While headaches definitely are not fun, it might be worth your time to try to think about what type of headache you might be experiencing. All headaches are not the same, so don’t lump them all in one description. You might have heard about tension headaches, migraines, and cluster headaches, but did you know there are other types?
Here are four headaches you might not be aware existed.
Depression headaches. When a person suffers from chronic depression, their body might also respond with aches and pains, even leading to headaches. To treat both your depression and headache, it is important to visit your doctor. With a proper diagnosis, your doctor can provide you with an appropriate treatment plan for both your headache and depression symptoms.
Rebound headaches. Taking too many medications to relieve your pain can actually lead to further headaches. By routinely taking certain medication you might think you are preventing headaches, but that is not the case. Medications most commonly associated with rebound headaches include Acetaminophen, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, and combination medications containing caffeine. If any of these medications have been overused, the best source of action is to discontinue using it.
Hypertension headaches. This type of headache is a generalized or “hairband” headache, which is usually worse in the morning. It slowly goes away as the day goes on, but that doesn’t mean it is any less painful or irritating. Make sure to get your blood pressure checked regularly and take prescribed blood pressure medicine to prevent these from occurring.
Post traumatic headaches. It’s easy to confuse post traumatic headaches with migraines or tension headaches. However, these differ because they often occur every day and a simple pain reliever, such as Tylenol, does not help. Pain often begins aver a minor trauma, but it is difficult for doctors to pinpoint the cause and properly diagnose it. The best way to overcome your headache is to prevent a buildup of stress caused by trauma.
Contact Dr. Sara at AZ Sleep & TMJ Solutions in north Scottsdale to learn more about headaches and how to minimize your pain.