There are different factors that can contribute towards the onset of a headache. Sometimes it’s fatigue or dehydration, issues that can be resolved easily, but sometimes they’re a symptom of something more serious.
Dr. Sakib Qureshi MD, a world-renowned neurologist, says that headaches are often accompanied with ‘red light warning signals’ and if we want to know if we’re dealing with a regular headache or a more serious health issue we need to learn to distinguish these signals.
Health experts around the globe advise people not to take painkillers at the first sign of a headache, because they only numb the pain and don’t do anything about the underlying issue that might be causing it. First try to figure out the real cause and only then proceed with the appropriate treatment.
Here are the 4 most common types of headaches, their causes and some natural treatments designed especially for them:
Tension Headache
Tension headache is one of the most common types of headaches and is most likely caused by excessive stress that causes the scalp and neck muscles to contract, resulting in pain.
The headache is felt like a pressure on the temples and in the back of the neck and the head. It can be accompanied with a radiating pain around the eye area and lead to nausea and vomiting.
Natural treatment: The best treatment for this type of headache is peppermint oil and ginger tea. Consume the ginger tea, while applying the peppermint essential oil to the hairline.
Cluster Headache
Cluster headaches mostly target women and these types of headaches usually manifest through pain over one eye. They are usually in cycles and the pain sets in suddenly and is intensive. It can be accompanied with a watery eye, nasal congestion on runny nose.
There’s still no definitive conclusion on what causes this type of headache.
Natural treatment: Buy some capsaicin cream and apply it on the nostril.
Sinus Headache
Sinus headaches are a result of an infection that causes intense pain and pressure on your eyes, forehead and cheeks and can spike up a fever.
Natural treatment: Hydrate your body by drinking plenty of fluids and some warm water to relieve the inflammation and open your sinuses.
Eat foods rich in vitamin C, like oranges, and foods with anti-inflammatory properties like ginger. Consume soups and try applying hot and cold compresses, they may relieve the pain.
Migraine
Migraine can strike at anyone, no matter the age, but the most affected group is people age 25-55. This is one of the most complicated types of headaches which manifests through severe, intense, throbbing pain across one side of your head, accompanied with numbness, nausea and a tingling sensation on your face. You may also experience dizziness, vomiting, sensitivity to smell, light sound and touch and so on. The pain starts at the top of the head and radiates downwards.
Natural treatment: Get your magnesium levels in check, consume omega 3 fatty acids and make sure you’re not deficient in vitamin B12. Start some aerobic workout routine and research shows that it can be effective in preventing migraine attacks, even more successfully than topiramate, a migraine preventative drug.
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