Controlling Headaches
Headache (cephalgia) is not a disease by itself but is a symptom of some other problem. It is estimated that every year close to 80% of the population suffers at least one headache and 10-20% see a doctor with a headache as their primary complaint. Headaches are the most common neurological symptom and one of the most common medical complaints.
Headaches are often caused by a number of factors, and often people have more than one type of headache. No matter what the cause, psychological stresses usually worsen headaches.
Causes
Headaches can be a result of alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine abuse, and can be a side effect of several classes of prescribed medications including tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, antiarrhythmics, insulin, several anti-inflammatories, and bromides. They can be symptoms of disease such as sinusitis, colds, hay fever, and other allergies, and early symptoms of many infectious diseases ranging from polio, meningitis, and measles to the flu. They can be caused by brain tumors, high blood pressure, head and neck injuries, anemia, menstruation and menopause, temporomandibular dysfunction (tmj), bruxism (teeth grinding), and also cold, hunger, lack of sleep, and overexertion.
Classification
Numerous types of headaches have been identified. These include: vascular headaches (migraine type) which include classic or common migraine, cluster headaches, and lower-half headaches. Also, nonmigranious vascular headache, muscle contraction (tension) headache, combined vascular-muscle contraction headache, nasal vasomotor reaction headache, psychogenic headaches, psychotic (delusional) headaches, traction headaches, headaches secondary to cranial inflammation, and headaches secondary to disease of other cranial or neck structures including dental, ocular, aural, nasal, and sinuses.
Two types of headaches account for the majority of headaches for which persons seek treatment. These are migraine and tension (muscle contraction) headaches.
Tension headaches
Tension (muscle contraction) headaches may occur to some degree in about 80% of the population during periods of emotional stress. It is estimated that 7 out of 10 headaches can be classified as tension headaches.
In these headaches it is thought that stress is associated with prolonged contraction of the head and neck muscles, which over an extended time may cause constriction (tightening) of the blood vessels and result in restricted blood flow.
These headaches are usually characterized by a dull, aching pain that may spread over the head and sometimes feels like a tightening band. The head may be tender to the touch, the headache is usually on both sides of the head and is not usually associated with nausea and vomiting. Anxiety and depression are frequently associated wit tension headaches. They may be brought on by psychological pressures, posture, or a job that demands a fixed head position, or by an injury such as whiplash.
Migraines
Migraine headaches may first occur at any age but are usually first seen between the ages of 10 and 30. They are most often seen in women than men. There is a family history of migraines in more than 50% of cases.
The typical or classic migraine headache is preceded by some sort of prodromal (preceding) symptoms such as changes in the field of vision, flickering before the eyes, flashes of light, or blacking out of part of the vision, depression, irritability, or restlessness. These symptoms may disappear shortly before the headache or merge into the headache symptoms. Migraines are almost always one-sided, and are frequently accompanied by nausea and vomiting and sensitivity to light. Symptoms may vary in less typical cases.
While the cause is unknown, it is generally believed that migraines are due to disturbances in the functioning of the vasomotor centers of the cerebral cortex. Apparently the blood vessels in a branch of the internal carotid artery constrict (get smaller) which leads to ischemia (poor blood flow) which is thought to cause the classic beginning signs. The external carotid arteries later dilate (get larger) causing edema (swelling) and tenderness around the artery and the typical throbbing headache.
Treatment
It is important to seek treatment for headaches when the headache does not disappear after the condition which you thought caused it has been corrected, or when the headache is accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, nausea, vomiting, or visual difficulties, or when the headaches occur often, are severe, or seem to be increasing in intensity, duration, or frequency.
Treatment for headaches depends on its correct diagnosis. Depending on the type of headache, relief may be obtained by over-the-counter pain relievers or by a variety of prescription medications. For chronic headaches a combination of medical and behavioral approaches is usually most effective.
Particularly for migraine and tension headaches biofeedback has proven to be very useful. In biofeedback the person is taught various relaxation and control techniques which help them to prevent or control the headache. Changes in diet can be particularly useful in treatment of migraine headaches. In some cases ice, heat, and massage can be very useful. Psychotherapy is frequently recommended to assist the individual in identifying the sources of the headaches and in controlling them.
