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The Different Types Of Headaches

January 6th, 2010 Rose Williams No comments

There are a large number of well-known kind of headache, which include, but are not limited to: sinus headaches, migraine headaches, tension headaches, chronic headaches, blood pressure headaches, chronic cluster headaches and tension headaches.

A migraine headache is a severe headache. This kind of headache has been found to have a profound impact on the daily lives of its sufferers. The pain can be a pulsating sensation or sometimes a throbbing sort of head pain. This throbbing pain can be moderate to severe. The symptoms of migraine headaches include nausea, extreme sensitivity to light and sound. With the migraine type of headache there is often an early warning feeling called an aura.

This aura can come in the form of changes in visual perception. You may see bright flashes, zig-zags and sometimes you may even lose part of your vision. You may even experience numbness or tingling in your arms. These warning symptoms will fade a while before the migraine attack begins. A migraine headache can last for about 3 days without any medication, before it subsides.

The kinds of tension headache cause a dull but constant pain around the forehead or the sides or back of the head. Some people liken a tension headache to a tight band around the head. This is considered to be one of the most common types of headache. In a tension headache you will not find such symptoms as light sensitivity, nausea or vomiting.

Tension headaches are known as episodic or chronic types. Usually, most sufferers of this type of tension headache, get chronic headaches. It is thought that about 40% of the population suffers from tension headaches at some time or another in their lives. Another of these sorts of headache is the Chronic daily headache.

Most chronic daily headaches are tension headaches or headaches which are the result of taking too many pain killers. With these kinds of headache, the pain is of a constant, dull nature - there may also be a feeling of tightness like a rubber band around the head. A chronic daily headache is diagnosed by its duration: the pain must last for at least 15 consecutive days per month during a three month period of time.

Another kind of headache is the Cluster headaches. This is a rare but very painful type of headache. The name of the headache arises from the fact that the headache pain happens in clusters. Frequently, periods of Cluster headaches may last weeks or months. This time period is followed by long periods of no headaches.

Cluster headaches are to be found on one side of the head. Usually the sharp, penetrating pain begins behind an eye. Cluster headaches cause red, teary eyes, a stuffy nose and sometimes symptoms like nausea and sensitivity to light may occur.

These are just a few of the many sorts of headaches that can be experienced. The pain from the headache can be mild or it can be very severe. To obtain relief from these headaches you must talk to your doctor about treatment or you can buy some over the counter headache pain medication.

If you have a problem with migraine or headaches, you ought to definitely go along to our website on Stopping Headaches.

The Treatment of Headaches

December 20th, 2009 Rose Williams No comments

When we are suffering from a headache we generally think of ways to stop the pain. However, as there are different types of headaches, sometimes the treatments may work for only a few headache types. There are two different ways of curing the pain caused by headaches. These types of headache treatment are called prophylactical and abortive headache treatment.

The prophylactic type of headache treatment must be ingested everyday in order to reduce the frequency of and to control the pain of the headache. The abortive type of headache treatment is started only when the headache starts.

You must understand that your doctor will not prescribe any prophylactic headache treatment unless you are suffering from several, frequent headache attacks a month. When you take the prophylactic medication you will be monitored for side effects like weight gain, water retention, lethargy, memory impairment and hallucinations.

The treatment of headaches with prophylactic medication begins with a low dosage. The dosage amount is then increased as time passes. You will be tested every month or so to see if the treatment is taking effect. Your doctor will also make sure that, during this phase of your headache treatment, you are not taking any other types of medicine or vitamins.

It is vital to tell the doctor whether the sufferer is or becomes pregnant. If you do become pregnant, then your doctor must be informed, so that tests can be done to uncover any possible side effects on the unborn baby.

The major prescription drugs that are used for headache treatment are beta blockers like Tenormin and Lopressor. Calcium channel blockers such as Cardizem, Dilacor, and Procardia are also used. Doctors may also prescribe anti-depressants like Elavil and Zoloft. You may also be prescribed Serotonin Antagonists like Sansert.

Sometimes anti-convulsants such as Tegretol, Depakote, and Dilantin are given for headache treatment. Cafergot and Sansert, which are ergot derivatives, may also be prescribed by your doctor. The abortive headache treatment that you can take for your headache pain is generally the over the counter type. These include Paracetamol, Aspirin, Tylenol, Panadol, Motrin, and Advil to name but a few. Tylenol and Panadol are known as Acetaminophen drugs. Motrin and Advil belong to the group of drugs that are known as Ibuprofen.

Further to these headache medicines there are also non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs. The side effects of NSAIDs like Naprosyn and Meclomen include nausea, gastrointestinal pain, dizziness, diarrhea, light-headedness and constipation. These headache treatments can also cause some people to get side-effects in the form of a different type of headache.

Since taking these drugs can result in side effects, you should consult your doctor in order to discover whether they are all right for you or not. People who would rather take an ‘alternative’ headache treatment should ask their doctor whether he thinks the alternative medicine, such as aromatherapy or supplements, will work.

If you have a problem with migraine or headaches, you ought to visit our website at Stopping Headaches.