Understanding Headache Pain

WHAT IS A HEADACHE?

Headaches happen when the nerve endings in different parts of your head and neck become irritated. There are many different kinds of headaches that occur for a variety of reasons. Here are some of the most common:

• Tension headache
  • Dull pressure or tightness on both sides of the head and sometimes the neck
  • Can last anywhere from half an hour to a whole week
  • Can cause fatigue in some people
  • Exact cause is unknown; stress appears to be a common trigger
• Migraine
  • Throbbing on one or both sides of the head
  • Can range from moderate to severe pain
  • Usually lasts four to 72 hours
  • Can cause additional symptoms, like nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sounds
  • Exact cause isn’t entirely understood, but environmental factors and genetics may contribute
  • Triggers include stress, changes in sleep patterns, certain foods and food additives (like the sweetener aspartame), certain types of medications, and hormonal changes in women
• Cluster headaches
  • Sharp, severe pain that comes on quickly, usually around or behind one eye
  • Occur in frequent attacks, or “clusters,” that can go on for weeks or months
  • Each attack can last 15 minutes to three hours
  • Can cause additional symptoms, like tearing, runny nose, congestion and agitation
  • No known causes, but an abnormal hypothalamus (part of the brain that plays a role in nervous and endocrine systems) may play a role
  • No known triggers, but drinking alcohol during a cluster headache can cause an even worse headache

"Get back to living your days uninterrupted by pain."

HOW CAN I GET RELIEF FROM HEADACHE PAIN?

The first step to relieving your headache pain is trying to figure out what kind of headache you have. Consult with your doctor for a diagnosis, as some can be serious.