Chronic Headaches vs “Normal” Headaches
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), headaches are extremely common. A headache is any pain that occurs in the head. There are many causes for headaches, including stress, high blood pressure, sinus infections and skipped meals. One headache every so often probably isn’t cause for concern, but when you have severe head pain or chronic headaches, you should talk to a healthcare professional to find solutions.
When you get a headache, you might ask yourself, “do I have migraines?” Migraines are only one type of headache. The most common types of headaches are tension, sinus and migraines.
- Tension headaches are generally mild to moderate pain found in the forehead or in the back of the head. It might feel as if your head is being squeezed. They may last a few hours. Tension headaches are usually caused by stress, but you may also have problems in your muscles and joints of your neck and jaw.
- Sinus headaches occur in the face, the bridge of the nose or the cheeks. These types of headaches are usually seasonal. Very common in people who have allergies. Generally, a sinus headache will get worse when you stoop forward.
- Migraines are severe headaches that are often accompanied with other symptoms, such as sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine headaches can often be misdiagnosed as tension or sinus headaches. The pain is pulsating and typically on one-side of the head. Other symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light.
Chronic headaches refer to how long the condition lasts, not what type of headache you have. You may have a headache 15 days or more each month, for three months or longer. As with regular headaches, there are many causes of chronic headaches. If you are experiencing chronic head pain, you should consult with your healthcare professional. In most cases, you can find headache solutions when you find the underlying cause.
- Are sudden and severe
- Follow a head injury
- Get worse even though you rest and take pain medication
- Accompany a fever, double vision
