It can be alarming to experience a sudden headache when bending over or changing positions, but it is usually nothing to worry about. Headaches are painful and unpleasant, but they are also very common. Around half of the world's adult population suffers from headaches every year, according to the World Health Organization.
There are two kinds of headaches: primary headaches, where head pain is the primary problem, and secondary headaches, where an underlying condition, such as the common cold, causes head pain. It is important to know what kind of headache you are having and what may be causing it to find a solution.
Primary headaches and secondary headaches are two broad categories of headaches. Worldwide, primary and secondary headache disorders are among the most common ailments.
Regardless of the type, headaches, especially severe, can negatively impact your well-being. Changing body positions can trigger or exacerbate some symptoms. Patients who suffer from a headache when bending over usually suffer from one of a few types of headaches. We'll examine each type of headache and its symptoms in more detail.
Dehydration headaches are secondary headaches caused by dehydration, in which you lose more fluid than you take in. You may experience head pain when you move your body, especially when you walk, bend over, or turn your head from side to side if you're dehydrated. Additionally, you may experience fatigue, dry mouth, irritability, lightheadedness when standing up, thirst, or infrequent urination.
Symptoms of mild dehydration should improve with time and increased water consumption. Seek medical attention if you experience fever, diarrhea, or dark yellow/brown urine.
Over 38 million Americans yearly suffer from migraines, a recurrent primary headache disorder. Symptoms of migraine headaches include aching on one or both sides of the head, distorted vision, hypersensitivity to light, sound, or smell, seeing light spots, or vomiting.
In addition to genetic predisposition, migraines can also be caused by certain foods, drinks with alcohol or caffeine, loud noises or bright lights, sleep changes, stress, medications, and physical activity.
Physical activity may trigger migraine headaches if you have a history of getting headaches when standing up or bending over. If this is your first migraine due to bending over, you may want to speak with your doctor to rule out other conditions or factors.
Sinus headaches are secondary headaches caused by inflammation of the sinuses behind your forehead, cheekbones, and under your nose bridge due to a viral infection. Approximately 30 million Americans suffer from sinus infection symptoms each year.
A sinus headache is characterised by pain, fullness, or pressure in the face, nasal congestion or stuffiness, fatigue, and an achy feeling in your upper teeth. Bending over or lying down may exacerbate the pressure, pain, or headache.
Postural headache, or orthostatic or low-pressure, is a secondary headache that can be exacerbated by body movement. Only five out of 100,000 patients suffer from positional headaches each year.
Your positional headache symptoms may worsen when you engage in activities or move your body from one position to another. When you cough or sneeze, exercise, strain to have a bowel movement, or engage in sexual activity, you may feel more pain. When you move from sitting to standing, standing to sitting, or bend over, your pain can worsen.
Various underlying conditions can lead to positional headaches, such as anaemia, a spinal fluid leak, a colloid cyst, and a brain tumour. Schedule an appointment with your medical professional if you have a positional headache.
Cough headaches are rare when you suddenly cough, sneeze, laugh, cry, strain to have a bowel movement, or blow your nose. There are two types of cough headaches: initial cough headaches, caused by unknown factors, and subsequent cough headaches, caused by structural issues in the brain. While primary cough headaches usually go away independently, secondary cough headaches may require surgical treatment.
A primary cough headache may feel like a severe stabbing or splitting sharp pain on the sides or back of the head. The pain usually begins immediately after coughing, sneezing, straining, or other body movements and lasts only briefly. The initial symptoms usually accompany a dull aching pain that persists for a few hours. Pain can often be relieved by drinking water.
Symptoms of a secondary cough headache may be the same, but the pain occurs more frequently and lasts longer. Additionally, you may experience blurred vision, dizziness, or unsteadiness on your feet. It's essential to see your doctor if you are experiencing any secondary cough headache symptoms to rule out any internal structural issues with your brain.
If you are experiencing headaches, coughs, high fevers, nausea, vomiting, or shortness of breath, contact your doctor or 911. Coronavirus (COVID-19) or another medical condition may be causing your symptoms.
Treatment of headaches depends mainly on identifying the type of pain you are experiencing because different types require different therapies. The following at-home remedies and practices may help mitigate your pain and alleviate your suffering from an occasional or mild headache.
You can also make lifestyle improvements to reduce your chances of developing a headache.
You may be suffering from an acute medical condition that requires treatment if your pain worsens despite at-home treatments, if you have a headache following a head injury, or if you have a headache accompanied by any of the following:
Headaches are more common in certain people than in others. Certain conditions may increase your risk of developing certain types of headaches:
It is uncomfortable to suffer from headaches, but they are not life-threatening. Most will subside on their own with over-the-counter medications or home remedies. Headaches can indicate an underlying medical condition that needs treatment for some people. Consult your doctor if your headache is new or unusual, lasts longer than usual, or does not improve with pain medication.
Symptoms such as high fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, vision problems, muscle weakness, confusion, a change in your mental state, seizures, or no explanation may indicate an acute medical condition that needs immediate attention. If this happens, please seek medical attention as soon as possible.
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