Many people across the United States suffer from severe headaches and migraines, and even more, are not diagnosed or receiving treatment for their symptoms. It’s Headache and Migraine Awareness Month, and at MyCHN, we understand the importance of health education. Â
Headaches are very common, and most of us get them occasionally. But what happens when your headaches are so bad that you can’t perform your daily activities? This is the reality for many, and they don’t need to live with such horrible throbbing pain. Learn how to identify the kind of headache you’re having and what you can do to relieve it. Also, discover if your pain is more than a simple headache and if you need to seek medical treatment.  Â
Headache & Migraine FAQ
Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions about headaches. If we didn’t answer your question, feel free to ask in the comments. You can also schedule an appointment with your provider, and they will give you a more personalized answer to your questions.Â
What kind of headache do I have?
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There are 5 common types of headaches. It is important to know the difference to understand which one you’re having at that time.
Hover over each card to read and learn more about each headache type. Â
What is the best the best way to treat my headache?
Each type of headache has different ways to be treated.
- Tension Headache: over-the-counter pain relievers, massage, acupuncture, and ice/hot packs Â
- Sinus Headache: warm compress, decongestants(reduces swelling), saline/nasal spray, and inhaling vaporizer/ steam Â
- Exertion headache: over-the-counter pain reliever, rest/relaxation, and water Â
- Hormone headaches: snacks to keep blood sugar up, sleep, yoga, acupuncture, avoiding stress, and over-the-counter pain relievers Â
- Cluster Headaches: oxygen therapy, steroid injections, oral steroids, and melatoninÂ
What is a migraine?
A migraine is an intense pulsing pain deep in your head. The pain can last days and ultimately limit your ability to continue with your daily routines. The throbbing is one-sided and causes sensitivity to light and sound; sometimes, nausea and vomiting can occur.Â
Here are some of the common environmental triggers:Â Â
- Sleep disruption
- Dehydration
- Skipped meals
- Hormone function
- Exposure to chemicals
Is a migraine different from a headache?
A migraine is a type of headache. What makes it different from other kinds of headaches is the pain and limit to complete daily activity. Â
How to cure a migraine?
Getting rid of migraine depends on the person, but here are some of the things you can try that may help.Â
- Find a calm environment.
- Turn off the lights.
- Try temperature therapy. Apply a hot or cold compress to your head or neck.
- Drink a little bit of caffeine. Caffeine in small amounts can help relieve pain.
- Stay hydrated. Make sure you're drinking enough water.
- Get a massage. Try to relax your muscles and reduce your stress.
A combination of these remedies will help cure your migraine. Â
Take this information and use it to your advantage. If your headaches get worse or become unbearable, please consult your doctor. Â
Resources
Tolulope Ayoola
Tolulope Ayoola is the creative marketing content writer at MyCHN. She graduated from the University of Houston-Downtown with a degree in Technical Communications. Her goal and mission is to make healthcare patient content more relatable and interesting to interact with. She combines her creative eye with her technical communication skills to create content for patients. Tolu's past work includes creating blogs, press releases, and social media content for different sectors. She enjoys spending time with her family, writing, and listening to music & podcasts.
