Your website about headaches!
Here you will learn:
- everything you need to know about headaches themselves
- what you can do to help yourself when you have a headache and
- what you can do to stay calm and not let headaches bother you.
Your website about headaches!
Here you will learn:
- everything you need to know about headaches themselves
- what you can do to help yourself when you have a headache and
- what you can do to stay calm and not let headaches bother you.
Your website about headaches!
Here you will learn:
- everything you need to know about headaches themselves
- what you can do to help yourself when you have a headache and
- what you can do to stay calm and not let headaches bother you.
Tension-type headache or migraine?
Headache 101
In this video you’ll learn how to tell the two most common types of headaches apart: tension-type headaches and migraines.
Did you know?
Many children and
adolescents…
…experience headaches.
Here you can see some of the results of a study in which young people between the ages of 10 and 18 were asked how often they experienced headaches in the last three months.
The differences between tension-type headaches and migraines …
… right here.
In this table, you’ll find the common features of migraines and tension-type headaches that many tell us they have. Keep in mind that everyone has different experiences with headaches. For example, your headaches might last longer/shorter, feel more/less intense, or feel a little different than what’s described in this table.
You can use this chart to help figure out which type(s) of headaches you may have. But remember, only a doctor can tell you exactly which type of headache you have for sure, so please talk with your doctor about your experience with headaches in detail!
It’s possible to have both tension-type headaches and migraines. In this case, it is even more important to be able to tell the two apart so you know what might help!
An easy way…
…to tell tension-type headaches and migraines apart is the bounce test. Watch the following video for instructions on how to do this. If your pain gets worse, it may indicate a migraine. If your pain doesn’t get worse, or even gets better with movement, it’s probably a tension-type headache.
More on headaches…
How many types of headaches are there?
There are more than 200 types of headaches.
Tension-type headaches and migraines are by far the most common types of headaches among children and adolescents.
What are primary headaches?
Doctors call tension-type headaches and migraines “primary headaches”.
This means that there are no concerning or worrisome changes in the body or the brain. Even in a detailed picture of your brain, usually taken with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), you and your doctor can see that everything is fine. Therefore, primary headaches are not a sign of a specific disease. The headache pain is the primary problem.
*An MRI helps you see inside your body and can create a picture of the tissue (e.g. bones and muscles) and organs in your body.
What are secondary headaches?
With “secondary headaches”, there is a clear physical cause for the pain, such as an injury or inflammation. Common causes of secondary headaches include concussions, viruses like a cold, or infections. Secondary headaches that keep coming back for a long period of time are rare. If headaches keep happening long after an injury or illness healed, it is likely that those headaches have become primary headaches.
When should you go see a doctor because of your headaches?
Finding out why you have headaches and whether they are primary or secondary is important. That’s why you should see a doctor if you experience a lot of headaches. You should also see a doctor if your headaches have changed (e.g. if they feel different, occur more often, feel more intense or are accompanied by new symptoms).
You can find more information on when to go see a doctor here…
Are headaches caused by not drinking enough water?
You often hear that headaches are caused by not drinking enough or that drinking water will help with headaches. Is that true?
Here’s what we know: Not drinking enough water is bad for your whole body. Your body sends out signals that tell you when you don’t drink enough: you get thirsty. However, not everyone notices these signals, so your body will send out even stronger signals: feeling dizzy or getting a headache.
So, if you have a headache that is caused by not drinking enough, drinking water will help you get rid of it.
When it’s not clear why you have a headache, our advice is: Drink water anyway! It definitely won’t make your headache worse, and it might even help!
Even when you don’t have a headache, you should make sure that you’re drinking enough water. It’s healthy for your entire body. All of us can benefit from drinking more water. How much you need per day depends on your weight and how much you exercise. Here’s a helpful chart to get you started:
You will find detailed information on the most common types of headaches here…
Tension-type headaches
The egg with the rubber band will give you more information on tension-type headaches!
Migraines
The egg with the beanie will give you information on migraines.
More important pages on headaches can be found here:
Get headaches under control!
Here you will find helpful tips and strategies to reduce headaches or keep them from happening in the first place.
Get help here!
If you need help dealing with your headaches, you can find people to talk to and tips for preparing for a doctor’s appointment here.