Are all headaches the same? None of this: we spoke to a neurologist who explained all about the different types and treatments
It comes after a stressful day. Or you wake up to its hammering, anticipating a day those . It can still appear “suddenly” and interrupt all work planning or end up with a nice weekend. Everyone has been through something like this when it comes to headaches. And yes, even though they all look the same, there are different types of headaches and each one requires different treatment.
WHAT IS A HEADACHE?
You heard, but you never knew what a headache is. Well, it’s time to understand the subject once and for all before understanding why it can manifest itself in several ways:
“A headache can be described in many ways, commonly reported as a throbbing, crushing, stabbing, stifling, stinging or burning sensation,” explains Dr. Dr. Ricardo Araujo de Oliveira , neurologist at Hcor. “It may be accompanied by other unpleasant symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, aversion to light (photophobia) or noise (phonophobia).”
As for the duration, there are short-lived headaches (ranging from a few seconds to a few minutes, for example), or more prolonged headaches (which can last a few hours or days). Furthermore, the evolution and pattern of pain relapse will also characterize the condition as acute or chronic.
TYPES OF HEADACHE
From there, we get to the more technical part of the headache, as these pains are also called. They can be classified in two ways, due to the nature of their causes:
Primary:
“These are the ones that cannot be associated with structural (eg tumors), metabolic (such as hypoglycemia) or toxic (adverse drug effect) factors,” says the doctor. “Examples of primary headaches are migraine (or migraine), tension headache, cluster headache, among others.”
Secondary:
“They are those closely related to factors known to act as their cause,” he explains. “For example: meningitis, ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, head trauma, ruptured brain aneurysm, drug use or substance exposure, etc.”
With this classification, it is easier to understand that the manifestations of different types of headaches are quite different. Among the most common pains we have:
- Migraine : Recurrent pain attacks (at least five), lasting 4 to 72 hours, usually of a throbbing / throbbing nature, localized on one side of the head, moderate to severe in intensity. It can be triggered or exacerbated by physical activity, as well as being associated with nausea and / or vomiting, photophobia and phonophobia. When associated with visual and sensory symptoms (such as tingling of the skin) or other transient neurological symptoms, it is called migraine with aura.
- tension headache : they are episodes of mild to moderate headache, lasting from minutes to days, generally in a sense of oppression or heaviness, typically bilateral, not associated with nausea and not aggravated by physical activity.
- cluster headache : characterized by intense pain near the region of one of the eyes, with ocular redness, nasal congestion, tearing and other symptoms called trigeminoautonomic.
- Trigeminal neuralgia : characterized by a sensation of short and recurrent shocks on one side of the face.
TREATMENTS FOR HEADACHE TYPES
“Pain relief can be achieved with analgesic drugs or non-drug measures (cold water bottle, rest in a dark and quiet environment, for example),” says the doctor. “However, the type of headache greatly affects the response to different types of pain relievers.”
This is why self-medication is never recommended: after all, it is possible to take an analgesic that will not be effective for that particular type of headache.
“In many situations, treatment will aim to reduce the frequency and intensity of attacks. In these cases, different types of drugs can be used, but they must be chosen based not only on the type of headache, but also on other characteristics. and conditions. conditions that can be associated such as high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, insomnia, etc. “, explains Dr. Ricardo.
CAN YOU AVOID HEADACHE?
According to the doctor, many types of headaches can be exacerbated, triggered and even caused by known factors, and prevention is related to avoiding or minimizing exposure to these factors. For example, excessive consumption of caffeine and alcohol, high stress levels, insufficient sleep … even dehydration.
Keeping prevention habits in mind is important because headaches, especially if they are frequent and of high intensity, can be disabling: that is, they can significantly affect the quality of life of the individual.
“When they are present chronically, they can damage professional performance, personal relationships and often cause psychological disturbances with a significant long-term impact,” he says. “In these situations it is important to seek the support of qualified professionals for correct diagnosis, specific treatment and support”.
Source: Terra
Benjamin Smith is a fashion journalist and author at Gossipify, known for his coverage of the latest fashion trends and industry insights. He writes about clothing, shoes, accessories, and runway shows, providing in-depth analysis and unique perspectives. He’s respected for his ability to spot emerging designers and trends, and for providing practical fashion advice to readers.
