Headaches are very common. Almost everyone has a headache occasionally and 1 in 20 adults have a headache nearly every day. Migraines affect 1 in 7 adults across the world. Let’s take a closer look at when a headache is normal, types of headaches, and when to worry about your headache.
When a Headache is Normal
When most people get a headache, they take a painkiller, rub their heads, and more. There are many reasons why we get headaches as well. These can include our diets, stress in our lives, and bad posture. Even injuries or simply staring at your phone and computer screen too long can be a cause.
Here’s the issue though – your problem isn’t actually a headache. The headache is a symptom that is occurring because of a problem originating elsewhere. The truth is that a headache is never normal, there is always a root cause that is making you have a headache.
Types of Headaches
There are over 300 types of headaches!
The most common is a tension headache. This type of headache occurs in 75% of adults. The tension headache is named as such because you normally full a dull, squeezing pain on both sides of the head. These headaches are often caused by stress, fatigue, or problems in the muscles/joints of the neck or jaw.
Migraines are another type of common headache. Occurring in women more than men, many doctors believe these are caused by changes in nerve cell activity and blood flow within the brain. This type of headache can occur by many types of triggers including fatigue, stress, sensory triggers (lights, noises, smells), diet, and more.
Another type of headache more common in men than women is a cluster headache. It’s typically seen in middle-aged men with a history of smoking. The term cluster comes from how the headaches occur – normally occurring multiple times a day over a period of months. The pain occurring here is normally very severe and felt on one side of the head.
There are many other types of headaches that can range from high blood pressure, sinus/pressure, medications, and more.
Do You Need to Worry
You should always consult a doctor if you are worried about your symptom of headaches. To give examples of situations in need of potential attention, these could include major changes in the pattern of your normal headaches, headaches that continue to steadily worsen, changes in personality or mental function, and headaches caused after an injury to the head. This list is not all-inclusive, but only given for example purposes. Georgia Chiropractic Neurology Center has expert chiropractic neurologists that can discover the root cause of your headaches and focus on correcting those issues.