Do you suffer from headaches and often wonder what “kind” of headache they are? From migraine headaches tension headaches, and sinus headaches, they are all terribly painful and sometimes frightening. Headaches are the most common form of pain and are a significant contributor to missed work and school days. There are more than 150 types of headaches, with migraines being the most common, with tension and sinus headaches following close behind. Here are some key differences between the three most common forms of headaches and what to do at the onset of those pesky headaches.
A migraine headache feels like a pounding, throbbing pain, sometimes targeting one side of the head that lasts for hours and even days.
A tension headache feels like a tight rubber band squeezing your entire head.
A sinus headache shows up when you have a sinus infection, and it hits the side of your face, nose, or eye with tremendous pain and pressure.
Some key tips to help you get through them:
- Jot down your symptoms and remember how frequent they are.
- Take over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen and acetaminophen, but if you are taking them too frequently, talk to your doctor about going to a headache specialist.
- Some people have found comfort in the following areas: going into a dark room, placing a cold (or hot) washcloth on their forehead, staying hydrated, massage/pressure points, aromatherapy, staying hydrated (water or sipping tea), and acupuncture can all provide temporary relief for the pain.
- Some people have found that increasing their intake of fatty fish has helped decrease the frequency of migraines.
Original Article by Julie Lin-Friss on September 30, 2021
Updated Article by Alex Gawel on June 21, 2023
References:
https://www.healthline.com/health/pressure-points-for-headaches
https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-blue-shirt-using-macbook-5908779/
