Headache Pain
Relief Treatment
By: Mark Bevan
What are headaches?
Headaches rank amongst the most common and frequent ailments. A
headache is not a disease, but may be indicative of other
underlying problems. Although common and generally not serious,
headaches are common in about 50-75% of all teens. However,
recurrent headaches can upset and worry an individual to a
great extent. The most common types of headaches that people in
their teens and early twenties have are tension headaches and
migraines. In some cases these problems may require a visit to
a medical provider.
Treatment of an uncomplicated headache is usually symptomatic
with over-the-counter painkillers although, headaches like
migraines may require specific treatment. The occurrence of
migraine headache could also be the result of particular
allergic triggers like stress or some unambiguous foods which
should then be avoided.
There are three types of primary headaches: tension-type
(muscular contraction headache), migraine (vascular headaches),
and cluster. Cluster headaches are sharp, extremely painful
headaches that tend to occur several times per day for months
and then go away for a similar period of time.
Some other rare types of headaches include:
• Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (headache with visual
symptoms due to raised intracranial pressure)
• Ictal headache
• Brain freeze (also known as: ice cream headache)
• Thunderclap headache
• Vascular headache
• Toxic headache
• Coital cephalalgia (also known as: sex headache)
• Hemicrania continua
• Rebound headache (also called medication overuse headache,
abbreviated MOH)
• Red wine headache
• Spinal headache (or: post-dural puncture headaches) after
lumbar puncture or related procedure that will lower the
intracranial pressure
• Hangover (caused by heavy alcohol consumption)
What are the causes of headaches?
The vast majority of headaches are non-malignant and
self-limiting. Some common causes of headaches are said to be
tension, migraine, eye strain, dehydration, low blood sugar,
hyper mastication and sinusitis. In addition, we have some very
rare headaches that are a result of some life-threatening
conditions like meningitis, encephalitis, cerebral aneurysms,
exceptionally high blood pressure, and brain tumors. If head
injury is the cause of a headache then the reason is usually
quite evident. In women, a large percentage of headaches are
caused by their ever-fluctuating estrogen levels during the
menstrual years. This can occur prior to or mid-cycle.
If anyone over the age of 50 experiences a headache for the
first time, a condition called temporal arthritis may be the
cause. Headache symptoms include impaired vision and pain
aggravated by chewing. Because, there is a risk of becoming
blind, it needs to be promptly treated by a doctor.
Brain aneurysm, brain tumor, stroke or TIA, and brain infection
like meningitis or encephalitis are some rare causes of
headaches and can be serious.
What are tension headaches?
Often related to stress, depression, or anxiety, tension
headaches are due to contraction of the muscles in the
shoulders, neck, scalp, and jaw. Overwork, insomnia, missed
meals, and use of alcohol and drugs can make one more
vulnerable to headaches. Some foods can also trigger a headache
including, chocolate, cheese, and monosodium glutamate (MSG),
and flavor enhancers. A deviation from the usual fix of
caffeine can also result in headaches.
Tension headaches can also result from performing an activity
with the head held up in one position for a long time. This can
generally happen from using a computer, microscope, or a
typewriter, sleeping in a cold room or in an abnormal position,
overexerting oneself, and clenching or grinding the teeth.
Tension headaches tend to occur on both sides of the head,
often starting at the back of the head and spreading forward.
The pain may range from a dull or squeezing ache to a feeling
of a tight band or a vice around the head. The muscle tension
generally begins in the shoulders, neck, or the jaw before it
gradually extends to the head. Therefore, these areas also feel
tight and sore.
Where does the pain during a headache occur?
Pain, during a headache, occurs in the tissues covering the
brain, as well as in the muscles, network of nerves and blood
vessels around the scalp, face, and neck. The brain itself is
insensate to pain because it lacks nociceptors. Headaches often
result from traction to or irritation of the meninges and blood
vessels. Dura mater, the membrane surrounding the brain and the
spinal cord, is innervated with nociceptors. Any kind of
stimulation of these dural nociceptors is thought to produce
headaches. Types of headaches are classified separately of
which the three most common headaches are:
• Tension or muscle contraction headache
• Migraine headache
• Cluster headache
Apart from these types, it is not uncommon for some people to
experience a combination of the above mentioned headache
types.
What are migraine headaches?
A severe, recurrent headache that is generally accompanied by
visual disturbance or nausea is a common symptom of a migraine
headache. This type of headache tends to begin on one side of
the head, although the pain may later spread to both sides.
Migraine headache generally starts with an "aura" (warning
symptoms before the actual onset of the headache) that is
usually accompanied with a feeling of throbbing, pounding, or
pulsating pain.
Author Resource:-> Webmaster associated with
headache
related site headclinic.co.uk. This site provides various
information on headache
treatment, stress relief treatment and migraine
treatment. Resources are available on site
headclinic.co.uk
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