Headaches are among the most frustrating pains we can experience.
The three most common types that affect most of the population are migraine, tension headache and sinus headache.
They usually begin vaguely but intensify quickly and lead to low mood and an uncomfortable heavy feeling.
Most headaches themselves are not harmful to the body, but in some cases they may serve as warning signs of different issues happening inside us or linked to our lifestyle, where we do have some control.
So here are the three most common types of headaches, the ways to get rid of them and what they may reveal about your health.
- Tension headache – stress, pressure and anxiety
The tension headache is the most common type people suffer from.
It attacks for long periods of time and is concentrated around the temples or the back of the head and neck.
In some cases it may also be felt above or below the eyes.
Medical experts believe this type is caused by stretching and contracting of the muscles around the neck and head, symptoms mainly related to feelings of stress, pressure and anxiety.
To get rid of these headaches when they appear, drink ginger tea which helps relax the muscles.
Another way that can prevent the pain from the start is applying peppermint essential oil on the neck and hairline area.
Combining both methods can completely relieve the tension headache, but it still does not solve the underlying issue that causes it.
If you suffer from these headaches often, it is recommended to examine what factors in your life may be negatively affecting your levels of stress and pressure and try to address them. In addition, you can try massaging the pad of the big toe on your foot because it is considered a pressure point directly connected to headaches that stem from stress and anxiety.
- Migraine – poor nutrition and harmful lifestyle
About 22 percent of women and about 12 percent of men worldwide suffer from migraines.
The pain felt during a migraine attack usually throbs on one side of the head and many agree it is unbearable.
In 30 percent of migraine cases the pain appears on both sides of the head, and another common feeling is that the pain begins at the top of the head and slowly trickles downward.
Among all headache types, migraine has the most harmful neurological symptoms. It causes dizziness, sensitivity to noise and light, blurred vision, tingling in the face and sometimes nausea and vomiting.
The reasons for migraines often come from genetic or environmental factors, but poor nutrition also plays an important role.
Too much salt in your food for example may lead to more frequent migraine attacks.
Lifestyle can also increase the frequency of attacks, such as irregular sleep schedules or excessive use of medication.
To relieve these symptoms and the migraine pain during an attack, consume foods rich in vitamin B12 and healthy fats such as salmon. In addition, maintain a healthy lifestyle that includes aerobic exercise, an activity many people claim reduces the need for migraine preventive medication.
- Sinus headache – dehydration or overuse of medication
As its name suggests, this headache comes directly from problems in the sinus area behind the bridge of the nose, in the forehead and in the cheekbones. When we suffer from inflammation in these areas, usually due to an allergic reaction or infection, the passage that drains mucus from the sinuses becomes blocked.
This blockage causes pain in the cheekbones, forehead or nose bridge, radiating toward the skull and intensifying when moving the head or bending forward.
In addition to the pain, people with sinus inflammation also experience runny nose, high fever or swelling in the face area.
Most sinus headaches come from allergic reactions or infections, but what may worsen the condition is overuse of pain relieving medication.
Each time you take a pill for the headache you may actually be adding fuel to the fire. Another factor that may worsen the issue is dehydration, so it is recommended to drink plenty of fluids to reduce the troubling symptoms.
Prefer to drink lukewarm water and consume vitamin C which helps prevent infections, or combine both with lemon tea or ginger tea with honey which has anti inflammatory qualities.
