What Are the Most Common Headaches?

Solving the puzzle of how to stop headache pain can be easier when the type is diagnosed. Some headaches can be self-diagnosed at home, but as much as 4% of all emergency room visits are because of headaches needing help with diagnosis and pain control.

The most common headaches are not life threatening, but sometimes mean a trip to the emergency room anyway, because symptoms can mimic a life-threatening event like aneurysm or stroke. These most common headaches are migraine, cluster, tension and rebound. They are not deadly, but can make everyday life extremely difficult for hours, days, or weeks at a time.

Migraine

Migraine headaches mostly affect women. 80% of people with migraines have family history. In migraines, the blood vessels expand and contract, causing the pain.

To treat migraines, some people are helped by over the counter drugs like ibuprofen, which reduces the inflammation. There is evidence that the herb feverfew has similar anti-inflammation properties. Triptan prescriptions must be taken as soon as the migraine begins, or they won't work as they should. Home remedies that help reduce migraine intensity include hot and cold packs, along with lying down in a quiet, dark room. There are other migraine pain treatments and preventatives that neurologists can help guide patients to, according to their needs.

Cluster

Cluster headaches are the most painful and occur most suddenly. More men than women get cluster headaches. They are called cluster headaches because they don't stop with just one headache, but in series or clusters over days or weeks at a time. The worst pain is focused at one eye, as if it is being pierced by a sword or hit by a lightning bolt. Other symptoms can pile up with it, like droopy eyelid, tearful eye, eye redness, and pain can radiate to neck, face and shoulder too. Cluster headaches can also include some symptoms similar to migraines.

Treatment for cluster headaches can mean a trip to the emergency and taking in pure oxygen. Home remedies which are reported to work include products like Capsasin™ and hot chili peppers. Ibuprofen may also be helpful for cluster headache pain.

Tension

Tension headaches are the most common, with nearly 90% of women suffering from them. They are strongest over the eyebrows and can cause neck muscle spasms. Some people have tension headaches every day, but the pain is rarely bad enough to stop daily activities.

Although tension headaches usually go away within a few hours on their own, there are some options to speed up pain relief. Pain relief can be handled at home with over-the-counter medicines like naproxen, acetaminophen and ibuprophen. A good drug-free alternative is to put pressure on the worst painful spot over the eyebrow area.

Rebound

More than 3 million Americans have rebound headaches. Rebound headaches happen when a patient takes too much pain medicine, too close together. It takes a surprisingly small amount of pain medication to cause rebound headaches. According to FamilyDoctor.org, taking a pain medication more than only two days in one week can cause rebound headaches. This is especially common for migraine sufferers. Treating rebounds includes doing without the pain medicine that caused them for a few days and further instructions from the patient's doctor.

Headaches can be a real pain. There can also be real solutions and preventions with patience in diagnosis, trying different drug-free and medication therapies, as well as good eating and sleep habits.

Sources

Women and Migraine Learning Module at http://www.headaches.org/educational_modules/medtronic/
Cluster Headaches at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cluster-headache/DS00487/DSECTION=symptoms
Tension Headaches at http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/tension-headaches
Rebound Headaches at http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/brain/disorders/830.html

Disclalimer

This article is only for informational purposes and does not replace advice from a licensed physician on any medical issue published by this author.