Are you having one sided headache? Know about types of headache

Headache is a constant, discomforting pain in the head region. Primarily, there are 4 main types –

1. Migraine
2. Tension
3. Hypnic
4. Cluster

Migraine

• It is the most common form .
• It usually has one-sided pain.
• The pain usually lasts for 2-72 hrs.
• It is often associated with nausea and vomiting.
• It has a sensitivity to light and sound.

Tension

• It is the second most common type .
• Also called a hatband headache because it is typically painful around the ball of the head, temporal, and forehead.

Treatment

• Relaxation  therapy
• Simple Paracetamol
• Anti-inflammatory

Hypnic

• It occurs during rapid eye movement during sleep.
• It is a primary headache, seen in elderly people.
• It wakes people up from sleep.

Cluster

• It is usually short-lived between 20 minutes to 2 hours.
• It is consistently one-sided and is usually associated with symptoms like a stuffy nose on one side/an enlarged pupil.

Secondary

An underlying medical condition that causes secondary.

A few types are-

1. Dehydration
2. Sinus
3. Spinal
4. Thunderclap

If it doesn’t subside with simple medications, consult a doctor as soon as possible for the best advice.

Sinus headache

Symptoms that require immediate care are-

1. Sudden, new and severe
2. Headache with fever/ stiff neck/ rash
3. When it starts after an accident/ injury to head
4. If there is any weakness/ diarrhea
5. Any neurological symptoms with paralysis/ speech difficulty.

Mild headaches can be treated with

1. Deep breathing exercises
2. Relaxation techniques
3. Heat/ cold pack application on head
4. Head massage
5. Rest
6. Over-the-counter medications with paracetamol.

Dr. Laba Kumar Nayak