Published in August 23rd, 2010
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For one person, saying “I have a headache” means taking a dose of over-the-counter pain medication and feeling fine in half an hour. For others, this same phrase means missing days of work. Headaches can be a form of chronic pain and pain clinics have many sufferers as patients.
A headache is defined as pain in the region of the head or neck. There are several different types of headaches and each has its own form of characteristics and treatments. Here are a few of the commonly diagnosed types of headaches.
Tension Headaches
Tension is the most common type of headache. They are caused by muscle contractions in the neck, head, and jaw. This can stem from stress, eye strain, arthritis, or deformities in the neck or jaw or any number of other reasons. The pain can last for minutes or days and can range from mild to acute. Although this type is seen as the “garden variety” of headaches, it may also be a source of chronic pain.
Sinus Headaches
Headaches that begin behind the structures of the face are often the result of an underlying sinus problem. Infections and allergies can cause inflammation of the sinus cavities which results in pressure and pain. This inflammation can become chronic and cause frequent and bothersome headaches. Infections may also become chronic, settling into the sinus tissues and resisting antibiotics. Drug-resistant infections can cause severe pain and may require surgery.
Migraine Headaches
The word “migraine” is often used to describe any type of severe headache but it actually refers to a very specific condition. A migraine is a type of vascular headache. It is characterized by a change in the size of the blood vessels in and outside of the brain. No one knows exactly what causes migraines, but some patients find they have “triggers” (for instance, a particular food) which frequently result in a migraine.
Most migraines occur in only one side of the head at a time. Many other symptoms can accompany a migraine like nausea, sensitivity to light or sound, and a phenomenon called “aura.” An aura has many forms but it is usually some type of sensory distortion. Some patients see halos around lights; others experience smells, while still others report a strange taste. The aura usually occurs just prior to the intense pain that migraines bring.
Cluster Headaches
Cluster headaches are one of the least understood types of headache pain. They are called “cluster” because they tend to occur in groups, striking repeatedly over the course of several days, weeks, or months. Patients generally experience between one and four daily headaches during a cluster period and this period can last days, weeks, or months. Another cluster period may not erupt for months or a year or it could recur in weeks. Attacks may vary in severity or duration but they usually occur without any aura or warning.
The pain of a cluster headache is often so severe that the patient is unable to sit still and feels that he must move or do something to distract himself from it. Like migraines, cluster headaches are vascular in nature and their root cause is as yet unknown.
A physician or pain clinic can help diagnose which type of headaches a patient is experiencing. This is the first step in determining the proper course of treatment.
Roger Ubik has extensive experience in the health care industry in Austin, TX and is passionate about informing consumers. There are many austin pain clinics available. Finding the right headache doctor for help is crucial to a successful outcome.
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