Headache is a very common condition that affects virtually everyone. Some individuals have more debilitating headaches than the others severely affecting their quality of life.
The two commonest type of headaches seen in clinical practice are migraine and tension headache.
Headaches: What It Is, Types, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
When you’re experiencing a severe headache, you might not be able to do all the things that you need to do in your everyday life. This can be stressful, on top of having a headache that is already painful and irritating.
Headaches are a feeling of discomfort or pain in the general face and head area. Broadly speaking, there are a few different kinds of headaches, like migraine headaches, cluster headaches, thunderclap headaches, and tension headaches. Regardless of the kind of headache you experience, it is possible to find relief. Let’s discuss headaches so that you can be more informed:
Headaches Symptoms
There are a variety of symptoms that you might experience when you have a headache. For example, you might feel like you’re sick to your stomach, and you might even vomit. However, you might just feel lightheaded and sensitive to any light that is around you.
Usually, you’re going to feel pain on either both or one side of your head. Your head might even hurt to the touch, and in some instances, you might feel like your eyes are watering and your eyelids are drooping.
Headaches Causes
The cause of your headache varies, depending on the kind of headache you’re experiencing. It might be caused by things like medicine, lack of water and food, or hormonal imbalances. However, a headache could be caused by things like a neck injury, eye problems, infections, and teeth issues.
Diagnoses of Headaches
Depending on the frequency and severity of your headache, you might find that it’s beneficial to have an official diagnosis. If you’re in pursuit of a diagnosis, a healthcare professional might decide to do an MRI, which is important if you’re having troubling symptoms. For example, if you’re having long headaches, sudden headaches, or new headaches, an MRI is important because it will determine if other, more severe issues are occurring. If none of these symptoms are happening, you will simply need a clinical assessment or a physical examination.
Different Types of Headaches
There are several different types of headaches. A primary headache refers to a headache that is the primary medical issue. So, if you get a headache that is a primary headache, your main medical issue is the headache itself.
A primary headache includes:
- Migraine headache
- Cluster headache
- Tension-type headache
A secondary headache, on the other hand, refers to a headache that is caused by another underlying medical issue. You might have a neck injury, teeth and gum issues that cause pain, or meningitis. Usually, a headache is a primary headache, and several different kinds of headaches fall under this category. They are also known as ‘organic” headaches and may occur due to head injury or another disorder. They can include:
- Tumor
- Highblood pressure
- Infections
- Other headache diseases and disorders
Migraine Vs Headache
The difference between a migraine and a headache is that migraines are neurological condition that affects both your nerve pathways and the chemicals in your brain. When there are changes in the way your brain is working, it will trigger a plethora of symptoms, like fatigue, pain, dizziness, and nausea. Simple headaches are not necessarily a migraine because of a difference in the way your brain functions.
People can sometimes mistake a brain aneurysm for a migraine because the symptoms of these two conditions can overlap, making it difficult to differentiate between them. Read in our article, “Migraine vs. Brain Aneurysm” and the reasons why this confusion can occur and mislead patients.
Headaches Assessment (When to Worry)
Oftentimes there’s nothing to worry about when you have a headache. It will simply go away on its own. However, you need to begin to worry when you have a fever alongside your headache when your headaches last for days, and when you’ve had a known head injury. There are other reasons to worry. If your headache gets worse after moving, or if it is long, abrupt, and painful, then it’s concerning. Assess yourself for these symptoms and seek help if you have them.
The majority of individuals who come in with headaches receive successful medical management with excellent response to treatment. A range of medications, both over-the-counter and prescription-based, are available for both immediate headaches and to proactively prevent severe episodes. Furthermore, there is the introduction of newer injection-based treatments, administered monthly or every 3-4 months, to improve care for patients experiencing headaches.
Learn more about our assessment and headache management techniques.
Additional Headache Management Techniques
For patients who don’t respond well to medication or experience significant side effects, there are additional options called interventional headache management techniques. These techniques are offered as an alternative and can be combined with medical treatment for better results.
