How to Know The Cause Of Chronic Headache

Headache is a very common medical complaint. Like many other chronic disorders, chronic headaches can also significantly affect quality of life of the sufferer. Chronic migraine headache is a cause for millions of lost workdays and school days each year in the United States.

One of our worst fears about chronic headaches is having a brain tumor, but, the vast majority are not due to life threatening disorders.

In this article I will be discussing the commonest causes of chronic headaches. The treatment part will be detailed under a separate heading. Approximately 90 percent of headaches are caused by one of three syndromes:

Migraine headache
Tension-type headaches
Cluster headaches

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Knowledge
• Observation

1. MIGRAINE HEADACHES:
   
   The pain begins gradually, intensifies over minutes to hours, and resolves gradually. The headache is dull, deep, and steady; becomes throbbing or pulsatile when severe. Migraine headaches are worsened by rapid head motion, light, sneezing, straining, constant motion or physical exertion; you may get relief by lying down in a darkened, quiet room. In 60 to 70 percent the pain occurs on only one side of the head.
   
   Migraine headaches are often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, nasal stuffiness and runny nose, tearing, or changes in body temperature.
   
   Some people may experience visual or neurological symptoms prior to the onset of headache; this is called an aura. The aura may include flashing lights, zigzag lines etc.

2. TENSION TYPE HEADACHE:
   
   This type is usually due to stress. Symptoms of tension type headaches include pressure or tightness around both sides of the head or neck, mild to moderate pain that is steady and does not throb. There may be tenderness in the muscles of the head, neck or shoulders.
   
   People note a feeling of mental stress before their headache. Tension headaches occur without other symptoms.

3. CLUSTER HEADACHE:
   
   Cluster headaches are severe, debilitating headaches that occur repeatedly for weeks to months at a time, followed by periods with no headache.
   
   The pain begins quickly without any warning and reaches a peak within a few minutes. The headache is deep, excruciating, continuous and explosive in quality. Occasionally it may be pulsatile and throbbing. The attack may occur up to eight times per day but is short in duration. The headache always begins on one side in or around the eye or temple.
   
   Cluster headaches are associated with eye redness and tear production, a stuffy and runny nose, sweating, a pale appearance and possibly drooping of the eyelid.

4. OTHER TYPES OF HEADACHE:
   
   Giant cell (temporal) arteritis: This condition is an inflammation of blood vessels that typically occurs in people ages 50 and older that can cause mild or severe headaches. Temporary or permanent visual loss is a potential complication.
   
   Sinus headaches are due to sinusitis (inflammation and infection of sinuses in face).
   
   Post-trauma headaches: Headaches that occur within one to two days after head trauma are relatively common. Post-trauma headaches may continue for up to a few months.

Tips & Warnings

• DANGER SIGNS of headaches that should prompt you to seek professional advice as soon as possible include:
• A sudden, severe, persistent headache that becomes severe within a few seconds or minutes, or that could be described as "the worst headache of your life"
• A severe headache associated with a fever or stiff neck
• Headache associated with a seizure, personality changes, confusion or loss of consciousness
• Headache that begins quickly after strenuous exercise or minor trauma
• A new headache associated with neurological symptoms (weakness, numbness, impaired vision)

Resources

• basharatshah.com
• ASKMEDPAL

[Kiedly]

on 9/20/2008 Thank you for a rare accurate description of cluster headaches and how they differ from migraines. It's nice to see some quality information on this topic.

[Misstacal1]

on 8/31/2008 tHERE IS TALK ABOUT WHAT TYPES OF HEADACHES,BUT WHAT IS THE TREATMENT SO THAT A PERSON DOESNT GO INSANE FROM DAILY CHRONIC HEADACHES AND MIGRAINES.
NO ONE GIVES THE TREATMENT EXCEPT DRUGS AND WHAT IF THEY DON'T WORK, WHAT NEXT