Understanding Headaches: What Their Location Tells You. -

As you go about your day, suddenly you feel a throbbing pain in your head behind your eye or on one side of your face, or like a band squeezing around your head. It’s not fun at all! You might start to wonder what type of headache you’re dealing with—could it be a migraine or just a tension headache? And will taking something like ibuprofen or acetaminophen help?

Well, there are over 150 categories of headaches, but you can usually figure out which one you have based on where the pain is located. This knowledge can help you understand what might be causing your headache and which treatments might bring relief.

Different types of headaches typically cause pain in specific locations:

Tension Headache: You feel pain on both sides of your head or as if a tight band is wrapped around it.
Migraine Headache or Hormonal Headache: Pain occurs on one side of your head.
Cluster Headache: Pain is focused on one side of your head, particularly around your eye.
Hormonal Headache: Pain is felt on one side of your head.
Dehydration headache: Pain can be all over your head or concentrated in one spot, such as the back, front, or side.

Let’s delve into these common headache types and explore the treatments available for them

Tension Headaches

Tension headaches, often triggered by temporary stress, anxiety, fatigue, lack of sleep or anger, rank as the most common type.

With a tension headache, you typically experience mild to moderate pain on both sides of your head. The pain isn’t throbbing and usually originates in your forehead, temples, or the back of your head and neck. It may feel like a tight band is squeezing around your head. These headaches generally don’t worsen with routine activities like bending over or lying down and can persist for anywhere from 30 minutes to several days.You can usually alleviate the pain with over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Migraine Headaches

Migraine headaches, which are the second most common type, occur due to changes in your brain’s chemical and blood vessel activity. Various factors like weather changes, hormones, and certain foods can trigger them.

Pain can range from moderate to severe, often throbbing on one side of your head. You might also experience nausea, vomiting, neck pain, and sensitivity to light, noise, and sound.

Migraines affect women and those assigned female at birth (AFAB) more than men or those assigned male at birth (AMAB).

A migraine can last from four hours to three days. Over-the-counter medication might help with mild migraines. Other treatment options include prescription medication, vitamin therapy, relaxation techniques, biofeedback, acupuncture, and Botox injections.

Cluster Headaches

Cluster headaches believed to result from a chemical reaction in your brain, cause severe pain, often described as burning, piercing, or throbbing behind one eye. You may also experience teary or droopy eyes and a runny nose.

During a cluster headache, you might feel restless and find yourself pacing.

These headaches typically occur one to three times a day during a “cluster period,” lasting from two weeks to three months. Doctors usually treat them with prescription medication and oxygen.

Hormonal Headaches

Hormonal headaches, also known as menstrual migraines, often begin before or during your period due to changes in estrogen levels.

These headaches typically involve throbbing pain on one side of your head. Symptoms like dizziness, nausea, and blurred vision can worsen with movement, light, smells, or sounds.

Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) two to three days before your period starts and throughout your menstrual cycle can help with pain and symptoms. Prescription medications like triptans may also provide relief.

During pregnancy, hormonal changes, increased blood volume, lack of sleep, and stress can trigger pregnancy headaches. While similar to migraines, treatment options differ because most medications aren’t safe during pregnancy. Instead, options like cognitive behavioural therapy, biofeedback, and physical therapy can help.

On a positive note, many people experience fewer pregnancy headaches as their pregnancy progresses.

Dehydration Headache

If you haven’t been drinking enough water, you may develop a dehydration headache, which occurs when your body lacks sufficient fluids.

The pain from a dehydration headache can vary from mild to severe and is typically felt all over your head, but it can also be localized in one spot, such as your back, front, or side. The pain can feel dull or sharp and may worsen with movement.

Other symptoms may include feeling dizzy and confused, having a dry mouth, and experiencing muscle cramps.

To manage a dehydration headache at home, try drinking fluids like water or electrolyte drinks in small sips, resting, and applying a cold compress to your head. Over-the-counter NSAIDs can also help.