Headaches
Headaches
What are Headaches?
A headache is a pain in the head or neck and is one of the most common conditions experienced.
The World Health Organization reports that more than half of the world’s population will experience a headache every year.
A headache disorder is when your headache reoccurs.
Are There Different Types of Headaches?
There are many different kinds of headaches, all with various causes.
However, headaches can be placed into two main categories: primary headaches and secondary headaches.
What are Primary Headaches?
Primary headaches are a stand-alone illness, caused by some type of irritation of blood vessels, muscles or nerves around the neck and head.
They can also be caused by chemical imbalances or a change in chemical activity in the brain.
Because they are a stand-alone illness, treatment directly addresses a headache and rectifying the irritation or imbalance that causes it.
Primary headaches include:
What are Secondary Headaches?
Secondary headaches are a byproduct of another factor.
While a headache can be treated directly, in order to obtain long-term relief, the primary cause of a headache must also be treated.
Causes of secondary headaches can include:
Rebound Headaches
From overuse or exceeding daily recommended doses of medications like aspirin, acetaminophen, NSAIDS (ibuprofen, naproxen, indomethacin,).
Brain Tumour
Headaches are a common symptom of a brain tumour and are unlikely to respond to typical headache remedies.
Concussion
A bump or blow to the head or body could cause a headache due to a concussion.
Dehydration
Dehydration can cause the brain to temporarily shrink, contract, & pull away from the skull.
Anxiety
Recent studies show a connection between anxiety and frequent headaches, although a direct cause has not yet been found.