Your website about headaches!
Here you will learn
- everything you need to know about headaches,
- what you can do when you have a headache and
- what you can do to not get bothered by them in the first place.
Your website about headaches!
Here you will learn
- everything you need to know about headaches,
- what you can do when you have a headache and
- what you can do to not get bothered by them in the first place.
Your website about headaches!
Here you will learn
- everything you need to know about headaches,
- what you can do when you have a headache and
- what you can do to not get bothered by them in the first place.
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…
…suffer from 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.
Only a doctor can tell you exactly which type of headache you have. If you are unsure, please talk to your doctor! In this table you’ll find the typical features of migraines and tension-type headaches. Use this to check which type of headache you most likely have.
It’s possible to have both tension-type headaches and migraines. In this case it is even more important that you’re able to tell the two apart!
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 suspicious changes in the body. The headache is therefore not a sign of a specific disease. Even in a very detailed picture of the brain, e.g. taken with magnetic resonance imaging* – MRI for short – you can see that everything is fine.
*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. Typical examples of secondary headaches are caused by concussions or colds. Secondary headaches that keep coming back are very rare. If someone experiences headaches often, it is very likely that they have 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…
Headache caused by not drinking enough water. What’s that all about?
You often hear that headaches are caused by not drinking enough or that drinking water will help with headaches. Is that true?
We know: Not drinking enough water is bad for your body. Your body sends out signals that tell you when you don’t drink enough. For example, you get thirsty. However, not everyone notices these signals. Then your body will send out even stronger signals: for example, you get dizzy or you get a headache.
So, if you have a headache that is caused by not drinking enough, drinking water will help you get rid of it.
If you have a tension-type headache or a migraine, drinking water won’t help with the headache.
Sometimes it’s not clear why you have a headache. That’s why our advice is: Drink a glass of water when you have a headache. It definitely won’t make your headache worse, and it might even help!
In any case, you should make sure that you drink enough water. Depending on your age you should drink around 1 to 1.5 litres / 6 to 8 cups per day. It’s healthy for your entire body.
You will find detailed information on the most common types of headaches here…
Tension-type headaches
Discover everything you need to know here. The egg with the rubber band will give you more information on tension-type headaches!
Migraines
Find out more cool things here. The egg with the beanie will give you information on migraines.
More important pages on headaches can be found here:
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.