What do headaches mean

Instead, these headaches result from problems involving the structures of the head and neck. Common types of primary headaches include cluster and tension headaches.

Also, headaches can result from using medication for the pain too often. In this case, a person has a medication overuse headache, and this is another type of primary headache. Secondary headaches can result from serious health issues. It is important to seek medical advice if any headache:.

What is causing this headache on the left side? Some of the various kinds of headache include:. This is a common form of primary headache. The pain usually arises gradually, in the middle of the day. Tension-type headaches may be: Episodic: These attacks usually last for a few hours, though they can last for several days.

Chronic: This involves tension-type headaches occurring on 15 or more days per month for at least 3 months. Learn more about tension-type headaches. A migraine headache may involve pulsating, throbbing pain. It often occurs on one side of the head but may switch sides. Migraine headaches are the second most common form of primary headache. They can significantly impact the quality of life.

A migraine episode may last from a few hours to 2—3 days. The frequency of episodes can vary greatly; they may occur from once a week to once a year. This is because different types of headache are known to affect certain parts of your brain.

There are many different types of headache. Knowing what type you have will help you to find out how best to treat it, and what you can do to reduce the risk of getting another. Cluster headaches are more rare but tend to be linked to a specific area, making it easier to know when you may have one.

Tension, migraine and cluster headaches are all forms of primary headache. They're usually caused by an everyday problem such as skipping meals, not drinking enough water or poor posture. Usually, a headache is nothing to worry about, but you should seek medical help quickly if you have a headache and:. This can cause pain almost anywhere on your head — the back of your head and neck, on top of your head, around the front, or on the sides of your head between your eye and forehead temples.

You can usually identify a tension headache by the type of ache you have. The pain can be mild to moderate, and it may feel dull and achy. Your neck muscles may also feel tense or tight. They tend to last between 30 minutes to a few hours, but can go on for several days or even longer chronic tension headache.

Activities like yoga, massage or other forms of exercise may help, or even a warm bath to relax your muscles. If your posture may be to blame, try to make changes to improve it. A doctor may advise you to take a painkiller, such as paracetamol, for a tension headache if the pain is preventing you from doing everyday tasks.

Speak to a pharmacist or doctor for further guidance on whether to use these medications and how to get and use them. A migraine will usually cause a throbbing pain on the left or right side of your head. However, migraine pain can sometimes affect both sides of your head, the back and front of your head and neck, and your face. Unlike tension headaches, migraines can come with other symptoms, not just pain. Neck and back of the head Common reason: Cervicogenic headache or occipital neuralgia If you experience headaches that radiate from the neck to the back of your head, you may have a cervicogenic headache.

How to diagnose and treat your headaches There are many aspects to a headache and location is only a piece of the puzzle. Yancy shared some red flag warning signs that should trigger a trip to the doctor: If your headache escalates to maximum severity over seconds to a few minutes.

If your headache is associated with other symptoms, such as one-sided weakness or sensory loss, vision loss, trouble speaking or a loss of vision. If you have a headache following a head injury. November 12, Does my child have ADHD, or are they just being a kid? October 17, October 13, September 13, July 31, July 20, Inspire Me. Your doctor can help determine if your headache is truly caused by allergies, or if it could be migraine.

Pain in the back of your head can be due to arthritis of the neck. Pain tends to get worse when you move. This type of headache can also be due to poor posture or neck problems such as a herniated disc. A back of the head headache, often accompanied by neck pain , can also be a sign of a low-pressure headache, otherwise known as spontaneous intracranial hypotension SIH.

This type of headache can occur following a lumbar puncture. Headaches are considered chronic if they happen 15 days or more per month. By identifying your specific type of headache, your doctor can determine the best type of treatment. Getting the right kind of treatment for your headache may help improve your overall quality of life.

Signs that you may need immediate medical attention for a headache include:. Everyone is different, so it may take some trial and error to figure out what works best for your headaches.

Here are some ways that you may be able to help ease your headache pain with self-care:. For chronic headaches, your doctor may prescribe medications based on the specific type of headache you have. These medicines include:. Other symptoms and the frequency of your headache pain can tell you a lot more. If you get headaches frequently, or the pain disrupts your daily life, be sure to follow up with your doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment.

If you have head pain with symptoms such as partial paralysis, high fever, blurred vision, or speech difficulties, call or go to your local emergency room.