Headaches Making Your Life A Living Hell?

The headache is probably the most common of human ailments, although every now and then I am surprised by the acquaintance who says, “Oh, I never get a headache!” I think they are in deep denial! Just examining all the different types of headaches and their causes leads one to believe that everyone has suffered a headache at least once in their life!

One of the most mysterious and severe types of headache is the migraine headache which affects over 28 million people in the US alone. Headaches can also be caused by external stimulus like a blow to the head, loud noises, allergens, or intolerances to foods. Internal conditions range from brain tumors to viruses. In addition, headache pain is sometimes really “all in your head” when caused by tension or stress.

Treatments for headaches are as diverse as the types of headaches and span the gamut of homespun remedies to high tech medical surgical procedures. A cool cloth on the forehead may relieve a “morning after” headache or a simple tension headache, while sinus headache victims often find relief in covering their face with a warm damp cloth. Most common headaches can also be alleviated by over the counter (OTC) pain-relieving medications. Aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen are the most common OTC remedies for headache.

The medical community has classified headache in four types: muscular contraction, vascular, traction, and inflammatory. Headaches can also be classified as “primary” and “secondary”. Primary headaches are the ones most of us get and can pass off as “just a headache”. Secondary headaches are often a symptom or warning sign of a serious illness or medical condition and professional medical attention is indicated if headaches meet one or more of the following criteria:

• You have three or more headaches per week or more than 15 a month.

• You take an OTC pain reliever daily to alleviate headache.

• You need more than the recommended dosage of OTC pain relievers to get rid of your headaches.

• A stiff neck and/or fever accompanies your headache

• Your headache is accompanied by shortness of breath or other symptoms that affect your eyes, ears, nose, or throat

• Dizziness, numbness, tingling, slurred speech or muscle weaknesses accompany your headache.

• You become disoriented, confused, or drowsy due to headache

• Your headache begins and increases in severity following a head injury

• Your headache is triggered by exertion, coughing, sneezing, bending, or sexual activity

• A recent headache or headaches have a different “attitude” from those you had in the past.

• Vomiting and nausea persist with your headache

• You have your first or “the worst headache of your life”

• Your headaches began after your 40th birthday

• Severe headaches that start suddenly (often known as "thunderclap" headaches)

• Your headaches always occur on the same side of your head.

What causes migraine headaches?
It may be that there is no single cause for migraine headaches. While migraines are defined as vascular headaches...

Bowel straining and headaches
Sometimes headaches are “cause and effect” as in the case of bowel straining and headaches. This type of headache is called an exertional headache....

Exertion migraines
Although regular exercise can reduce the frequency or severity of migraine headaches, recent studies show that intense exercise without proper warm-up can cause exercise exertion migraines.

Headaches and exercise
Headaches and exercise can go hand-in-hand or fist to fist. Although doctors often recommend regular exercise as headache therapy....

Headaches and thirst
If you experience a headache combined with thirst, you probably should seek immediate medical attention. Usually when the two are combined, it’s a sign of chemical poisoning.

Optic migraines
Several types of migraine headache affect the eye, but there are no headaches medically diagnosed as optical migraines.

Pneumonic headaches
Pneumonic toxic headaches are a type of vascular headache.

Relief of a headache during pregnancy
Finding relief of headache during pregnancy can be a headache.

Swollen lymph nodes
Swollen lymph nodes with headache, while not always a medical emergency, could be compared to the double warning of flashing lights and a siren.

Symptoms of a sinus headache
Many patients who believe they have symptoms of a sinus headache seek medical treatment only to find their pain is caused by either migraine or tension headache.