[Click! Health] Persistent 'Headache'... How to Manage It

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] Headaches are unwelcome guests that come to modern people at any time. However, not all headaches are the same. It is known that there are over hundreds of causes of headaches, and the symptoms vary accordingly. Since there are various types of headaches, it is important to distinguish the symptoms and respond appropriately.

About 30-40% of all headaches are 'tension headaches.' These are pains caused by muscle contractions in the head and neck due to stress or overwork. Park Jung-hoon, neurologist at Incheon Himchan General Hospital, explained, “If the pain occurs temporarily without a fixed cycle, is not repetitive, and is not accompanied by other symptoms, and feels like a tightness or heaviness on both sides of the head, it is mostly a tension headache,” adding, “Most cases do not require treatment or can be resolved with simple anti-inflammatory painkillers.”

The so-called 'migraine,' named because symptoms mainly appear on one side of the head, does not necessarily cause pain only on one side. Since it can appear on both sides of the head, it should be distinguished by detailed symptoms rather than the pain location. If a pulsating headache that feels like a throbbing pulse occurs repeatedly and paroxysmally around the temples, migraine should be suspected. Many cases are accompanied by nausea or vomiting, and sometimes visual disturbances occur.

There are also headaches that definitely require examination. In cases of sudden headaches called 'thunderclap headaches,' which reach their peak intensity within one minute and feel like the head is about to explode, brain imaging is essential to check for cerebral hemorrhage and other conditions. Experts also advise that headaches newly occurring after age 50, headaches caused by coughing, headaches caused by changes in posture, newly developed headaches that progressively worsen, and headaches accompanied by weight loss or fever should be examined at a hospital.

Chronic headaches are also common. The International Headache Society (IHS) classifies headaches occurring twice a week or more than eight times a month as warning signs. If symptoms appear 15 times or more per month and persist for over three months, it is considered chronic headache. Chronic headaches are difficult to treat and can cause severe pain that significantly disrupts daily life and lowers quality of life. Like primary headaches, chronic migraines and chronic tension headaches are the most common types of chronic headaches.

In treating chronic migraines, lifestyle modification is important. Sufficient and regular sleep and meals are essential. Efforts to avoid excessive work or tension to reduce stress are also necessary. It is advisable to refrain from alcohol and smoking and to exercise regularly. Along with lifestyle modification, preventive medication is also important in treating chronic headaches. Preventive medications aim to reduce the intensity and frequency of new headaches and effectively use antiepileptic drugs, antidepressants, and antihypertensive drugs. If these medications are ineffective or cause severe side effects, targeted preventive treatments for migraines can reduce headaches.