HealthCare >> Common Medical Conditions >> Headache

Headache is one of the most frequent of human discomforts. In today’s life headache is a regular feature. Most of the times a headache is more of a nagging nuisance than an indicator of a serious problem. But, in some cases the headache does warrant more serious attention as it can be the indicator of some significant problem.

Types:
Common Headache:
A variety of causes can lead to headache, like fever, injury ,anxiety, long hours at work, lack of sleep, common cold and so on. Headache in such cases can vary in severity from a mild discomfort to a throbbing pain which leaves you unable to work.

The following characteristics of common headache differentiate from other more serious type:
Self limited – occurs for a limited duration ; no other side effects like vomiting, nausea, or flashes of light.
Generally relieved with common medications like Aspirin (Disprin), Paracetamol (Calpol).

Migraine:
Every person getting recurrent headache fears whether he/ she has a migraine. Following features are characteristic of a migraine headache:
Age: children , young to middle-aged adults.

Clinical features: Throbbing and / or dull ache; nausea or vomiting; worst behind one eye or ear usually on one side of the head.
Duration: 1-2 hrs.
Patterns of occurrence: Irregular, tends to disappear in middle age, during pregnancy and premenstrually i.e. just before the periods.
Aggravating factors: Alcohol, bright light, noise, tension.
What will help : Sleep ( that is if you can get it ), a dark room, relaxation.

People having migraine often get prodromal symptoms ( features which occur before the actual onset of headache ) like seeing flashes of light, nausea, tingling on the face, etc. They should then immediately take the medication prescribed by their doctor because it is easier to control the headache before it comes on full blown rather than after it has occurred.

People experiencing similar symptoms must consult their doctor to get themselves properly evaluated and treated because migraine is not only not relieved by common medications, it entails a profound effect on a person’s productivity and well being.

Tension headache :-
This type of headache usually affects both side of the head, though it may sometimes be pointed to the neck or the front of the head.
A sensation of fullness or lightness in the head is common.
The characteristic feature is that, this is the only type of headache which persists continuously throughout the day and night without any relief in between.
Tension headache may occur under conditions of emotional crises or intense worry.
It is generally, found in patients having associated depression or anxiety.

When to see the doctor:
If your headache is not relieved by over the counter drugs like Aspirin(Disprin) or Paracetamol(Calpol).
If it persists for over 2 weeks.
If it is associated with other features like nausea, vomiting, Tingling on the face, etc.
If the pain is too severe as to be unbearable
If it occurs suddenly alongwith pain and stiffness in the neck and feeling of weakness in a particular part of the body.