Everyone has a headache at some time or another. Most of the time they are harmless, but the throbbing in your head can also be caused by a serious illness. Here you can find out what you should look out for when you have a headache.
There are many triggers for headaches, but what helps when? After all, migraines and tension headaches are among the most widespread diseases in the world.
diseases. But how can you prevent and relieve headaches? And which headache is harmless and which can be dangerous? Here we explain different types of headache and what they might mean.
Please note: If you suffer from frequent headaches or if the pain comes on suddenly and very severely, you should definitely have it checked out by a doctor.
Pain behind the forehead on both sides – only when standing up
The head hurts behind the forehead, the discomfort is only when you get up from a sitting or lying position and subsides when you stand or walk for a while : these symptoms are an indication of a sinus infection. In this case, the headache is only a side effect of the disease and disappears again when the sinusitis has healed.
Pain on both sides of the forehead, temples or crown of the head.
Dull pain on both sides of the head just behind the forehead, temples or crown of the head is a typical symptom of tension headaches. This type of headache is very common. Tension headaches can come – as the name suggests – from tension in the neck and shoulder area. Clenching the jaw or grinding during sleep can also trigger tension and a subsequent headache. They can also be triggered by stress or a change in the weather. They go away on their own after a day or two.
Strong, pulsating, one-sided pain – migraine ?
One-sided headaches that are felt as pulsating and throbbing and can be quite severe are typical of migraines. The headache is usually preceded by visual disturbances. This means that you have a flickering sensation in one eye that disappears after a few minutes. Shortly after the flickering, the headache starts.
Migraines are very unpleasant and can be accompanied by nausea and vomiting in addition to the severe headache. If you suffer from them regularly, you should look for the trigger and avoid it. In women, headaches and migraines are often hormonal. On the one hand, it can be reduced by taking the pill, on the other hand, it can also occur as a side effect of the pill.
In any case, discuss the issue of headaches with your gynecologist.
Unilateral headache in the temporal region
If a one-sided headache occurs primarily at night and goes away after a few minutes to a few hours, it is probably a cluster headache. This type of headache is rather rare and is associated with severe pain that does not last long, but occurs repeatedly over a period of time. This means several attacks of pain in one day or spread over several days.
Headache with stiff neck & fever
Headaches alone are usually harmless. However, if other symptoms occur, you should consult a doctor as a precaution. Especially if the headache is accompanied by a stiff neck. This could be a sign of a brain hemorrhage. If you also have fever and cold symptoms, you may have meningitis.
Digital help for headaches and migraines
If you suffer from frequent headaches or migraines, the certified medical app M-sense can be a great help. It helps to recognize triggers and to create an individual headache diary, which makes it possible to recognize patterns. In the Pro version, sufferers can find tips for acute help and knowledge lessons on the subject of migraine. Furthermore, this digital helper supports non-medicinal therapy with short instructions for relaxation exercises. In addition, a personal training plan for endurance sports and yoga can be created. All in all, this is a good way to analyze and track everyday life with headaches.
