Health and Psychology

There's a survey up on the site regarding headaches.  Most people are aware of two types of headaches--migraine and tension.  There are many different types of headaches besides those two.

Migraine headaches are vascular headaches frequently causing visual disturbances, sensitivity to light, sound, odors and noise.  They may be aggrivated by certain foods like cured meats, red wines, or aged cheeses.  With migraine headaches hands and feet frequently get cold.  The person may have nausea or vomitting.  There are medications to lessen the severity of the headache and in some cases to stop the headache from occuring.

Tension headaches come from muscle tension in the neck and shoulders radiating all the way up to the forehead.  Knots form in muscles and pain may limit movement.  Muscle tension headaches may be relieved by over the counter pain medications and prevented by limiting stress and improving ergonomics at work and home.

Post-concussive headaches occur following a head injury or concussion.  Often thought of as migraine headaches, they do not have the symptom of coldness of the hands or feet which occur with migraines.  They can last for several years following the head injury, lessening in both frequency and severity over time.  These headaches are caused by sheering injuries to the brain.

Cluster headaches tend to occur late in the day and are caused by allergies.  Reddening of the eyes and  watering eyes often occur with cluster headaches.  Oxygen can stop the headaches.  Avoidance of allergic triggers may help lessen the frequency of the headaches.

Elevations in blood pressure especially diastolic pressures over 100 (the bottom number in a blood pressure reading) may produce a headache.  Drinking water may lessen the headache but seeing a physician for evaluation of the elevation in blood pressure is important.

Severe sudden onset headaches with vomitting or nausea require evaluation at an emergency room.  In rare cases blood vessels can rupture causing bleeding or can split and hemmorhage.  These require emergency treatment.  Many people ill refer to these as thunder-clap headache or lightening bolt headaches in reference to the severity of he pain and the suddenness of onset.

Ice-cream headaches are so named due to eating cold foods prior to their onset.  They peak in pain in 30 to 60 seconds and are gone within 5 minutes.  The exact cause of the headache is unclear but some researchers think it's from nerve pain referred from your mouth to your head via the trigeminal nerve.

Hormone headaches generally occur in women around the time of their menstral cycle or during ovulation.  The symptoms include headache pain accompanied by fatigue, acne, joint pain, decreased urination, constipation and lack of coordination. There may also be an increase in appetite and a craving for chocolate, salt, or alcohol. 

Children often get headaches due to fever, viral infection, falls, and other causes.  If your child has fallen, has a fever with headache, can't turn their head side to side without pain, or starts having problems with speech or movement, the child should be seen by a physician.

Headaches can recur as a result of trying to treat pain with over-the-counter pain medications.  These are rebound headaches.  Over the counter medications should be taken according to package directions.  Pain medications that are prescribed should be taken according to instructions by your physician. 

Sinus headaches may be caused by an infection or blockage in the sinus.  Frequently there is an accompanying fever.  The physician can take an x-ray to see if there is a blockage and prescribe an antibiotic, antihistimine or a decongestant to relieve the headache.

Very few headaches are caused by brain tumors.  Generally there are other neurological symptoms associated with the headache.  New onset headaches or headaches which do not respond to conventional treatment should be evaluated by a physician.