Headache Cures

There is no single cause of headaches; there are many types of headache that have been classified.

You may already know what type or types of headache you suffer from and this can help you find a cure or minimise their affect on your life, but here we have a list of the types of headaches as commonly diagnosed along with common symptoms that can accompany the headache.

Perhaps you have forgotten what the doctor told you, it is usually difficult to remember everything you are told, also it is often re-assuring to know the symptoms you experience with the headache are “normal” and linked to it.

Chronic Daily Headache or Daily Persistent Headache

These are a form of tension headache characterised by their frequency as opposed to what most people experience, which we call episodic tension headaches.

Episodic headaches may happen several times a month but the majority of people deal with them successfully with OTC (over the counter) analgesics usually without seeking medical advice, as opposed to the chronic form described below.

The definition of this type of headache is that it is experienced at least 15 days per month for 3 months with an average duration of over 4 hours, although some people may have daily headaches.

Roughly twice as many females suffer when compared to males in both childhood and adult life, the figures for children are 2% and 1%, doubling for adults.

Although these types of headaches can be caused by an underlying medical condition the majority are not, it is these “unexplained” headaches in medical terms that we will concentrate on.

Although it isn’t known why people go on to develop these type of headaches, genetics may play a role, but the good news is that other factors which you have some control over are also thought to play a part and can be the key to helping you find a cure.

Cluster Headaches

This type of headache will have almost certainly been investigated medically before anywhere else due to the severity of pain experienced, to rule out serious life threatening conditions such as brain tumours or brain haemorrhages for example.

Cluster headaches are a type of headache that can produce a severe and debilitating pain and as the name suggests in groups or “clusters” of varying frequency usually 30- 60 minutes in duration, but anywhere between 15 minutes and 3+ hours is possible. Several may occur in a day, for weeks or years at a time in some cases, often with periods of remission between the clusters.

It is thought that these headaches produce some of the worst pain a person can experience, described as being like having a metal spike or red hot poker being driven into the head around the temporal, eye socket region of the head and all this several times a day! They are almost always unilateral i.e. on one side of the head only, although it has been rarely to occur on both sides simultaneously.

Other symptoms commonly associated with cluster headaches include a droopy eyelid, redness of the eye membranes and a tendency to water (produce tears), stiff or sore neck, a runny or stuffed up feeling of the nose, jaw and tooth pain.

Hormone Headache or Hormonal Headaches

These headaches are suffered by women only because they are linked to the hormonal changes that occur during the menstrual cycle.

Hormonal headaches are migraine like in their quality, being severe and with much increased sensitivity to external sources of light and sound. As they are linked to the hormonal changes of the menstrual cycle they are likely to occur around the same point in each cycle for those that suffer from them, this fact may help distinguish it from an ordinary migraine headache. Due to the somewhat predictable nature of these headaches steps can be taken to help prepare for or mitigate the effects.

As the oral contraceptive affects the level of hormones so it can affect the headaches, for some taking the oral contraceptive makes things worse, whilst for others it has a mitigating effect. Likewise pregnancy can affect the frequency and severity of headaches either in a positive or negative way.

These headaches can start anytime after puberty and many women report a lessening of symptoms as they approach menopause.

Migraine

Migraine headaches again are not fully understood by the medical profession, whether to do with altered blood flow, changes in electrical activity, chemical changes or combinations thereof it is not relevant to debate it here, but the effects are well documented and can be very disruptive to a person’s life.

The level of pain does vary in individuals but if badly affected it can leave one unable to usefully function for days at a time.

The pain can be experienced as being one sided or affect both sides of the head, usually around the temporal eye region and sometimes around to the back of the head too. Described often as an intense pounding or throbbing pain, aggravated by daily activities such as walking or bending.

Sometimes the onset of a migraine can be preceded by warning signs many hours before migraine e.g. by visual disturbances producing an aura of flickering coloured light or even part of the visual field missing, such that if one looks at a clock face for example, there would appear to be part of the clock face missing. We will looks at other premonitory (early warning) signs later on as part of the Headache Cures section.

Whilst these visual disturbances can be particularly worrying when occurring for the first time, with thoughts of stroke perhaps, they can prove to useful in treating the migraine attack in its earliest stages even before the pain has begun, thus limiting its effects and duration.

There is often great sensitivity to light and a feeling of nausea, the feeling of nausea being caused by changes to the stomach that stop it functioning, this can prevent medication taking effect. Taking medication as soon as possible while the stomach is still working normally or taking medication designed for migraine relief can overcome this problem.

Sinus Headache

As the name would suggest a sinus headache originates in the sinuses, which are normally air filled cavities of the head and located around the eyes, nose and cheeks.

The sinus headache is caused by congestion of the passageways that in a healthy state allow mucus to drain away into the nose and throat. The congestion is often the result of inflammation (sinusitis) usually starting with or after a respiratory illness such as a cold of flu or possibly the result of an allergy such as hay fever.

Anything that stops the mucus draining away normally, thus allowing a build up of mucus where bacteria, virus or fungal infections can grow can result in this type of head pain. It is advisable to see a doctor if this problem persists as it is difficult to diagnose the cause and extent of the blockage and therefore how to best treat the condition.

Typically the pain is a feeling of pressure and a deep, dull and throbbing one, situated at the front of the head around the cheeks, above and below the eyes, often made worse when bending forward or moving the head suddenly. It can also be feel similar to a tension headache or even like toothache at times.

However the symptoms that follow with those mentioned above can help indicate that it is a sinus problem headache.

• It is worse in the morning
• A tender face when touched
• Made worse by sudden changes in temperature
• Discharge of yellow or green mucus from nose
• Postnasal drip and sore throat
• Nasal congestion
• Feeling unwell and tired
• Low to moderate fever

Tension Headache or Episodic Tension Headaches

These are probably the most common headache we suffer from and whilst annoying and unpleasant most people will manage to cope and carry on daily activities, with or without some form of medication.

There may be a feeling of pressure or pulling in the head, or as though a band is applying pressure around the head, primarily in the temples and forehead, but not normally throbbing. The pain may also be at the back of the head and down into the neck, with the muscles possibly feeling tight and sore and only comfortable in certain positions.