A headache is a painful experience. It’s an ordeal that all humanity has shared since the dawn of time. Having one can sometimes seriously hinder your daily activities and stop you from enjoying life. That’s why I have considered important to share some of my knowledge today with you. A headache is a symptom which, naturally, has an underlying cause. Now you are going to find out if you need to worry and make an appointment with your doctor or change certain habits that trigger this painful manifestation.
First, you need to become aware of the fact that there are two types of headaches: primary and secondary. The primary headache is caused by bad posture, not getting enough rest/sleep, stress, skipped meals, alcohol (especially red wine) and certain foods (high in nitrates such as processed meats). You can avert the consequences of these by making sure you get enough sleep, having a balanced meal and becoming more in tune with yourself (try yoga to help you distress and also exercise). Usually, external factors influence the activation of this type of headache.
On the other hand, secondary headaches are caused by underlying diseases that you might not even be aware of. What this means is that the condition that you have is triggering the pain-sensitive nerves of the head. Some of the causes might be: acute sinusitis, blood clot within the brain – separate from stroke, a stroke, brain aneurysm (a bulge in an artery in your brain), concussion, dehydration, dental problems, ear infection (middle ear), glaucoma (acute angle closure glaucoma), high blood pressure (hypertension), meningitis, etc. I strongly advise you to consider going to the doctor if you experience a severe headache accompanied by:
- Stiff neck
- Fainting
- Confusion or trouble understanding speech
- Trouble seeing, speaking and walking
- Nausea or vomiting (if not clearly related to the flu or a hangover)
- Numbness, weakness or paralysis on one side of your body
- High fever, greater than 102 F to 104 F (39 C to 40 C)
As always, knowing your body and listening to its needs is of paramount importance. Furthermore, some of your headaches could be caused by some of the medications you are taking, and you should discuss with your doctor if that is the case for you. Keeping track of your symptoms and integrating healthy habits into your lifestyle should decrease your chances of experiencing frequent headaches. Please don&’t take your health for granted and always keep informed and alert to the sings your body offers you. The choice is in your hands.