Do You Suffer From Chronic Headaches?

Facts about headaches

Do you suffer from chronic headaches?  The type of pain you are experiencing determines the care that you will need.  The first step is to identify which type of headache you are suffering from.  There are five kinds of headaches that you should be aware of.  They are tension, cluster, sinus, rebound and migraines, and it is important to identify which type of headache you are suffering from in order to receive the correct treatment from your doctor. 

The most common type of headache is from tension, where you will feel a constant pressure or ache around your head, especially at the temples or back of the head and neck. Most experts believe that they may be caused by contractions of the muscles in your neck and scalp and possible changes in the chemicals in your brain.  They will rarely stop you from continuing your regular activities, and they are not usually accompanied by nausea and vomiting.  They are treated by ibuprofen or acetaminophen, or aspirin, which is obtained over the counter. 

Cluster headaches appear quite suddenly and are accompanied by severe, often debilitating pain on one side of your head and they are accompanied by watery eyes, nasal congestion, and a runny nose on the same side of the face.  They seem to affect men more than women, and the exact cause is still unknown, though it is suspected that genetics play some role in this type of headache. 

Headaches due to sinus infection can be treated with antibiotics, antihistamines or decongestants.  A sinus headache usually comes with a fever and can be diagnosed by viewing the presence of pus through a fiber-optic scope, or through an MRI or CT scan, which will detect the change in fluid levels. 

Medication-overuse, or rebound headaches are another common problem.  Ironically, the overuse of painkillers for headaches, can lead to more headaches.  There are a few theories as to why your brain would react in such a way.  One is that too much medication can cause the brain to shift into an agitated and excited state, triggering more headaches.  Another is that the headaches are a withdrawal symptom of the medicine levels dropping in the bloodstream. 

There are several types of migraine headaches.  Migraines usually occur on one side of your head, and are accompanied by sensitivity to noise, smells and light.  The most common symptoms of migraine may include having moderate to severe headache intensity, which is increased with physical activity, and nausea, vomiting, or both.

Migraines can last anywhere from 12 hours to several days. 

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