Everybody gets a headache every now and then. It’s one of the most common complaints doctors hear. But what most people don’t know is there are more than 150 individual types of headaches, making diagnosis difficult in many cases.
The providers at Rapid Response Urgent Care see many individuals with headaches at their office in Granada Hills, California, some who’ve waited far too long to be seen by a doctor because they didn’t think it was important to seek treatment. So, when should you see a doctor? The providers weigh in here.
Headaches can be widely grouped into two categories: primary and secondary.
Primary headaches are disorders unto themselves; they’re not caused by any other disease or condition. Secondary headaches are a side effect of a disease, condition, or treatment. For example, some prescription medications list headache as a side effect of the drug. That indicates the headache is secondary to the medication.
Primary headaches are further divided into four types: tension-type headache (TTH), migraine, cluster headache, and new daily persistent headache (NDPH).
These are the most common primary headache type, with more than 70% of people developing them at some point. Women are more likely to get them than men.
Symptoms vary, but most people feel mild-to-moderate pressure and pain, like a vise squeezing against the sides of their head; a band of pain encircling the head; and aching or tight neck and shoulder muscles. The symptoms develop slowly, and they aren’t affected by movement. They can often be resolved with an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever.
Migraine isn’t a headache; it’s a neurological disorder that may contain pain as one of its stages. Migraine attacks can be episodic (every so often) or chronic (more than 15 headache days a month), and they come in four discrete stages.
A cluster headache produces one-sided head pain that lasts anywhere from 15 minutes to three hours, then it starts all over again, up to about eight times a day.
The pain occurs every day for weeks to months, most commonly at the same time every day. The entire cycle — eight times a day for weeks or months — is called an attack. After such an attack, the pain may go suddenly into remission.
Clusters are often called “suicide headaches” because the pain is so severe and unrelenting people feel like dying must be better. If you or someone you know is thinking of killing themselves, call the Suicide and Crisis Hotline (in the US) at 988.
NDPH symptoms start very suddenly (you remember exactly when) and remain moderate-to-severe 24/7/365. NDPH generally only affects your head. However, when it comes with migraine-like features, you may experience light and sound sensitivity, vertigo, nausea, and/or vomiting. The pain may occur on just one side of the head, both sides, or move from one side to the other.
Unfortunately, most cases prove difficult to treat.
While tension-type headaches often resolve with OTC medication, stress management, and better ergonomics, the other primary headache types require medical intervention. If you’re struggling with daily activities because of unrelenting head pain, it’s absolutely time to see a doctor about what you can do to get relief.
While none of these conditions can be cured, there are many treatments available to help you live a better quality of life, and Rapid Response Urgent Care can start you on the right path. Walk in, call us at 818-923-5216, or book an appointment online today.