Facts About Headache

A headache is defined as "a pain or ache in the head...It accompanies many diseases and conditions, including emotional distress." Headaches are one of the most common symptoms that can be experienced. Most people will experience a headache at some point of their lives. They can affect anyone regardless of age and gender. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that around 47% of the world's adult population will have experienced a headache within the last year. As well as being symptoms of other conditions, headache disorders can lead to the development of other illnesses. Depression is three times more common in individuals with severe headaches than healthy people.

 Primary headaches Direct physical stimuli, such as temperature and external pressure Pain over the scalp Physical exertion Other miscellaneous headaches.  Secondary headaches Blood clots Brain freeze (ice cream headaches) Carbon monoxide poisoning Dehydration Glaucoma Overuse of pain medication (rebound headaches) Panic attacks Stroke

Headaches that occur suddenly (acute-onset) are usually due to an illness, infection, cold, or fever. Other conditions that can cause an acute headache include sinusitis (inflammation of the sinuses),pharyngitis (inflammation or infection of the throat), or otitis (ear infection or inflammation). Common causes of tension headaches or chronic nonprogressive headaches include emotional stress related to family and friends, work, or school; alcohol use; skipping meals; changes in sleep patterns; excessive medication use; tension and depression. Other causes of tension headaches include eyestrain and neck or back strain due to poor posture. Headaches can also be triggered by specific environmental factors that are shared in a family's household, such as exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke, strong odors from household chemicals or perfumes, exposure to certain allergens, or eating certain foods. Stress, pollution, noise, lighting, and weather changes are other environmental factors that can trigger headaches for some people.

Here are some key points about headaches. Headaches can be stand alone illnesses or the symptom of another condition. Depending on the specific type of headache, they can last for any time between a few hours and several weeks. Primary headaches are caused by problems with or overactivity from pain-sensitive structures in the head. The most common form of primary headache is the tension-type headache. A wide variety of conditions can cause secondary headaches, ranging from hangovers to brain tumors. The most common form of secondary headache is the rebound headache (medication-overuse headache).

Here are the characterizing symptoms of some of the more prominent forms of headache: 1. Tension-type headaches Tension-type headaches are the most common form of primary headache. They are described as feeling like a tight band around the head, with a constant, dull ache being felt on both sides. Sometimes the pain spreads to or from the neck. They normally begin slowly and gradually in the middle of the day. Tension-type headaches can be either episodic or chronic. Episodic attacks are normally a few hours in duration, but can last for several days.

2. Migraines Migraine is the second most common form of primary headache and has been ranked as the seventh-highest specific cause of disability worldwide.5 They can last for any amount of time between a few hours and 2-3 days. A migraine headache may cause a pulsating, throbbing pain that can occur on either one side or both sides of the head. The aching can also be accompanied by blurred vision, lightheadedness, nausea and sensory disturbances.

3. Rebound headaches Rebound, or medication-overuse headaches are the most common secondary headache, caused by the excessive use of medication to treat headache symptoms. They usually begin early in the day and persist throughout, improving with pain medicine but worsening when its effects wear off. Rebound headaches can cause a number of symptoms, and the pain can be different each day. Along with the aching, rebound headaches can cause neck pain, restlessness, nose stuffiness and unrestful sleep.

4. Cluster headaches Cluster headaches are a relatively uncommon form of primary headache that affect less than one in every 1,000 adults. They strike quickly, once or more daily at the same time each day and often without warning. They usually last between minutes and persist for the duration of a cluster period, normally 4-8 weeks. The pain caused by cluster headaches is severe, often described as sharp or burning, and is normally located in or around one eye. The affected area can become red and swell, the eyelid can droop and the nasal passage on the affected side can become stuffy and runny.

Yes, headaches, especially migraines, have a tendency to run in families. Most children and adolescents (90%) who have migraines have other family members with migraines. When both parents have a history of migraines, there is a 70% chance that the child will also develop migraines. If only one parent has a history of migraines, the risk drops to 25%-50%.

 Self-care There are a number of things that can be done within the daily routine that can ease the pain of headaches: Apply a heat pack or ice pack to your head or neck Avoid things that are stressful Eat regular meals Exercise regularly Get enough rest and regular sleep Have a hot shower.  Alternative therapies Acupuncture Chiropractic treatment Cognitive behavior therapy Herbal health products Hypnosis Meditation.