Everyone experiences a headache now and then and some lucky people never experience the type of pain associated with a migraine. If you have intense head pain, you want it to go away as soon as possible so you can get back to your life. It’s important to know the type of headache you have so you can treat it effectively. 

Types of Headaches

We all have experienced headaches at some point in our lives and reached out occasionally for painkillers. But, when it comes to frequent headaches, it's important to identify the specific type you're experiencing in order to find the most effective treatment option. There are several types of headaches, each with its own set of characteristics, intensity, and triggers. By understanding these distinctions, you can pinpoint the right treatment approach for your particular headache. Let's explore the common types of headaches and their distinguishing characteristics:

1. Tension Headaches
2. Cluster Headaches
3. Sinus Headaches
4. Hypertension Headache
5. Menstrual Migraines

Tension Headaches

A tension-type headache, of TTH, is a type of head pain that’s characterised by a feeling of pressure around the head. It can range from mild to moderate and is one of the most common types of headaches. They can be classified as either episodic or chronic. Episodic tension type headaches can last anywhere from 30 minutes to several days. They have the potential to become chronic, which means they can last for hours at a time and continue for several days or weeks in a row.

Other symptoms associated with TTH are:

• Tenderness in the neck, scalp, and shoulder
• Tightness or pressure around the forehead and sides of the head
• A dull, aching pain in the head

Cluster Headaches

Cluster headaches are extremely painful and can disrupt a person’s ability to go about their daily life. They tend to occur in patterns known as cluster periods and can last anywhere from days to weeks or months at a time. Once they stop, a remission period begins. Remissions from cluster headaches can leave a person free from headaches for months or years.

Symptoms of cluster headaches are:

• Intense pain that starts behind the eye
• Pain on one side of the head
• Pain strong enough to disturb your sleep
• Watery red eyes
• Restlessness
• Nasal congestion
• Swelling or drooping in the affected eye
• Sensitivity to light or sound

Sinus Headaches

Sinus headaches have similar symptoms to migraines so the two are often confused. They feel like a pain or pressure around your sinuses (eyes, forehead and upper cheeks) and can last for several days.

Other symptoms include:

• A feeling of fullness in the sinuses
• Nasal congestion
• Tiredness
• Dull pain in the gums
• Pain that gets worse when you bend over

One of the main ways to tell the difference between a sinus headache and a migraine is how they start. Sinus headaches often occur after colds and upper respiratory infections. The nausea and light sensitivity associated with migraines almost never appears with a sinus headache.

Hypertension Headache

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a serious medical condition that needs to be properly managed to prevent serious complications. You should seek medical attention right away if you experience any of the signs of a hypertension headache because it could be an emergency.

Symptoms of hypertension headaches are:

• Nosebleeds
• Trouble speaking
• Blurry vision
• Difficulties breathing
• Chest pain (angina)
• Blood spots in the eyes

A hypertension headache could be an indication of a hypertension crisis where your blood pressure suddenly rises to dangerous levels. If left untreated, you could end up suffering a stroke or worse.

Menstrual Migraines

A hormone headache is sometimes referred to as a menstrual migraine. It begins just before or during a woman’s period and are the result of hormonal changes that occur during the menstrual cycle.

These headaches occur in around 10% of women and are more common in those who experience heavy and painful periods.

Symptoms of a hormone headache are:

• Dull throbbing pain
• Pulsing pain
• Tiredness
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Light sensitivity

What is a Migraine?

A migraine is a severe headache disorder that causes intense pain. A typical migraine can cause throbbing pain on one side of the head and last for hours or days at a time. It’s not uncommon to experience nausea, vomiting, vision disturbances and light sensitivity during a migraine. These symptoms are often serious enough to stop a person from being able to go about their daily life.

The two most common migraines are migraines with auras & migraines without auras.

You may be able to tell when a migraine with an aura is coming on because blind spots, zig zag patterns, or flashing lights appear in your vision before the pain starts. Although it’s possible to have an aura without any pain ever developing.

In some cases, you may also become dizzy, have tingling sensations throughout your body, and changes to your mood. Once the migraine attack subsides, you might feel extremely tired and worn out for a day or two.

A migraine without aura is the most reported type of migraine. They come on without the warning sign of an aura and can last for a few hours or a few days. You may experience them frequently or go years between attacks.

Prevention of Migraines

What causes migraines isn’t fully understood. However, certain lifestyle changes may help prevent them from occurring or occurring frequently. If you are prone to migraines, you should:

• Get enough sleep at night
• Stay hydrated with water
• Limit your caffeine and alcohol intake
• Refrain from overexertion
• Eating regular meals

You may have certain triggers for your migraines so keeping a headache diary can help you determine what those triggers are. Record any symptoms you have as well as the activities you were doing in the time leading up the migraine.

Tips to Cure Migraines

In addition to lifestyle changes, migraine medication can be very effective at treating the symptoms of a migraine. Medications designed for migraines should not be taken to treat the symptoms of any other type of headache.

At Pharmacy Planet, you can buy effective migraine treatment online in the UK including Zolmitriptan tablets and Sumatriptan tablets.

Zolmitriptan and Sumatriptan belong to a group of medications called triptans. They reduce the pain and other symptoms associated with migraines by narrowing the blood vessels around the brain. This stops pain signals from being sent to the brain while also preventing the release of the substances that are thought to cause migraine symptoms.

Stop your migraine pain and get back to your daily life by taking our online assessment, you can buy Zolmitriptan tablets and Sumatriptan tablets online in the UK.