Headache... a word that many of us encounter in our daily lives and perhaps at one time or another have experienced. Headache is a common and frequently recurrent disorder that can seriously disrupt a person's life. Headache pain may be generalized (all over) or localized (in one area) and may rage from mild to severe. Postural changes, prolonged coughing, sneezing, or exposure to sunlight may contribute to headaches. Sometimes a headache may be a symptom of a serious underlying problem (such as stroke or brain tumor) and may call for prompt medical care. Although painful and annoying, the vast majority of headaches do not indicate a serious disorder. Tension headaches and migraine headaches account for 90% of all headaches.
Tension Headache is a common headache pattern that may or may not be associated with psychosocial stressors. Tension headaches are characterized by:
Vascular Headaches are broken down into two well-known headaches known as migraines and clusters.
Migraine headaches, often preceded by fatigue, depression, and visual disturbance (light flash, loss of peripheral vision, etc.) are characterized by:
- pain that is characterized on one side at a time (may involve the entire head)
- pain that is throbbing in nature and usually develops in the morning and gradually worsen after an hour
- attacks that may occur every few days or weeks, or not for months. Migraines often continue for hours, but rarely last longer than a day or two
- pain that may be aggravated by stress, alcohol, or certain foods such as chocolate and are frequently accompanied by nausea and vomiting and relieved by sleep
- family history of migraine headaches
Cluster headaches (histamine headaches), are headaches which are a variation of the migraine are characterized by:
- occurring when one is about to fall asleep
- pain that is often situated behind an eye, one-sided
- patients report that the pain occurs in the spring and autumn
- pain that peaks within 5-10 minutes and disappears in less than an hour, occurring daily in a series of intervals that last weeks to months
- pain triggered by alcohol
- accompanied with a flushed face and a nasal congestion
If headaches occur frequently or are accompanied by other symptoms, then it may be necessary to consult with your doctor.
Mayo Clinic: Tension Headaches
National Headache Foundation
