We can all agree that headache is annoying and can significantly interfere with your daily activities.  Headache may happen as a result of secondary causes that reveal another health issue, but usually, headache is not serious.

Headache types

1.     Tension headache

• The most common type of headache.
• It causes constant pain that affects both sides of the head as if a tight band is tightened around it.
• It is not severe and probably will not interfere with your daily activities, though It may last for several days.
• There is no clear cause of tension headaches, but often it is linked to things such as stress, skipping your meal, dehydration, poor posture of sitting or sleeping.
• You can take pain relievers such as Panadol, Advil, and Ibuprofen to relieve the symptoms.
• Lifestyle changes such as getting regular sleep, avoiding stress, and staying hydrated may ease the symptoms.

2.     Migraine

• Less common than tension headache.
• It is characterized by severe throbbing pain in the front or side of the head.
• Symptoms may include feeling sick, vomiting, and increased sensitivity to light or sound.
• Migraine can prevent you from carrying out your normal daily activities, sometimes up to several days in each episode.
• Migraines in many cases can be treated with over-the-counter medications.
• But if the migraine attacks are very strong, you may need to consult a doctor to prescribe the appropriate treatment for you.

3.     Cluster headache

• It is a rare type of headache.
• It is very painful and causes severe pain around one eye.
• It often occurs with other symptoms such as watery or red eyes, stuffy or runny nose.
• You will need to consult a doctor to prescribe medications to relieve pain and help protect you from having more attacks.

4.     Headache due to overuse of medication

• Occurs as a result of chronic and excessive use of medicines to treat headaches.
• It affects women more than men and affects approximately 5% of the population.
• Often peaks upon waking.

Other causes of headache

Headaches can have various other causes such as:

• Head injury or concussion.
• Having a cold or the flu.
• Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) which affects the chewing muscles and the joints between the lower jaw and the base of the skull.
• Carbon monoxide poisoning.

8 tips to help you get rid of headaches

1. Rest as much as you can.
2. Take painkillers such as Panadol, Advil, and Ibuprofen
3. Drink plenty of fluids.
4. Relax, if stress is the cause.
5. Do regular exercises.
6. Avoid skipping meals.
7. Do not sleep more than normal.
8. Do not strain your eyes for a long time.