Free Article: Headache

You are here:
Directory | Headache |

Types and Common Causes of Headaches
By M. A. Fulmar

General Headaches

Mildly uncomfortable head pain due to lack of sleep, stress, or other external factor are very common; in fact, about 99% of headaches are thought to be completely harmless, and need no further treatment other than over-the-counter treatments such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naproxen sodium, or aspirin. There are, however, over 150 categorized headache types; and certain types of should never be ignored. If the pain is so severe that it seems to be the worst pain ever felt, medical attention is immediately required, as that feeling has been associated with aneurisms. Also, sudden pain that seems to have no cause is often associated with the onset of an illness such as a cold or flu.

The Most Common Types

The most frequent types of headaches are migraines, tension, and sinus. While each of these is unique, they are commonly mistaken for each other. Migraines are among the most common in adults and teenager, the symptom of which is usually a severe headache that can be on either or both sides of the head, and the pain may move form one area to another. Common ailments associated with migraines are upset stomach, sensitivity to light, sensitivity to sound, and moodiness.

A tension headache is usually not quite a headache at all. The pain, which isn't usually severe, will often reside in the neck, shoulders, or another stress point. The pain in the head associated with tension headaches is often a side effect of the other pain. Treatment for this type is usually limited to over the counter medications, however any chronic pain should be investigated by a doctor.

Sinus headaches are a type that many people claim to have every time the weather changes; however, most of these people actually suffer from migraines. True sinus headaches are caused by pressure of draining nasal passages, fever, eye strain, and excessive coughing. All of these symptoms can cause moderate pain that over the counter treatments often easily remedy. Sinus headaches are not reoccurring, however if a one seems to last further than the sickness there may be a more serious issue, and in such a case a doctor should be consulted.

Other Specific Problems

Many factors are known to cause headaches, while some have no known causes. The most common headaches for which symptoms are known are: environmentally induced, injury related, hormonal changes, and more. Injury related headaches are the most obvious of all, however, if there is severe or varied pain, loss of consciousness, or confusion a doctor should be consulted immediately.

Hormonal changes can cause headaches, especially in women, as hormones change through puberty, monthly menstrual cycle, pregnancy, menopause and other hormonal variances. If a person is in pain more than 3 times a week or if the pain becomes more frequent or severe, a doctor should be consulted immediately.

Many environmental factors, including second hand smoke, pollution, neon lights, traffic lights, etc can cause head pain. If there is a known sensitivity then all related items should be avoided, or a doctor could help combat unavoidable triggers with prescription medications.

Author Details:
M. A. Fulmar writes about health matters for various websites including, The A to Z of and Information Junkie.

Source: Health Articles

NOTE: This article may be reproduced ONLY if this note, the author details and source are also included with all links remaining active.

Related Headache Articles:

See also our Migraine articles

You may also be interested in The A-Z of Headaches