Headaches are common among various types of people, but for students, the stress of everything we have to do or are involved in weigh heavily on our state of being. Not all headaches are caused by stress. There are two major categories of headaches: primary and secondary. Secondary headaches are those caused by certain factors such as stress, dehydration, caffeine withdrawal, skipping meals, lack of sleep, and sinus infections. These types of headaches can be treated with most over-the-counter medications like Ibuprofen. There is typically an action that will combat these headaches like drinking more water for dehydration, getting to bed on time, or always having breakfast, but for primary headaches, this is not always the case. 

  Primary headaches are not necessarily caused by a certain symptom. Tension, migraines, and cluster headaches are the types of primary headaches. Tension headaches feel like your head and neck are being squeezed. Cluster headaches can feel like a burning sensation around one of the eyes. Migraines, the most severe of them all, can be very detrimental for school performance. Migraines are intense and can last for hours and even days. With the long hours spent at school, you could experience one throughout the majority of the day. Those who suffer from migraines experience symptoms that range from hallucinations, nausea, and vomiting. Junior Joanna Slater has had to leave school due to her chronic migraines before: “My migraine was so bad I couldn’t think, and the school lights and noise make it so much worse. I normally push through because I have things after school I absolutely need to be at, but I definitely operate at half speed during those times.” The Migraine Research Foundation reported that about ten percent of students have migraines. This constant pain felt in the body is not a comfortable state that students would want to learn in. Feeling this discomfort can cause lots of absences, resulting in information not neglected to be learned, and when classes are missed, especially in high school, work can be difficult and tedious to make up. It can be a problem because when headaches are severe, the focus is not on learning, but trying to find relief. 

  Looking at factors for threatening headaches while at school can help determine the steps needed to fix the pain. Making sure to drink lots of water, have a snack, do not not skip breakfast, and eat lunch could rule out some of the simpler headaches. If headaches become constant and too debilitating, seek out a doctor to help get to the bottom of the problem. Taking care of health, especially in these developing teenage years is critical and sets a precedent for the future. Our health affects other aspects of our life, including school. Putting health first, treating headaches directly, and increasing awareness can improve mood and mental awareness to make learning a more enjoyable atmosphere without having the pain weigh down on you.