Headache is a disease that can affect anyone. The three most common types of headaches are migraines, cluster headaches and tension headaches. Know the difference between these three types of headaches, and how to deal with them.
Headaches can occur anywhere in the head, including the back of the head that radiates to the neck. Usually the headache that appears can last for several hours, even days.
Common Types of Headaches
There are various types of headaches, the causes of which can vary, such as fatigue, increased blood pressure, and even disorders of the brain and central nervous system. But in general, there are 3 types of pain that most often occur, namely:
Migraine
Migraine is characterized by a throbbing headache that appears on only one side of the head. These headaches can last for several hours, it could be days. In addition to headaches, migraine sufferers may also experience nausea, vomiting, and be more sensitive to noise or light.
Although until now the exact cause of migraines is not known, a number of factors can trigger migraine attacks, including stress, fatigue, poor sleep quality, smoking habits, and excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages.
Sacluster head kit (cluster headaches)
Just like migraines, cluster headaches can also be felt on one side of the head. The difference is, the pain caused by this condition can occur suddenly and tends to be felt behind the eye or the area around the eye.
Cluster headache attacks can last from 15 minutes to 3 hours. This condition often wakes the sufferer from sleep because the pain is unbearable. Not only pain in the head, sufferers can also experience complaints in the form of red, swollen, and watery eyes.
There are a number of factors that can increase a person's risk of experiencing cluster headaches, namely age, smoking habits, consumption of alcoholic beverages, and having family members who also frequently experience cluster headaches.
Tension headache (tension headaches)
Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. Patients with this headache will usually feel pain on both sides of the head, behind the eyes, and sometimes also in the neck. Pain in this condition is often described as the head is being tightly wrapped in a rope.
Excessive stress is one of the triggering factors for the emergence of tension headaches. This type of headache can last from 30 minutes to several days. Although quite disturbing, tension headache sufferers can still go about their daily activities.
How to Treat Headaches Naturally
There are natural ways that can be done to deal with headaches. When headaches occur, you can try some of the ways below to relieve them:
1. Rest in a dark room
If the headache attacks occur while you are on the move, immediately find a place to lie down or sit. Try to rest in a quiet and slightly dark room. Bright or flashing light, such as from a computer screen, can trigger migraine headaches.
2. Massage at certain points
Gently massage the temples, neck, shoulders, and head, for 30 minutes. This method is believed to help relieve headaches.
3. Cold or warm compress
You can also compress the painful area of the head with a warm compress or a cold compress. Both of these methods can relieve headaches. If using a cold compress, be sure to cover it with a cloth or towel.
Medical Medicines for Headaches
To deal with headaches, treatment will be tailored to the cause, for example by resting if the cause of the headache is lack of rest, or relaxing if the cause is stress.
In addition, there are several types of medications that you can use to relieve headaches:
Paracetamol
If the headache you experience is still relatively mild, then paracetamol can be a solution. Apart from being a fever-reducing drug, this drug also has an anti-pain effect, so it can be used to relieve headaches.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory group
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can also be used to relieve headaches. Examples of this class of drugs are ibuprofen and propyphenazone.
In addition to the drugs above, anti-vomiting drugs and triptans are also often used to treat headaches, especially migraines.
Various headache drugs above can be found in the form of a single ingredient or a combination. Combination drugs, such as a combination of paracetamol and a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, are sometimes more effective in managing pain, and are usually used to treat headaches that don't go away with a single drug.
You can try several types of treatment above to relieve headaches. If you want to use a pain reliever, always make sure to read the dosage and instructions for use, especially if you have certain medical conditions.
If your headaches are getting worse, occur more frequently, or are accompanied by neck stiffness, blurred vision, speech problems, or walking problems, see a doctor immediately. The doctor will provide treatment according to the cause of the headache you are experiencing.