Headaches Overview

Different Types of Headaches

Pretty much everyone has had some sort of headache or another in their lifetime. Even children get headaches once in awhile. There are different types of headaches though, and different causes for each one.

Stress headaches are one of the most common types of headaches, though they're usually experienced by women more often than men. These are also referred to as tension headaches. Stress related headaches tend to occur most often at the back of the head or neck, and they're mild enough to not keep people from going about their everyday activities. Sometimes a stress headache will feel like a band of pressure around the top of the head too.

Sinus headaches are caused by an infection or problem with the body's sinus system. Usually additional mucus is backed up, or extra germs or a virus is present which causes the swelling and inflammation of the sinus cavities. This increased mucus in the sinus cavity creates pressure which causes pain.

Migraine headaches are a chronic headache which has many related symptoms. Often migraine headaches occur on just one side of the head at a time, and other symptoms such as seeing spots in front of the eyes, tingling sensations in the hands or feet, feeling nausea, or becoming dizzy accompany migraine headaches. Migraines are often severe enough to make the person need to lie down in a dark room. Most migraine sufferers are very sensitive to light, and they can be weak and generally not feeling well for up to 24 hours after the migraine has passed. Some migraines go away in as little as four hours, while some can remain for up to 72 hours at a time.

Allergy headaches are caused by an allergy to something, most commonly various plant pollens in the air during certain times of the year. These allergies cause the body to produce extra mucus, usually in the sinus cavity, and this mucus in turn creates a pressure which causes pain.

Other types of common headaches are caused when the body is sick with a virus, cold or the flu for instance, or with an infection. It's not uncommon to get a headache when you have an ear or tooth infection for instance.

There are some more severe reasons people get headaches too however. Some of these include tumors on the brain, blood clots, strokes, and certain types of diseases such as Lyme disease.

Causes of Headaches

Migraine headaches are caused by a combination of enlarged blood vessels and chemicals that are released from nerve fibers around the blood vessels. Outside the skull around the temple areas of your head are arteries known as the temporal arteries. When a migraine happens, these arteries enlarge, and this stretches the nerves which are coiled around it. When those nerves are stretched, they release chemicals which cause inflammation, pain, and cause the arteries to enlarge more, which only increases the pain.

Most people who suffer from migraines have something that tends to be a common trigger for them. The triggers vary from one person to another, and not everyone is aware of what their personal triggers are. The triggers won't always cause a migraine headache, and avoiding the triggers won't guarantee a migraine will not happen.

Some things are common migraine headache triggers though, and by avoiding these things migraine sufferers can sometimes reduce the severity of the headache, reduce the time their headaches last, and sometimes reduce the frequency of the headaches too.

Common migraine headache triggers include dehydration, fasting or not eating well, hormonal changes and imbalances, flashing or bright lights, and certain smells or foods. A common smell which can trigger migraines for instance, is cigarette smoke. Foods which often trigger migraines include chocolate, wine, caffeine, MSG, and aspartame.

With stress and tension headaches, doctors aren't quite sure what biological functions happen to cause the headaches. It's possibly related to an increase in blood pressure though, since the blood pressure tends to rise when you're stressed out, tense, or angry.

Relieving tension and stress headaches is usually fairly easy though. Simply taking a few deep breaths to calm yourself often helps. Taking a quick break and removing yourself from the stressful situation can help as well. Going for a walk and getting fresh air are also excellent ways to help reduce stress and tension, calm yourself down, and all of this helps relieve tension related headaches.

Headaches caused by allergies, colds or infections are caused for different reasons, and thus must be treated in different ways. Relieving allergies or removing the cause of the allergic reaction can help relieve allergy related headaches for instance, but sometimes not everyone is fully aware of what allergen is causing the headache to begin with.

Infection and sickness related headaches are of course cause by the body trying to fight germs and bacteria which are causing problems in the body. These headaches are considered to be caused from secondary sources, and by treating the actual problem the headache is naturally taken care of as well.

The Dangers of Headache Medications

There are some very common over the counter medications which are used to treat all kinds of headaches. Even people with mild migraines can often use standard over the counter pain relievers to help reduce or eliminate the migraine headaches sometimes.

The most common types of over the counter medications used to treat headaches are usually safe when used in small doses infrequently. Unfortunately, some people tend to continually increase their dosage, because they take the medication so often their body has built up a tolerance to it. And some people simply take these medications much too frequently, for all sorts of ailments.

Some pain medications which are purchased at any local store contain acetaminophen, and others are called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs. Tylenol is an example of an over the counter pain medication which contains acetaminophen, while Advil and Aleve are examples of NSAIDs.

Acetaminophen helps reduce and relieve pain and fevers by working on the pain centers within the brain. It tends to be popular because it doesn't cause upset stomachs, and it's not dangerous for children and teenagers to use. Taken in very large doses though, acetaminophen can cause severe liver and kidney damage. Using acetaminophen on a regular basis over a long period of time can cause these problems too, and the problems are even worse for someone who drinks moderate to large amounts of alcohol.

