help of a healthcare professional is a great way to learn more about your headache
symptoms, putting you on the path to finding more effective symptom relief and solutions.