What Helps Headaches? How to Relieve Headaches?

Headaches, one of the most common health problems, can affect people of all ages and genders. Affecting approximately half of the world's population, headaches are more common in women compared to men. A headache can occur when various tissues and nerves, such as the head and neck muscles, as well as the ear, nose, throat, arteries, veins, and the periosteum (a membrane covering the bones), are compressed, strained, or displaced. This condition, which can significantly reduce a person's quality of life, may at times become severe enough to disrupt daily activities. The International Headache Society (IHS) classifies all types of headaches into 14 main categories and over 100 subgroups. In other words, headaches encompass a wide range of conditions. However, 90% of all headaches are caused by migraine and tension-type headaches.

What is a Headache?

Headache is one of the most common complaints that nearly everyone experiences at least once in their life. The pain can start in any part of the head and may be felt throughout the entire head or just in a specific area. Headaches are categorized into two main groups: primary and secondary headaches. Primary headaches, which account for 90% of all headaches, occur without the presence of another underlying health problem. Examples of primary headaches include cluster headaches, tension-type headaches, and migraines. Secondary headaches, on the other hand, are caused by an existing medical condition.

Examples of secondary headaches include those caused by brain vascular diseases, brain tumors, meningitis, hypertension, eye diseases, nervous system disorders, infections, and sinusitis. Therefore, many factors contribute to the development of a headache. In some cases, headaches can be a symptom of more serious conditions such as stroke, encephalitis, or COVID-19. Therefore, if a headache is accompanied by symptoms such as high fever, vision problems, confusion, fainting, speech difficulties, imbalance, nausea, or vomiting, it is crucial to consult a neurologist as soon as possible. If a person experiences a headache that is more severe than any headache they have had before, or if the pain worsens rather than subsides, immediate attention at an emergency department is necessary.

Types of Headaches

Headaches are health problems that differ in terms of their regions and causes. The most common types of headaches in society are migraines, tension-type headaches, and cluster headaches. The causes of headaches also vary depending on the type of pain. The most commonly seen types of headaches are as follows:

Migraine

Migraine, one of the common causes of headaches, is a neurological health issue that can significantly decrease a person's quality of life. While migraine has two different types— with aura and without aura— the more common type is migraine without aura. In migraine without aura, the headache is often unilateral and pulsating in nature. Migraine attacks can worsen with physical activity. Migraine attacks, which can begin in childhood, adolescence, or adulthood, make individuals more sensitive to light and sound. Those with a family history of migraine tend to experience it more frequently, and environmental factors can also trigger it. In other words, factors such as temperature, humidity, pressure changes, warm winds, altitude, and air pollution can trigger a migraine attack.

Noise, smells, bright light, insomnia, or excessive sleep can also cause a person to experience a headache. Additionally, migraine attacks may be triggered by certain foods and drinks, such as chocolate and nuts. Migraine, which occurs in attacks, usually lasts between 4 to 72 hours. In migraine with aura, the most common type of aura is the appearance of bright lights and zigzag-shaped lines in the person's vision before the headache begins. In addition to headaches, migraine can lead to additional symptoms such as dizziness, vomiting, blurred vision, vision loss in specific areas, speech disorders, and numbness on one side of the body, depending on the severity, type, and location of the discharge.

Tension-Type Headache

Tension-type headaches, which rarely occur unilaterally, are usually felt throughout the entire head. The pain often starts at the back of the head and spreads forward. Tension-type headaches, which are most prominent at the top of the head, cause feelings of tightness and pressure. The pain, which can make the head feel heavy, is usually mild. This common type of headache is seen in people who have trouble managing stress and are detail-oriented. It is also associated with fatigue.

Cluster Headache

Cluster headaches, which lead to very severe headache complaints, are often described by patients as feeling like a knife is being driven into the head or having a piercing nature. Also known as hemicrania, this condition is characterized by unilateral headaches. The pain may also be felt in the eye and temple on the side of the headache. The headache can lead to tearing of the eye and drooping of the eyelid. Cluster headaches, which can also cause nausea, cold sweats, and excessive sweating, are generally seen between the ages of 20 and 50 and are very difficult to tolerate.

Cluster headaches are more common in men than women and are often seen seasonally, although they can occur at any time of the year. The headache typically occurs every day or every other day during the autumn season. It often recurs at the same time of day, and on some days, the number of attacks can increase up to 8 times. Cluster headaches can wake a person from their sleep.

Causes of Headaches

The cause of a headache varies depending on the type of headache. Primary headaches, such as migraines and cluster headaches, are genetically inherited, and environmental factors can trigger the pain. These types of pain can also be caused by hormonal changes or the expansion of blood vessels in the brain. To determine the cause of these headaches, it is essential first to identify the type of pain, meaning the individual must be diagnosed. Secondary headaches, on the other hand, are caused by another health issue. Therefore, to explain the cause of a secondary headache, it is necessary to know the underlying disease. In other words, a secondary headache could be caused by something as simple as an infection or as serious as the presence of a tumor. Headaches during pregnancy are especially common during the first trimester. Expecting mothers experiencing headaches are advised to drink plenty of water and avoid taking medication without consulting a doctor.

What Helps with Headaches?

For headaches, it is recommended that the person drink plenty of water and take a shower. A wet compress can be applied to the head. Regular ventilation of the environment can also help alleviate headache complaints. Individuals experiencing headaches should avoid smoking and alcohol consumption. Before taking any medication for a headache, it is important to consult a doctor and use medication that is effective for the specific type of pain.

How to Relieve a Headache?

When seeking medical help for a headache, the doctor will first take the patient's medical history and perform an examination. If necessary, the doctor may request laboratory tests and radiological imaging to assist in diagnosing the condition. Based on the findings, the type of headache will be determined, and a diagnosis will be made. Treatment for headaches is mostly pharmacological, but it can vary depending on the type of migraine. For example, if chronic migraine is diagnosed, botulinum toxin injections can be applied.

Botox treatment is a good option for patients who do not respond to medication, with 6-8 out of 10 patients experiencing significant improvement. This treatment provides relief for a period of 3 to 6 months.

In cases where a headache suddenly appears, becomes progressively worse, does not respond to treatment, or is accompanied by other neurological symptoms such as blurred vision, numbness or weakness on one side of the body, confusion, fainting, speech difficulties, or balance issues, it is crucial to seek emergency medical attention without delay. These accompanying symptoms suggest the possibility of another neurological condition underlying the headache. If you are experiencing headache complaints, it is recommended to visit the nearest healthcare facility for a health check-up