Ouch, my head kills! We’ve all been there before. And while headaches definitely are not fun, it might be worth your time to try to think about what type of headache you might be experiencing. All headaches are not the same, therefore you cannot just lump them all in one description. You might have heard about tension headaches, migraines, and cluster headaches, but did you know there are other types? Here are five more headaches you might not be aware of.

1. Depression Headaches

Yes, depression headaches are a thing and you should not ignore it. Depression isn’t just an emotional and mental issue. When a person suffers from chronic depression, their body might also respond with aches and pains, even leading to headaches. To treat both your depression and headache, it is important to visit your doctor. With a proper diagnosis, your doctor can provide you with an appropriate treatment plan for both your headache and depression symptoms.

2. Rebound Headaches

Taking too many medications to cure your headache can lead to further headaches. By routinely taking certain medication you might think you are preventing headaches, but that is not the case. Medications most commonly associated with rebound headaches include:

  • Acetaminophen
  • Aspirin
  • Ibuprofen
  • Combination medications containing caffeine

If any of these medications have been overused, the best source of action is to discontinue using it. It might take approximately 8-12 weeks before the medication has completely cleared your system, which means a more structured approach to headache treatment and prevention can then be pursued.

3. Hypertension Headaches

This type of headache is a generalized or “hair band” headache, which is usually worse in the morning. It slowly goes away as the day goes on, but that doesn’t mean it is any less painful or irritating. Make sure to get your blood pressure checked regularly and take prescribed blood pressure medicine to prevent these from occurring.

4. Post Traumatic Headaches

It’s easy to confuse post traumatic headaches with migraines or tension headaches. However, these differ because they often occur every day and a simple pain reliever, such as Tylenol, does not help. Pain often begins aver a minor trauma, but it is difficult for doctors to pinpoint the cause and properly diagnose it. The best way to overcome your headache is to prevent a buildup of stress caused by trauma.

5. Sexual Exertion Headaches

The clinical term is exertion headaches. However, a high-energy sexual tryst, as well as forms of excessive exercise, are responsible. Approximately 90% of these headaches are related to cluster and migraines, while something as harmless as sneezing too much can cause these types of headaches to occur. To prevent these headaches, take frequent breaks between workout routines and by treating them with a pain reliever.

While it might seem like we know about enough headaches, it is still important to find the underlying cause. Contact Craniofacial Pain & Dental Sleep Center of Georgia for more information on headaches.