Headaches are one of Americans’ most common medical complaints. Nearly 90 percent of us suffer from a headache at some time. The majority of headaches are either tension headaches or migraine headaches, both of which are more common in women. Tension-type headaches

This type of headache usually affects both sides of the head. They may involve dizziness and mild nausea, but unlike migraines, tension-type headaches rarely prevent people from carrying out normal activities.

Some people describe the pain as pressure, tightness, a constant dull ache, or a squeezing, like a band around the head. The pain may be spread throughout the head or concentrated at the base of the skull or the front of the head.

Causes of headaches?

As stated earlier, over 90% of the population suffer from occasional tension-type headaches. Even so, very little is known about the precise causes. Mental or muscular tension is usually associated with these headaches, but does not necessarily cause them. They are most common in women and in people with a family history of headaches. Additional factors that make people more likely to have tension-type headaches have been identified as:

• emotional or psychological problems such as depression, anxiety or stress,
• certain muscular disorders and poor posture,
• the over-use of headache relieving medication.

Occasional headaches are referred to as episodic headaches. They can last from half an hour to a week and may be brought on by obvious factors such as overwork, emotional upset or the approach of a menstrual period.

Chronic headaches

When the headaches are prolonged or very frequent, they are referred to as chronic. About 3% of people suffer from this type of headache - some have a headache nearly every day and this can go on for years. Individuals who suffer from this kind of persistent headache often fear that there may be a serious underlying cause such as brain tumor, but it is extremely unlikely that this is the case.

Treatment

Some people are prone to both tension-type headaches and migraines. Each condition may require individual treatment. Headache treatment depends on what caused it. A headache arising from visual problems can often be cured by eyeglasses. An infection headache of the sinuses or ears is relieved when the infection subsides. But the most common headaches are usually treated with painkillers.

For most people, headaches get better on their own and no treatment is required. Occasional, mild headaches can also be treated successfully by simple over-the-counter pain relievers (analgesics) such as aspirin and ibuprofen. Ask your pharmacist for advice and always follow the instructions about dosage.

People who get chronic headaches may need to avoid analgesics altogether. The preferred approach to managing chronic headache is to use preventive medication. Anti-depressant drugs have been shown to help prevent some chronic headaches when taken in small doses (lower than that used to treat depression) before going to bed every night.

Migraine

Even more debilitating is the migraine - a severe headache which can last for several days, and may also be accompanied by dizziness, nausea, irritability, and vision disturbances. Some forms of migraine appear to stem from irritation of the nerves in the cervical spine, or may, be triggered by muscle tension.

Lifestyle Change

As tension-type headache is associated with emotional factors such as anxiety and stress, it is important to look at the part these may be playing and to make any changes to lifestyle that are possible. For example, if over-work is causing anxiety and fatigue leading to headaches, the individual's workload is part of the problem and needs to be addressed.

Various forms of the relaxation have also been tried for the treatment of chronic headache. Studies have shown that it is effective in some people, but for the benefits to last, any relaxation practice needs to be incorporated into day-to-day life. Balancing approaches may be helpful in reducing stress and aiding relaxation. Great examples are reflexology, yoga or massage, and aromatherapy.

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