Headaches are often caused by a number of factors, and often people have more than one type of headache. No matter what the cause, psychological stresses usually worsen headaches.
Causes
Headaches can be a result of alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine abuse, and can be a side effect of several classes of prescribed medications including tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, antiarrhythmics, insulin, several anti-inflammatories, and bromides. They can be symptoms of disease such as sinusitis, colds, hay fever, and other allergies, and early symptoms of many infectious diseases ranging from polio, meningitis, and measles to the flu. They can be caused by brain tumors, high blood pressure, head and neck injuries, anemia, menstruation and menopause, temporomandibular dysfunction (tmj), bruxism (teeth grinding), and also cold, hunger, lack of sleep, and overexertion.
Classification
Numerous types of headaches have been identified. These include: vascular headaches (migraine type) which include classic or common migraine, cluster headaches, and lower-half headaches. Also, nonmigranious vascular headache, muscle contraction (tension) headache, combined vascular-muscle contraction headache, nasal vasomotor reaction headache, psychogenic headaches, psychotic (delusional) headaches, traction headaches, headaches secondary to cranial inflammation, and headaches secondary to disease of other cranial or neck structures including dental, ocular, aural, nasal, and sinuses.
Two types of headaches account for the majority of headaches for which persons seek treatment. These are migraine and tension (muscle contraction) headaches.
Tension headaches
Tension (muscle contraction) headaches may occur to some degree in about 80% of the population during periods of emotional stress. It is estimated that 7 out of 10 headaches can be classified as tension headaches.
In these headaches it is thought that stress is associated with prolonged contraction of the head and neck muscles, which over an extended time may cause constriction (tightening) of the blood vessels and result in restricted blood flow.
These headaches are usually characterized by a dull, aching pain that may spread over the head and sometimes feels like a tightening band. The head may be tender to the touch, the headache is usually on both sides of the head and is not usually associated with nausea and vomiting. Anxiety and depression are frequently associated wit tension headaches. They may be brought on by psychological pressures, posture, or a job that demands a fixed head position, or by an injury such as whiplash.
Migraines
Migraine headaches may first occur at any age but are usually first seen between the ages of 10 and 30. They are most often seen in women than men. There is a family history of migraines in more than 50% of cases.
The typical or classic migraine headache is preceded by some sort of prodromal (preceding) symptoms such as changes in the field of vision, flickering before the eyes, flashes of light, or blacking out of part of the vision, depression, irritability, or restlessness. These symptoms may disappear shortly before the headache or merge into the headache symptoms. Migraines are almost always one-sided, and are frequently accompanied by nausea and vomiting and sensitivity to light. Symptoms may vary in less typical cases.
While the cause is unknown, it is generally believed that migraines are due to disturbances in the functioning of the vasomotor centers of the cerebral cortex. Apparently the blood vessels in a branch of the internal carotid artery constrict (get smaller) which leads to ischemia (poor blood flow) which is thought to cause the classic beginning signs. The external carotid arteries later dilate (get larger) causing edema (swelling) and tenderness around the artery and the typical throbbing headache.
Treatment
It is important to seek treatment for headaches when the headache does not disappear after the condition which you thought caused it has been corrected, or when the headache is accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, nausea, vomiting, or visual difficulties, or when the headaches occur often, are severe, or seem to be increasing in intensity, duration, or frequency.
Treatment for headaches depends on its correct diagnosis. Depending on the type of headache, relief may be obtained by over-the-counter pain relievers or by a variety of prescription medications. For chronic headaches a combination of medical and behavioral approaches is usually most effective.
Particularly for migraine and tension headaches biofeedback has proven to be very useful. In biofeedback the person is taught various relaxation and control techniques which help them to prevent or control the headache. Changes in diet can be particularly useful in treatment of migraine headaches. In some cases ice, heat, and massage can be very useful. Psychotherapy is frequently recommended to assist the individual in identifying the sources of the headaches and in controlling them.