Managing your headache is possible when you use medicine and newer injection-based treatements. These methods are proven to help those with headaches find relief.
Interventional Headache Management
Interventional headache management treatments for headaches involve procedures like nerve blocks (typically guided by ultrasound) and botox injections. They can reduce the severity of headaches. These treatments are usually performed in a clinic setting, and patients can go home right after the procedure. If you experience headaches, it can be a non-specific neurological symptom of brain aneurysm. What is a brain aneurysm headache? A brain aneurysm headache is a severe and sudden headache when patients experience the worst headache of their lives. Learn more about the different types of brain aneurysm headaches in our brain aneurysm resources.
If you’re thinking, ‘I need a headache clinic near me or a headache doctor near me’ or ‘Is my headache a brain aneurysm?’, visit Supreme Vascular and Interventional Clinic. Our team and headache and brain aneurysm specialist, Dr. Manish Taneja, is committed to helping people in Singapore find relief from their headaches. Find more answers to commonly asked brain aneurysm and stroke questions from our patients with Dr. Manish Taneja
Whether you’re looking for a neurointerventional doctor or a neurointerventional clinic in Singapore, we are here to help. We encourage you to reach out for more information or to schedule a consultation with one of our specialists.
Supreme Vascular and Interventional Clinic Treatments
There are more several types of neurointerventional conditions we offer to treat different problems including headache and brain aneurysm in Singapore. Swipe to learn more.
Read More About Neurointerventional Treatments on Our Blog
To dive deeper into the types of neurointerventional treatments, head over to our clinic’s blog and view our helpful video guides. Read our recommended neurointerventional treatments related blog posts to stay informed.
What is a brain aneurysm? Read our helpful ultimate guide post to learn brain aneurysm causes, symptoms, treatment options, and more.
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- Brain Aneurysm Q&A with Dr. Manish Taneja
- 10 Brain Aneurysm Questions Answered
- The Ultimate Guide to Brain Aneurysm
- Conversation with Dr. Manish Taneja on Brain Aneurysm Advances and Care
- The Dangers of Brain Aneurysm
- Brain Aneurysm: Best Minimally Invasive Treatments
- Types of Stroke: Ischaemic, Hemorraghic, and TIAS
- Brain AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation)
Brain Aneurysm Resources
Discover brain aneurysm resources that go beyond the basics designed for patients. Understand the meaning of a brain aneurysm condition, the causes, symptoms, signs, and more. Connect with your brain health.
Put Brain Aneurysm on Your Health Radar
Did you experience the worst headache of your life? Could it be a brain aneurysm that ruptures, which means bleeding in the brain? Thoughts could be racing through your mind. Then what is the difference between unruptured (a weak or thin spot on an artery in the brain that balloons) or ruptured brain aneurysm? If you’re wondering, then the Supreme Vascular and Interventional Clinic is here to help. It’s important to look out for the tell-tale brain aneurysm symptoms, signs, causes, and risk factors.
Dr. Manish Taneja has been performing brain aneurysm treatments since 1995 from surgical clipping to latest minimally invasive procedures. Each patient is unique as is the size and location of the aneurysm. Your brain has different conditions to treat the aneurysm and artery vessel walls of a blood vessel in the brain. This calls for personalised brain aneurysm treatment depending on your symptoms, family, history, medication, and more. A simple CT scan could be just what the doctor ordered and the first step in early detection and prevention of a brain aneurysm. Come in for an easy consultation with our brain aneurysm specialist in Singapore to be on your health radar.
Neurointerventional Treatments
The Supreme Vascular and Interventional Clinic, is your “go-to” facility for various conditions and pain management. Our state-of-the-art facilities and dedication to patient satisfaction ensure we help you best with a positive outcome. To learn more about how to deal with headaches, contact us to arrange an appointment on our website with Dr. Manish Taneja, or call us at +65 6904 8084.