Headaches

What are the most common types of headaches?

Although there are more than 150 identified headaches, most fall under one of the following categories:

• Tension or cluster headaches - unlike many headaches, men are more likely than females to get cluster headaches.  These often extremely debilitating headaches are often misdiagnosed.
• Hormonal headaches
• Sinus headaches
• Chronic daily headaches
• Arthritis headaches
• Migraines

A headache can either be a primary condition — it stands alone as a diagnosis — or a secondary condition, where a headache is the result of another issue such as untreated hypertension. Most often, headaches are a primary condition and are treated independently.

What are the symptoms of a headache?

While the answer may seem obvious, headaches often produce more than just an ache in your head. Some of the more common symptoms include:

• A dull throbbing pain, usually on one side of the head
• Nausea
• Blurred or fuzzy vision
• Sensitivity to light
• Sleep or appetite problems

These symptoms vary depending on the type of headache you suffer from, so it’s important to let your doctor at Men’s Health Chicago know about anything you’re feeling, even if it doesn’t seem related to your headache.

What causes headaches?

Zeroing in on the primary cause of your headache takes a bit of detective work on the part of the health care providers at Men’s Health Chicago. Typically, they start with a full examination and review your family history, medical history, and habits to start to whittle down the possibilities.

Headaches can be caused by anything from reactions to certain additives in food to over-exercising, so the more information the doctors collect, the better they’re able to hone in on the underlying cause.

Once they identify a pattern, the doctors at Men’s Health Chicago order further testing to make a definitive diagnosis so that they can begin treatment as quickly as possible.

How do doctors treat headaches?

Treatment for your headache largely depends on what type of headache you’re suffering from and whether the headache is the primary condition or a byproduct of another health issue. The health care providers at Men’s Health Chicago typically use many treatments, including:

• Medications
• Trigger avoidance
• Chiropractic care
• Exercises
• Relaxation and biofeedback techniques

Men’s Health Chicago uses a number of effective tools to combat headaches and the doctors at the practice work with you until your problem is resolved, whether with one treatment or a combination of treatments. To learn more, call or go online to book an appointment.