Headaches are one of the most widely experienced medical problems in the world. I’m sure all of us have experienced headaches at one point or another. Statistics back this up to. Studies show that around 50% of the world population has had a headache in the last 12 months.
Headaches are basically a disorder of the nervous system, characterized by the onset of mild to severe pain in the areas of and around the head. 9 out of 10 times, a headache is not something to worry about and goes away on its own or some quick-fix remedies in about 5 minutes to 4 hours. However, one can never be too cautious.
Chances are that the headache you have experienced is a general headache. This is another term for common headaches which are low on severity of pain and are easily resolved without any medical attention. The thing to worry about are secondary headaches. These are more serious and severe headaches that are often brought on by an underlying disease. Such kinds of headaches require proper medical treatment and can have fatal consequences if not heeded to.
Let’s take it step by step, starting with what a headache actually does inside our body.
Biology of a Headache
In biological terms, headaches are characterised by a pain in the membranes surrounding our brain, called meninges. This pain can vary from dull to severe.
Due to the pain being in such a sensitive neurological part of our body, it can cause a lot of problems aside from the obvious. The pain sends our neurological system centered around the brain into overdrive. It messes up our entire system, which often results in other temporary problems like nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fatigue, excessive yawning, loss in concentration and watery eyes etc.
The causes of headache can be divided into two broad categories:
1. Primary Causes They are related to our day to day lifestyles and don’t require urgent correction. E.g. stress, anxiety, muscle strain, fatigue and eye strain etc.
2. Secondary Causes These causes, on the other hand, are a big reason to worry for us. They indicate that the headache might be a by-product of another, far more serious underlying issue. E.g. aneurysm and tumor etc.
Forms of Headache
A headache presents itself in various types in our body. Medical professionals will tell you that there are more than 150 different types of headaches. Don’t worry, we’ll stick to only 5 of them.
1. General Headache
Characterized by mild pain that subsides in a few minutes to a few hours.
Doesn’t require medical attention.
Can be treated with over the counter solutions from any pharmacy.
2. Cluster Headache
Occurs on one side of the head, in clusters.
The individual experiences cycles of cluster ache, alternated by a period of being pain-free.
The hot-spots of pain are usually behind or above the eyes and around the temple region.
3. Sinus Headache
It is a by-product of a sinus infection and co-occurs with the same.
Common symptoms include: fever, stuffy nose, cough, congestion and facial pressure etc.
Treatment of sinus and treatment of such headaches go hand-in-hand. Any solution that works for one will work for the other.
4. Thunderclap Headache
These types of headaches are very severe but short bursts of pain that last sixty seconds or less.
Such thunderclap headaches should be taken very seriously as they can reveal any underlying conditions like subarachnoid hemorrhage and stroke etc.
The good thing about them is that they are very rare. According to a study, only 43 out of 100,000 adults experience these headaches in a year.
5. Migrane
They are characterised by severe pain concentrated in a particular area of the head.
Such a situation is called a ‘migraine attack’
These attacks can have some triggers like: anxiety, hormonal imbalance, alcohol intake, contraceptives and caffeine intake etc.
How to Treat Headaches?
There are many treatments for headaches. They range from over-the-counter solutions to proper medical treatment. To make things easier, they are categorized into two broad categories:
1. Physical Therapy
Physical therapy includes making changes in the patient’s physical environment or routines by introducing pain alleviation techniques.
This involves techniques like: heat therapy, therapeutic massages, meditation sessions, stretching exercises (focusing on the neck area) and relaxation techniques etc.
At Jaipur Rehab, a qualified team of dedicated professionals work around the clock to help clients be free from pain under the invaluable guidance of Dr. Himanshu Mathur.
2. Medications
Complimentary to physiotherapy, medications help in getting rid of the root causes of headaches.
In most cases, the generic medicines provided by the pharmacist does wonders for headaches.
The most widely prescribed medications for the problem are: acetaminophen, aspirin and ibuprofen.
Either one of or even both these treatments can be used depending upon the needs of the patient and seriousness of the problem.
The Best Headache Relief Therapy in Jaipur
Jaipur Rehab is your go-to solution for all medical troubles. Dr. Himanshu Mathur and his team combine traditional medical knowledge and innovative techniques to craft the perfect physiotherapy regime according to the requirements of every individual client. Consult Jaipur Rehab today so that you can live your best life, free from pain.
In most cases, the headache that you are experiencing is common and would go away in a few hours to a few weeks by over-the-counter medications. However, look out for symptoms like pain in clusters, sharp pain in one particular side of the head etc. They can indicate a more serious issue requiring medical attention.
What treatment is best for headaches?
If you have recurring headaches, a physical treatment that aims at relaxation of the body, mind and common pain points would be great for your troubles. Jaipur Rehab ticks all the boxes by providing you an innovative yet ever-effective manual therapy to get rid of your headaches.
Can I see a physiotherapist for headaches?
Of course. Seeing a qualified physician or physiotherapist would be a good idea to be sure about whether or not your headache is serious. Consult Dr. Himanshu Mathur at Jaipur Rehab to know the cause and physical treatment procedure of headaches and migraine.
What is the difference between headache and migraine?
Migraine-induced headaches are often accompanied by symptoms like loss of concentration, speech difficulty, vision distortion and numbness in the body. If you are experiencing any of these, chances are you are experiencing a migraine headache. If not, then no need to worry. It is most likely a normal headache.
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