NSAIDs help relieve pain by reducing the inflammation that's usually causing the pain. NSAIDs can cause blood thinning and increased bleeding, though some types have shorter lasting effects than others. NSAIDs can also irritate the stomach, and people who suffer from stomach ulcers can't take them because they can increase the bleeding of the ulcer and prevent the ulcer from being able to heal too.

Anyone taking blood thinner medications should also not take NSAIDs, because the extra bleeding effects are intensified. Unfortunately, NSAIDs can impair liver and kidney function too, and they can't be taken particularly by anyone with advanced liver diseases.

Teenagers and children cannot take aspirin based NSAIDs either, because it can cause a disease known as Reye's Syndrome, which is a neurological disease that can put them in a coma or cause them to die.

There are prescription NSAIDs as well, but these often carry even more dangers than many of the over the counter varieties, because the prescription versions are stronger. Some NSAIDs were pulled from the market in recent years, because of severe health consequences they created.

So if you're not able to take herbal medications for your headaches, and lifestyle changes don't help either, using over the counter medications sensibly and properly is usually fine when nothing else is available. When possible though, try some of the alternative options for relieving headaches, and you'll avoid some of the potential side effect dangers which come with synthetic medications.

Natural Treatments for Headaches

Many types of headaches can be reduced in both severity and frequency by making some simple lifestyle changes. Depending on the types of headaches you get though, and the cause of them, not all of these suggestions will work for all people. And sometimes a natural technique will work for you sometimes, but not always, and other techniques will not seem to help at all.

Lifestyle changes tend to have the best results on headaches caused by tension and stress. By changing a few things about your life, you often reduce the amount of stress and frustration you have on a daily basis, lower your blood pressure, and reduce the frequency of your stress headaches too.

One of the best natural treatments for stress headaches is exercise. Simply getting outside and breathing fresh air has a calming effect on most people though, and just that one simple act can reduce the stress headache almost immediately. Movement of some kind helps too though. Taking a walk for instance, going for a swim or a jog, or riding a bicycle can all help you release the pent up frustrations and tensions. And when those tensions are released, the headache often goes away naturally.

Meditation is another natural way to help relieve, reduce or prevent stress and tension related headaches too. Meditation allows you to shut out the hustle and bustle of the world, and simply focus on you and your body. This is a quiet exercise that is quite soothing and calming. With a bit of practice, you'll find yourself much calmer in your day to day activities too, and that additional calmness will help prevent the onset of stress induced headaches too.

Now one way to combine meditation techniques with exercise is with yoga. This is a soothing, calming, almost meditative exercise technique which focuses on strengthening and stretching your body with slow, low impact movements. Yoga can help make your body quite strong, while helping you to balance your mind and moods better as well. All of which can help prevent or reduce the frequency of stress related headaches too.

Other types of headaches can also be managed and reduced with lifestyle changes too. Some headaches for instance, are cause by simple lack of water in the body. Relieving the dehydration will relieve the headache too.

As we touched on in a previous article, many times migraine headaches can be reduced in both severity and frequency too, just by keeping track of what might be a trigger for your migraines. Once you know what your personal triggers are, you can work to avoid them as much as possible.

Herbal Headache Treatments

If taking over the counter or prescription headache medications worries you, there are herbal options you might like to try. The number one herbal pain reliever is White Willow. This herb was actually the basis for today's modern day aspirin and NSAID medications.

Pure white willow however, does not have the same side effects over the counter and prescription NSAIDs has. It can safely be given to children and teenagers, it does not thin the blood, and it doesn't irritate the stomach either. White willow is an anti-inflammatory herb, which means it relieves pain by reducing the inflammation causing that pain.

Taking white willow usually works for any kind of headache, migraines included. There are a couple of other herbs which are known to work quite well for migraines too though. The combination of an herb called Fenugreek with Thyme, the common seasoning many people use in their kitchens, is an excellent remedy for migraine headaches. This herbal combination often stops the pounding, throbbing, and nausea too. Fenugreek and Thyme combined are also excellent for treating sinus related headaches, because they help pull the mucus while also relieving the headache pain.

Many headaches are caused by an illness, or toxins and bacteria in the body though. And these can be treated with a variety of standard herbal remedies often used for infections, sicknesses, and general immune boosting purposes.

Cayenne for instance, is an herb which will stimulate the body. This stimulation helps get the blood flowing, and helps the body heal if there is a sickness inside.

Garlic is a common herb to use for any type of infection or harmful bacteria. If you have headaches caused by sinus infections, ear infections or other common illnesses, garlic alone can do wonders to clear up the problem, and it's even more powerful when combined with Cayenne.

Sometimes headaches can be cured by treating other, apparently unrelated areas of the body too. If your liver is not functioning normally for instance, then it's not clearing out the toxins and wastes well enough, and that leaves extra circulating in your body. Those extra toxins can cause headaches and other illnesses. By using a liver boosting and healing herb such as dandelion though, you can help the liver functionality improve, which will start removing the extra toxins in your body faster.

And don't forget that sometimes all you need to relieve your headache is an extra drink of water. Many people don't drink enough water, and headaches are a common side effect of dehydration. So try drinking a tall glass of water and see if that helps relieve the headache.

Note: Some statements in this article may not be approved by the FDA. This article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as professional medical advice.

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