Migraines are a very common and distressing problem. Studies show that as much as 5 to 10% of the population is suffering regularly from this annoying condition. Three out of four migraine sufferers are women. Migraines are responsible yearly for countless number of missed workdays.

Migraine attacks can last from hours to several days and are often recurring. A typical migraine attack is separated in a prodrome (feeling of a migraine attack coming), the headache per se and the recovery phase.

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Tension Headaches: What They Are And What To Do Tension headaches are a common ailment. Nearly 90% of all adults have them occasionally. But being in good company with an aching head is no comfort. Here’s how you can identify, treat and prevent a tension headache. What is a Tension Headache? A tension headache causes mild to moderate discomfort or pain in the head or neck. The pain is dull and aching, but not pulsating. Many people say it feels like a tight band around their skull. Most experts believe tension headaches are related to tight muscles in the scalp or neck. This muscle tension decreases blood flow to those areas, which increases the feeling of pain. There are two classifications of tension headaches: episodic and chronic. Episodic headaches are random, occurring less than 15 days a month. They’re usually brought on by stress, fatigue or anger. As a result, they’re often referred to as “stress headaches.” Chronic headaches appear daily for many hours, and for more than 15 days a month for several months. They can be caused by stronger emotional events, such as anxiety or depression. How Can I Treat My Headache without Medication? Treating and preventing tension headaches require two on-going activities: identifying the triggers and creating healthy lifestyle and dietary habits. One of the best ways to discover what causes your headaches is to keep a headache diary. When a headache occurs, note the date and time. Then make a list of what you ate and drank over the last 24 hours. Note when you went to bed and how long you slept. Finally, be sure to describe what you were experiencing at the time of the headache, such as frustration and anxiety, or fatigue and stress. After a few occurrences, review your notes and see what you learn from them. Is there a specific food or ingredient that shows up repeatedly? You may have an undiagnosed food allergy. These are common in people who suffer from periodic headaches. Typical allergens include wheat, milk and eggs. You may also be sensitive to soy, chocolate, pickled meats and certain types of wine. Your diary may be telling you it’s time for other lifestyle changes, as well. You may need more sleep and regular exercise. If you stand or sit in one place frequently, note your body posture. Even if it’s good, try moving and stretching every hour or so to keep your muscles limber and re-invigorate blood flow. You may even try hot or cold showers or baths when a headache sets in. Some people find relief this way–perhaps you’ll be among the lucky ones. When Should I See a Doctor? Tension headaches are uncomfortable, but they’re not dangerous. However, you should talk to your healthcare practitioner if headaches are disrupting your life, or if you’re taking over-the-counter medication more than twice a week. Be sure to seek prompt medical attention if your pain is severe or accompanied by other symptoms. Don’t let tension headaches harass you with ongoing discomfort. Learn to recognize and address the triggers, and you’ll soon find the relief you deserve.

Have you ever experienced a sudden and excruciating pain as if your eyes are about to jump out of their sockets? If these pain episodes occur at the same time within days, or only during certain times of seasons, then most likely, you are suffering from cluster headaches.

A cluster headache is definitely one of the most painful form of headaches but there are many other types of headaches identified by medical experts, such as migraines and the caffeine and the cervicogenic headaches.

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It is widely believed that one in seven people in the United States gets a headache every day of their life! Now, most of these that are experienced are not migraines but can be many other types of headaches including “stress headaches“. But is stress actually responsible for these headaches and how are they connected?

Well, medically there is no exact definition for this type of headache but it is known to be caused by tension in the muscles of the forehead, neck, and face that can be caused by stress. So, essentially, stress has a connection to headaches because it induces the tension and muscle contraction that is the root of the pain you feel. Naturally, if you can reduce your stress you will be able to reduce this tension in the muscles and often times can prevent headaches from occurring.

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The most common type of headache, the tension headache is experienced by nearly 80% of adults at some point in their lives. A nonspecific headache, a tension headache is not vascular or migrainous, and is not related to any organic disease. Likely due to a chemical or neuronal imbalance in the brain, tension headaches have also been linked to muscle strain and tightening in the neck or scalp.

The pain can be very mild, or quite severe, with a tightening feeling that resembles a vice in the temples, or even at the sides and back of the head. Rarely do sufferers experience nausea or sensitivity to light from this type of headache, but it is has been reported in some cases.

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Have you had headaches lately or for a long while?  Have you been told they’re from stress?  If so, you have reason to be doubtful. Dr. David Posen (The Little Book of Stress Relief, 2003), diagnoses chronic stress with a checklist.  Items queried include clenching of the jaw, teeth grinding, sore, tight muscles, and dizziness and, of course, headaches. It’s no mystery that long-term exposure to stress can really be problematic for you.

When stress is acute, however, your body will gear up its stress response system to help you meet the danger or trouble.  Your heart may speed up and beat harder, your muscles may tighten up, you may feel dryness in your mouth, you might begin to sweat profusely and you may develop a knot-like feeling in the pit of your stomach.  Headaches, however, are rarely associated with acute stress.  With acute stress, the body needs to be alert, not suffering from headaches.  In fact, if you didn’t have this excited type of response to sudden danger or stress, you would probably need to be checked to see if you’re alive.

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Headaches during pregnancy are very challenging as over the counter pain killers are not recommended. Read on to see what you can do to relieve the pain from your headaches during pregnancy.

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Most people would agree that the migraine if the worst kind of headache there is.. Not only are they exceedingly painful, but they also come with a feeling of sickness and disorientation.. I usually lie down in a darkened room with a wet face cloth over my eyes until the symptoms abate. I have known migraines to even last more than a day at a time.

The migraine headache has been very difficult to cure as migraine symptoms vary so much between different people. To further compound the problem, many sufferers often experience different symptoms each time.I suspect that my own migraines, which mostly happened in Summer were due to rising pollen counts, but I’m still not 100% sure.

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