Dizziness and headaches are not the same, this is the difference
Headaches that often occur are headaches and dizziness. These two conditions are different, but there are still many people who confuse the two. Mistakes about the difference between headaches and headaches can certainly cause confusion in the direction of the diagnosis for doctors. So that this does not happen, learn what are the differences between dizziness and headaches.
The difference between headaches and headaches
1. The sensation that appears
Dizziness and headaches both attack the head area. However, the sensations that arise in the two conditions are different. A person who feels dizzy will feel a sensation as if he is going to faint or faint (balance disturbance), a heavy head, blurred vision, and weakness. In fact, this condition can get worse if the symptoms cause a person to feel the environment around him moving or spinning around (vertigo).
While someone is experiencing headaches, there is a pulsation around the head, either partially (right or left side) or at another location of the head. The pain includes a painful feeling like being hit or the head feeling tightly tied.
2. Based on the cause
There are two types of headaches, namely primary headaches and secondary headaches. The main headache is usually caused by overactivity or problems in the structure of the head that is sensitive to pain and also changes in chemical activity in the brain. Meanwhile, secondary headaches occur due to other diseases that stimulate the headache to appear.
Primary headaches have several types, namely:
- Tension headaches (head pain as if you have a tight rope tied around your head)
- Migraine (headaches)
- Cluster headaches (severe headaches that are usually located around one eye area)
Then for secondary headaches, some of the underlying diseases and conditions, namely:
- Glaucoma (nerve damage to the eye)
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Blood clotting
- Brain tumor
- Intoxication or alcohol poisoning
- Dehydration
- Stroke
- Panic attack
- Bleeding around the brain
- Influenza (flu)
- Excessive use of headache medications (rebound headaches)
- Malnutrition
Just like secondary headaches, dizziness is also caused by another underlying condition. However, dizziness is not as different in types as headaches. Dizziness can be felt in all parts of the head, not only in some parts such as headaches.
Some diseases or conditions that cause dizziness include:
- Inner ear problems (vertigo)
- Vestibular neuritis (infection of the vestibular nerve)
- Meniere’s disease
- Poor air circulation
- Low blood pressure
- Neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s
- Anemia
- Hyperthermia
- Low blood sugar levels
- Anxiety disorders
Reporting from Medical News Today, headaches and dizziness can occur simultaneously. This condition usually occurs in migraines, brain injury, and low blood sugar levels.
3. Treatment is carried out
Diseases that cause headaches and dizziness are different. So, it is important for patients to understand the difference between headaches and dizziness, so that the treatment given is appropriate and the condition will improve later.
If you feel one of these conditions, then don’t make the mistake of giving your complaint to the doctor. Because, if the pain you feel is between the two conditions is wrong, the diagnosis and administration of the drugs used may not be appropriate.
A mild primary headache can be cured without medication. However, there are also those that need to be cured by using drugs to prevent headache pain, such as beta blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin receptor agonists. In addition, some alternative medicine such as acupuncture, meditation, cognitive behavioral therapy can also help treat headaches.
Secondary headaches usually require further medical tests to determine the underlying cause of the headache. For that, you need a recommendation and consultation from a doctor first. Likewise with dizziness, you may have to take medication in accordance with the conditions for the underlying disease.
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