Headache is not only the most common ailment experienced by people, but also the most endured and tolerated. With any other kind of pain, the sufferer generally takes a break from work, but in the case of the omnipresent headache, many people generally just bear it and go on. Medical research puts the number of people suffering from headaches in USA at over 60 million and almost one-half of these suffer specifically from the category known as migraine. One-fifth of children and teenagers are also afflicted by headaches.
Strange but true, diagnostic studies have identified about one hundred and fifty varieties of headache; this is indeed a mind-boggling figure for an ailment that is so common. However, the most prevalent forms of headache fall into four major categories.
Tension headaches are common amongst both adults and teenagers; these are also called non-progressive headaches. Tension headaches can either be episodic, that is occurring intermittently, or chronic, that is lasting almost continually. In most cases, tension headaches are caused by a tightening of the muscles at the back of the head and the neck. Tension headaches are not hereditary and may be triggered by a host of factors such as anxiety, inadequate rest and sleep, emotional stress or depression, physical over-exertion or fatigue, or hunger. Women are twice as prone to suffering from tension headaches as men.
Migraine headaches are often described as migraine attacks owing to the severity of the onslaught; the ailment is characterized by painful throbbing and recurrent pounding sensation. Migraines can last anywhere from four hours to three days and can recur up to four times a month. While medical studies are yet to pinpoint the exact cause of migraine, research indicates that migraines are most probably related to genetic factors as well as to changes in the brain owing to fatigue, sensitivity to light or weather changes. Migraine is often accompanied by cyclic gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting as well as dizziness.
Almost seventy percent of migraine sufferers are women; this is because the female hormone levels are at their lowest before menstruation; premenstrual migraines among women are hence very common and very severe. This type of headache is also called hormonal headache.
Another category is the cluster headache, so called because it occurs in bunches or clusters over a period of time. Cluster headaches are generally episodic and may occur one to three times a day and the cluster period may range from a fortnight to as long as three months. These headaches sometimes disappear for months, only to recur suddenly in all their severity. These headaches are normally nocturnal and their occurrence appears linked to the biological clock. This category normally affects youngsters less than thirty years of age and is more prevalent in men than in women. While specific causes of the ailment are yet to be identified, it is believed that cluster headaches are started owing to the activation of the trigeminal nerve at the base of the skull, which controls all sensations.
Another common form is the sinus headache and this condition is synonymous with colds and flu. The term sinuses refer to the air filled spaces located in various areas of the facial region, such as forehead, cheeks and the bridge of the nose. When these cavities become infected, the resultant blockage will cause accumulation of the mucus fluid and lead to painful headaches. Sinus headaches are characterized by nasal discharge and facial swelling and will normally subside when the cold and fever abate.
While it is true that headaches are painful, annoying and seriously impact normal physical and mental functioning, most people manage to live with the ailment, unless the headache attack is an exceptionally drastic one.
Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Headaches [http://headache-guides.com/]
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