What is a Tension Headache: Tension Headaches are the most common type of headaches. Nearly everyone will have at least one tension headache in their lifetime.

What is a Migraine Headache: Migraine headaches are a form of headache, usually very intense and disabling. It is a neurologic disease of neuronal origin. The word “migraine” comes from the Greek word ‘hemikranion’ which means (pain affecting one side of the head).

What causes Tension Headache: The exact cause of tension headaches is still unknown. It has long been believed that they are caused by muscle tension around the head and neck. However although muscle tension may be involved, there are many forms of tension headaches and some scientists now believe there is not one single cause for this type of headache. One of the theories is that the pain may be caused by a malfunctioning pain filter which is located in the brain stem. The view is that the brain misinterprets information, for example from the temporal muscle or other muscles, and interprets this signal as pain. One of the main molecules which is probably involved is serotonin. Evidence for this theory comes from the fact that tension headaches may be successfully treated with certain antidepressants. Another theory says that the main cause for tension type headaches and migraine is teeth clenching which causes a chronic contraction of the temporalis muscle.

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If you are a migraine sufferer, then you know how painful they can get. It doesn’t matter what triggers the attack. The result is always the same and that is excruciating pain. Some people become completely helpless and paralyzed when an attack occurs. Everything that you do is pure torture so being productive is out of the question. And the worst part is, nothing can seem to alleviate the pain. Not even the most potent pain killers.

Fact is, some drugs can even make matters worse, especially those that contain harmful artificial ingredients. There is hope for migraine sufferers though as more and more research is being done with the goal of discovering an effective natural migraine cure. Right now, there are some natural methods that you can do to deal with your headaches. Some of the best techniques are discussed here in this article.

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Depending on the intensity of your migraine headache, there may be fast cures available to treat it.  Below are the most common fast cures for migraine headache, based on reports from migraine sufferers.

Cold compress – Place a cold, damp towel or rag on the forehead or on the area you are feeling the pain.  For an extra effect, place feet in a basin with warm water while the cold compress treatment is being applied to the forehead.

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The quality of personal relationships is traditionally regarded as one of the main sources of stress. The relationship between partners is the key factor, followed by the parent-child relationship. Factors that contribute to successful and relatively stress free relationships include:- communication, realistic expectations, honesty with yourself and partner, quality time together, quality time apart, listening and respect for yourself and partner.

Many sources of stress, such as bereavement, financial worries and relationship breakdowns, which feature prominently in the Holmes and Rahe scale, originate within the family. Increases in stress over the last 30 years can be partly explained by changing social factors. Within the context of a large extended family and a close working and social environment, an individual benefits from contact and communication with others, receives feedback to establish realistic life goals and meaning, as well as useful information and practical help to overcome problems. The dissolution of these close social support networks makes the individual more vulnerable to stress related chronic illnesses. In the same period it has become clear that, as well as being a source of support, affection and love, the home can also be the place where individuals, especially women and children are most likely to suffer varying degrees of physical and emotional abuse.

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Many people get headaches as a response to physical strain, cramped muscles, and pinches nerves. These muscular headaches can be brutal, and are usually reoccurring to a very persistent degree. Usually, there is some level of tightness in or soreness in the area the muscle strain is occurring, like your neck or back area.

Because your nerves in that region are all connected and ultimately lead to your head, strain in your neck, shoulders, or back can produce headaches. Usually these kinds of headaches start out very localized, but can often spread over your entire head. Cures for headaches of this kind are difficult, as you have to cease doing whatever it is that is causing the strain, and may need extensive physical therapy to help your muscles recover.

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Safe and Natural Cures for Childhood Migraine Headaches

A migraine is an acute headache that is intensely painful and can even be a disabling condition for most. They may affect individuals of any age, but most times begin between the ages of 10 and forty and may start to lessen after the age of 50. It’s bad enough if an adult suffers with these painful headaches, but it can be heartbreaking if someone in your family gets childhood migraine headaches.

Migraines are very common among the population as a whole. They affect about 30,000,000 people in the U. S. In the U.S., 18% of females and 6% of males report having at least one migraine during the past twelve months. Some people experience several migraines a month, and others have only a few migraines throughout their lifetime. Roughly 75% of all migraine sufferers are women.

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How the body reacts to prolong stress is described by Dr Hans Selye in terms of the General Adaptation Syndrome. Selye divides the stress response into three phases: Alarm Response, Adaptation and Exhaustion. The Alarm Response is the fight or flight response that prepares the body for immediate action. If the source of stress persists, then the body prepares for long term protection through the secretion of further hormones that increase blood sugar levels to sustain energy and raise blood pressure. This Adaptation phase, resulting from exposure to prolonged periods of stress, is common and not necessarily harmful but without periods of relaxation and rest to counter-balance the stress response, sufferers become prone to fatigue, concentration lapses, irritability and lethargy as the effort to sustain arousal slides into negative stress. Under persistent, chronic stress, sufferers enter the Exhaustion phase: mental, physical and emotional resources suffer heavily and the body experiences ‘adrenal exhaustion’, where blood sugar levels decrease as the adrenals become depleted, leading to decreased stress tolerance, progressive mental and physical exhaustion, illness and collapse.

Exposure to excessive stress results in hormonal imbalances, which can produce a variety of symptoms:-

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There are many medicines for headaches but there are some natural cures for headaches as well. There are many more treatment options available than you may have been aware of. Most people first reach for medication but natural remedies can be just as effective if not more than over the counter medication, and natural remedies for headaches are becoming more and more popular due to the nasty effects of the overuse of certain OTC medication.

Information On Natural Headache Cures

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Headache (cephalalgia in medical terminology) is a condition of pain in the head; sometimes neck or upper back pain may also be interpreted as a headache. Headache, like chest pain or dizziness, has many causes. All headaches are considered primary headaches or secondary headaches. Primary headaches are not associated with other diseases. The most common type of headache is a tension headache. As many as 90% of adults have tension headaches.

Apply pressure to the area where your thumb and index finger connect. Apply as much pressure as you can stand for a minute or so. As time passes while you are doing this, you will notice the pain in the head start to subside. This is a great acupressure treatment that works quite well. Do NOT use this technique if you are pregnant. Doing so can cause abdominal contractions and may result in premature delivery.

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More than 30 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches which can be classified as severe and often disabling headaches. A typical migraine headache will give a warning sign before its onset, such as tingling in your limbs, seeing blind spots or flashing lights. You will know when you are experiencing a migraine headache because they are accompanied by most, if not all of the following symptoms. Severe pain either on one side or both sides of the head, pulsing head pain, worsening head pain with any activity, nausea or vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, and not being able to function regularly. While seeing flashing lights or blind spots are a common warning sign of a migraine, some sufferers experience these symptoms throughout the entire duration of their headache. This is classified as a classic migraine and, along with the above conditions, the person will also experience weakness and speech problems along with zigzagging lines in their eyes. If a migraine is left untreated, the pain can last from four to 72 hours, which can cause huge disturbances in a persons normal life.

Although doctors are not 100 percent sure what causes migraines to occur, there are something’s that are known to trigger these headaches. These include, fluctuations in hormones; many women claim that their migraines worsen just before a period or during menopause and pregnancy. Certain foods can also trigger migraines, such as alcohol, cheese, chocolate, aspartame and caffeine which is found in coffee, tea, chocolate and most soft drinks. To avoid migraines as best you can, try keeping a diary of the foods you eat and record how they made you feel afterwards. After a couple of weeks doing this you should be able to see what foods that are triggers for you, therefore telling you which foods to avoid. Other triggers can include stress, changes in the environment and certain medications.

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