Write an article based on this "Evaluate your symptoms to determine what kind of headache you have. Use hot or cold therapy to relax tense muscles. Take a steamy shower to treat a congestion headache. Use a humidifier to ease sinus dryness and irritation."
Different headaches are treated in different ways. Typically, you can determine the type of headache you have on your own based on your specific symptoms. If you have difficulty, though, you can also ask your doctor. They should be able to identify the type of headache you're having by a description of your symptoms. Common types of headaches include: Tension: The most common type of headache. Caused by muscle tightness in the back of the neck or scalp. Feels like a tight band around your head. Pain may also be concentrated in your forehead, temples, or the back of your head. Sinus: Caused by inflamed sinuses due to allergies, a cold, or the flu. You may feel pain over your forehead, around your nose and eyes, over your cheeks, or in your upper teeth. Pain may increase when you stoop forward. Migraine: Caused by many different triggers that vary from person to person. Pulsating pain of disabling intensity, often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. If untreated, typically lasts the whole day. Cluster: Relatively rare; unknown cause. Attacks result in up to 8 headaches a day for a 1 to 3 month period. Pain always on one side of the head and very severe. Typically accompanied by a red, watery eye on the headache side. May also be accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light or sound. Either a warm compress or ice can ease a tension headache by helping to relax the muscles in your head and face. If you're using cold therapy, wrap a bag of ice or frozen vegetables in a towel to protect your skin. Regardless of whether you're using a warm compress or ice, don't leave it on your head for more than 15 to 20 minutes. Heat improves circulation and increases blood flow, whereas cold restricts blood flow to reduce inflammation. Cold therapy is usually best for sinus headaches and other headaches caused by inflammation, but can also ease tension headaches. However, heat is typically better for tension headaches. If you're using a warm compress, the water should be no more than 120F (49C) for adults or 105F (41C) for children. You can also use a hot water bottle or gel pack. Inhaling steam loosens mucus to help reduce congestion. If you have a sinus headache, the steam from the shower can also help relieve inflammation in your sinuses. If you don't like hot showers, try boiling water and leaning over the pot to inhale the steam. This can also relieve congestion, although you may find your pain temporarily worsens when you bend over. If the air in your home is overly dry, it can cause sinus congestion, which can lead to sinus headaches. A humidifier helps keep the air moist so it's easier for you to breathe. If you use a humidifier, check the humidity of your home regularly to maintain the right humidity level. Generally, the air in your home should be between 30% and 55%. Make sure you change the water in your humidifier so it's fresh, using bottled water if possible. Clean your humidifier at least once a week. Otherwise, it can grow mold, which can cause significant health problems.