Why you should take that headache seriously

Headaches aren't always taken seriously. Both kids and adults get them for general reasons and they're usually easy to treat with common over-the-counter painkillers.

Simple as it may sound, headaches can be a sign of a serious issue that needs to be addressed. Your body might be trying to tell you that something isn't right and you shouldn't ignore especially if you notice that they are becoming more frequent and severe.

In case you have been suffering through those head-pounding moments more than usual, don't brush them off. These are some reasons why you need to act fast and what they could be indicating:

Dehydration doesn't really sound that scary. But did you know that severe dehydration can lead to seizures, kidney problems or comas?

This can happen if you don't adequately recover the water that's been lost through normal body functions like sweating. And, it can be triggered by certain medications and treatments such as chemotherapy. The headaches are part of the symptoms of dehydration and that should tell you that you need to be drinking more water than you do currently.

If you don't usually drink enough, you can set reminders to keep you on track, so that you don't end up developing compilations from dehydration.

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Mental health problems can start to manifest physically. And by the time they reach that stage, it indicates that you've not dealt with the root issue that is continuing to overwhelm them day by day.

Some of these headaches can occur daily, and maybe even worsen when you're in stressful situations. You definitely shouldn't ignore this because it's not going to get better.

At this point, it would be a good idea to reach out to a counsellor or therapist who can help you heal the right way.

Headaches don't always occur when you have an underlying eye problem. But they can be used as a sign that you need to go for a checkup.

A common cause that can trigger a headache is light sensitivity, and you will notice that the headaches come after spending hours on your phone or even laptop, for those who interact with them often for work. This light sensitivity can be caused by many underlying issues and that is why you should investigate.

There are also other eye conditions like glaucoma, astigmatism and cataracts that can cause headaches. If these are left untreated, they can cause more severe headaches and migraines.

Headaches are also a warning sign of something serious. They can happen when you're about to have a stroke or seizure.

You should be more observant if you're susceptible to these problems. This includes people who are older than 50, patients with lowered immunity like HIV patients, and those who are on harsh medications like blood thinners.

A serious head injury can occur after a fall or an accident. Some symptoms that you need to be worried about are nausea, dizziness and in this case, severe or persistent headaches.

If you experienced an injury to the head recently, don't assume that you're okay. Although some of these symptoms go away on their own after a while, it would be better to get checked to be 100 per cent sure.