Any kinds of headaches can be a source of pain; however, they do not usually indicate you have a serious medical issue. During a headache, you may feel the pain on one side of your head or on both sides at once. You may experience throbbing pain in the forehead or worse. Sometimes, you may have new symptoms or issues that are more serious than normal. In this case, you might need to see a doctor. You can also get help from the National Headache Center Houston.
Kinds of Headaches
The severity of the pain and the kind of treatment you need depends on the type of headache you are suffering from. Below are the most common types:
- Tension headache. If you experience this type of headache, you will have a constant band-like pain around the back of your head and neck or around the forehead. This headache could come with other symptoms such as tenderness around the neck, scalp, and shoulder muscles.
- Migraine headache. This can be a recurring headache that appears quickly, usually with severe pain in the temple area on the side of your head. This pain may extend to the sinuses, face, neck, and jaw. This headache can last from 1-72 hours.
- Sinus headache. This kind of headache occurs when the sinus cavities are inflamed, usually due to cold or allergies. It can cause pain and pressure around the eyes, nose, cheeks, and forehead.
When to See your Doctor
If you experience headaches consistently once every week or more, you must see a neurologist. Your doctor will develop a treatment plan to minimize the frequency and severity of your headache. This is because if you experience four or more headaches every week, you are at risk of chronic migraine. When taking over-the-counter medicines for headaches that do not work, do not self-diagnose your condition as migraines. You need to see your doctor be properly diagnoses and to rule out any more serious conditions.
Moreover, you must see a doctor if you experience headaches that tend to be more severe or more frequently than normal, headaches that do not get better with the proper use of over-the-counter drugs, headaches that stop you from doing your normal activities, as well as headaches caused by exercise, coughing, and sexual activity. In case you experience headaches that cause you distress, visit your doctor to get a treatment option which works for you.