We all suffer from headaches from time to time. The easiest and natural way to relieve this pain is to eat a banana and drink lots of water.
Still, this cannot always work. There are different types of headaches, with different symptoms, so many people get misdiagnosed by their doctors.
Many types of headaches can`t be treated with the common conventional treatments. Dehydration and fatigue are the most common reasons for headaches, but they can also indicate some more serious health problems.
Dr. Sakib Qureshi is a famous neurologist who explains how headaches can often be manifested by warning signals, so we need to learn how to distinguish a common headache from the ones which can be a sign of some alarming condition.
In case of a headache, don`t take a pill immediately, check first if it`s caused by some other health issue.
There are 4 most common types of headaches and they all indicate some problem in our body. You need to learn how to read the signs, in order to treat them properly and in time.
Painkiller can be replaced with some natural alternative which can be quite effective in relieving the pain.
1. Sinus headache
Sinus headache is caused by sinus inflammation, resulting in severe pain. Also it can be caused by some infection, leading to pressure on the forehead, cheeks and the eyes, accompanied by fever.
Treatment: Drink as much fluids as you can. If you can, drink warm water, it can be very useful in reducing inflammation and in opening the sinuses.
Also consume food rich in vitamin C, like oranges or green tea. Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants which help the fight against infections.
Another way to alleviate sinus headache is to apply hot and cold compresses, eat warm soup or fresh ginger, because it has anti-inflammatory properties and it`s very effective in reducing pain.
2. Tension headache
The most common type of headaches is the tension headache, which is manifested by constant pressure on the head, especially on the neck or the back of the head.
This type of headache can also cause radiating pain above or below the eyes. It leads to nausea and vomiting.
Tension headache is usually caused by stress, which leads to contraction of the muscles of the neck or scalp.
Treatment: Ginger tea and peppermint oil are very effective in treating tension headache. Ginger tea is known anti-inflammatory agent. Adding peppermint oil to the hairline can cause cooling sensation, which can relax neck and head muscles.
3. Cluster headache
Cluster headache appears over one of the eyes. In most cases, it affects women. This type of pain is recurring, it appear in cycles.
Cluster headache appears suddenly, without any warning, resulting in severe pain on one side of the head. Typical symptoms are runny nose, watery eyes and nasal congestion.
The real cause of this type of headache is still uncertain, but it occurs when some nerve pathway from the brain`s base gets activated.
Treatment: Capsaicin cream is very effective due to the content of cayenne pepper, an active ingredient. Apply a small amount of the cream to the nostril- this will result in blockage of the nerve pain signals.
4. Migraine
Migraine pains usually occur in people between the age of 25-55, but this is not a rule, they can be experienced regardless the age. Statistics say that around 38 million Americans suffer from migraines.
Migraine pain is more complicated than other types of headaches, because it includes many different neurological symptoms. Migraine pain is severe, throbbing and intense, and it occurs on one side of the head. Only one third of migraine pains occur on both sides.
Migraine is accompanied by nausea and vomiting, dizziness, sensitivity to light, sound, smell and touch, visual disturbance and numbness in the face. The pain goes from the top of the head downwards.
Treatment: Many migraine patients have had benefits with this problem using vitamin B12 (riboflavin), as well as omega-3 fatty acids and magnesium.
Proper amounts of these nutrients can event prevent migraines.
A study from 2011 shows that aerobic exercises can also be very effective in preventing migraine headaches- the effects are almost the same as taking topiramate, a medication for preventing migraine. This means that regular exercising can replace conventional medications.