Headaches

Just about all of us have had a headache. Headaches can be the result of many things. They can be symptoms of some very serious medical problems or infections, or they can be the result of stress (Read about "Stress") and sometimes just the lack of sleep or food.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS), there are different types of headache:

• Vascular headaches - A vascular headache involves the blood vessels. There are different types:
  • Migraine - The most common type of vascular headache is migraine. (Read about "Migraine Headaches") The American Council for Headache Education (ACHE) says a migraine usually lasts a day and recurs on a regular basis. The pain tends to be on one side of the head and the person is often nauseous and sensitive to light and noise. Many people report auras or lights before a migraine begins. Women are more likely than men to have migraine headaches.
  • Toxic - After migraine, the most common type of vascular headache is the toxic headache. This type of headache is associated with fever resulting from an infection, such as pneumonia or the flu. (Read about "Pneumonia" "Influenza") Headaches can also result from exposure to chemicals, alcohol or carbon monoxide. (Read about "Alcoholism" "Carbon Monoxide")
  • Cluster - Cluster headaches are called that because they come in groups. (Read about "Cluster Headaches") The National Headache Foundation (NHF) says they can be some of the most severe and painful of all headaches. They strike quickly, usually lasting 30 to 45 minutes before subsiding. The headache then returns later in the day once or more often.
  • Hypertension related - Headaches can also be the result of high blood pressure. (Read about "Hypertension: High Blood Pressure")
• Tension headaches - Muscle contraction or tension headaches appear to involve the tightening or tensing of facial and neck muscles. Tension headaches are also the kind most people are familiar with. (Read about "Tension Headaches") Tension headaches can be episodic, which means occurring randomly or only when you're tired or stressed. Or they can be chronic, meaning they occur regularly and should be checked by a doctor. Causes can be tied to physical problems, as well as mental and emotional issues such as anxiety and depression. (Read about "Anxiety" "Depressive Illnesses")
• Rebound headaches - A rebound headache is the result of over-medication for a previous headache. NHF says they are more common if the drug also includes caffeine. If you also ingest a lot of caffeine from coffee or soft drinks, it can set off a rebound headache. The rebound happens as the effects from the medication start to wear off. You then take more and the cycle continues. People who suffer rebound headaches should see their doctor for help in getting away from the drugs and back to a healthy lifestyle. (Read about "Medicine Safety")
• Traction headaches - Traction headaches can occur if the pain-sensitive parts of the head are pulled, stretched, or displaced, as, for example, when eye muscles are tensed to compensate for eyestrain. They can also be a symptom of much more serious conditions. Traction headaches can be a symptom of a brain tumor for example, but not all brain tumors cause headaches. In fact, the American Cancer Society says that only 50 percent of brain tumors cause headaches. (Read about "Brain Tumors")
• Inflammatory headaches - Inflammatory headaches are symptoms of other disorders.
  • Sinus headaches - A sinus headache is a common example of an inflammatory headache. Sinus headaches are the result of problems in the sinus cavities. They can often be the result of infections or allergies. (Read about "Allergies") Sinus headaches can be serious and a physician should be consulted if you suspect you have sinus problems. (Read about "Sinusitis and Rhinitis")
  • Other causes - Like other types of pain, headaches can serve as warning signals of more serious disorders. This is particularly true for headaches caused by inflammation, such as head pain related to meningitis. (Read about "Encephalitis and Meningitis") A sudden sharp headache can also be a warning sign of a stroke, aneurysm or a vascular lesion. (Read about "Stroke" "Aneurysms" "Vascular Lesions of the Central Nervous System") Headaches can result from other serious problems too, such as diseases of the sinuses, spine, neck, ears and teeth. (Read about "The Spine" "The Ear and Hearing" "Oral Health" "Head and Neck Cancers")

Other than cluster headaches, NINDS says headaches tend to strike women more often than men. In women, headaches may also be tied in with the menstrual cycle. (Read about "Premenstrual Syndrome" "Menstrual Disorders")

Not all headaches require medical attention. But some types of headache are signals of more serious disorders and call for prompt medical care. NINDS says these include:

• sudden, severe headache
• sudden headache associated with a stiff neck
• headaches associated with fever, convulsions, or accompanied by confusion or loss of consciousness
• headaches following a blow to the head (Read about "Head Injury")
• headaches associated with pain in the eye or ear
• persistent headache in a person who was previously headache free
• recurring headache in children

NINDS says that headache patients don't have to suffer, that about 90 percent can get relief. But first, you have to know what type of headache you're dealing with. A doctor will often ask many questions, such as where you feel pain, what the pain feels like and how often it occurs. Your sleep habits and family and work situations may also be probed, along with past medical history of things like head trauma or surgery, eyestrain, sinus problems, dental problems and the use of medications.

In addition, NINDS says a blood test may be ordered to screen for thyroid disease (Read about "Laboratory Testing"), anemia or infections that might cause a headache. (Read about "Complete Blood Count" "Microorganisms" "Thyroid" "Anemia") A test called an electroencephalogram (EEG) may also be given to measure brain activity. (Read about "EEG - Electroencephalograph") Other diagnostic tools include an angiogram, a computed tomographic scan and/or a magnetic resonance imaging scan. (Read about "CT Scan - Computerized Tomography" "MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging") These scans can help to rule out potential causes of the headaches. A physician analyzes the results of all these diagnostic tests along with a patient's medical history and examination in order to arrive at a diagnosis.

If there is an underlying problem, such as high blood pressure, that problem will have to be treated. Some headaches respond to changes in diet or lifestyle. Medications can also be used. For some headaches, over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen can be effective, but they can also have gastrointestinal side effects, such as stomach upset, heartburn and gastritis. (Read about "Digestive System" "Heartburn" "Gastritis") Because of this, they should be used only occasionally for headache. If you are having headaches frequently, again, you should see your doctor.

Related Information:

    Head Injury

    Neck Pain and Work

    Migraine Headaches

    Tension Headaches

    Cluster Headaches

    Sinusitis and Rhinitis