Headaches – how do they occur and how can you prevent them?

The health problem number

1 Mild to paralyzing pain, pressing, throbbing, dull, or pulling - headaches occur in many different ways. In fact, experts distinguish between over 200 species. Unfortunately, headaches are the biggest health problem worldwide. In Germany, according to the Techniker Krankenkasse, over 70% of the population suffers from occasional or even chronic headaches.

Primary headaches

Headaches often affect sufferers in their everyday lives and limit their quality of life. However, the vast majority of headaches are harmless. Not triggered by an illness or an accident, these harmless primary headaches occur independently.

Generally, headaches arise outside the brain, as it is insensitive to pain due to the lack of pain receptors . Without being able to precisely determine the cause of the disease, treatment becomes tricky. It is therefore worth taking a closer look at the different forms.

The three most common types of primary headaches are tension headaches, migraines and cluster headaches.

Tension headaches

This form is the most common. Location: Both halves of the head are usually affected, from the forehead to the back of the head or even to the shoulders. Strength: Light to medium strength. Form of pain: Dull and pressing. Duration: From half an hour to several days. Limitation: Tension headaches usually do not prevent sufferers from carrying out everyday activities. Physical exertion does not make the pain worse. There is no nausea.

Triggers, prevention and remedies:

Stress can cause tension headaches. Therefore, avoid stressful situations from getting out of hand and allow yourself to take relaxing breaks throughout the day.

Excessive consumption of alcohol and nicotine can also lead to headaches. Therefore, reduce your consumption of these stimulants or avoid them altogether.

Muscle tension, especially in the neck muscles, can also be a trigger. To prevent this, you can, for example, improve your posture, create an ergonomic environment at work, avoid wearing heavy backpacks or bags and optimize your sleeping position. Lack of sleep and sleep disorders can also contribute to tension headaches. Make sure you get enough healthy sleep.

Drink enough water to avoid dehydration of the body, which can also result in headaches.

Migraine

This is the second most common type of headache. Location: Usually one half of the head is affected, in the front area of the head. Strength: Strong to very strong. Form of pain: Pulsating and paroxysmal. Duration: Several hours to several days. Restriction: Often severe restrictions on those suffering. Physical activity worsens the pain. Sounds, smells and light often do the same. Nausea and even vomiting are not uncommon symptoms. Around 10-15% of migraine sufferers experience a “migraine aura”. Patients can then be affected by difficulty finding words, loss of field of vision, visual disturbances and tingling in the extremities.

Triggers, prevention and remedies:

Some people are genetically predisposed to migraines. However, various factors can promote migraine attacks. These can vary from person to person. Possible triggers include changes in the weather, hormonal changes, alcohol consumption, chocolate, stress, medication, changes in the rhythm of life. Stopping hormone preparations, changing medications, and adopting a healthy lifestyle can contribute to prevention without drinking alcohol and avoiding stressful situations. If a migraine occurs, it is advisable to retreat to a low-stimulus environment and get plenty of rest.

Cluster headaches

This type of headache occurs rarely. Men are affected more often than women. Across Germany, around one in a thousand people suffers from cluster headaches. Location: One-sided in the area of the temples and the eye socket. Strength: Very strong. Type of pain: Stabbing, burning, drilling pain. Duration: Mostly at night, lasting for weeks to months. Afterwards, there are pain-free phases without any symptoms for months to years.

An attack lasts between a quarter of an hour or a few hours. Limitation: Patients report a severe reduction in their quality of life. Unpleasant side effects such as red and watery eyes, drooping eyelids, sweating on the face and a stuffy or runny nose make this type of headache even more unpleasant. Movement can often make the pain a little more bearable.

Triggers, prevention and remedies:

The attacks can be triggered by alcohol consumption, nicotine consumption, bright or flickering lights or food additives. To avoid headaches, it is advisable to reduce alcohol and nicotine consumption. It is also advisable to maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

With a food diary, possible triggers can be identified in the event of attacks. Inhaling highly concentrated oxygen helps with an acute attack of cluster headaches. On the other hand, there are certain medications that can provide relief.

Secondary headaches

Around 8% of all headaches are secondary headaches, meaning they are triggered by injuries, illnesses, substances or medications. Most of the time, however, the headaches are harmless. Triggers such as uncorrected poor eyesight, tension, dehydration and headaches caused by a hangover can be easily remedied. If the headaches are caused by sensitivity to the weather or infections, they are temporary and easy to get through.

Generally recommended to prevent headaches are:

A balanced diet and drinking 2 - 3 liters of water or unsweetened tea

Enough healthy sleep and enough relaxation in everyday life

Exercise

Exercise in the fresh air

If you have frequent headaches, keep a headache diary to identify triggers