Understanding the Details of the Different Types of Headaches
Headaches are defined as ache in different parts in the head. The severity of the pain can vary and sometime it can be mild whereas sometimes it can also be severe enough to make your thinking slow. Sometimes one may experience headaches for a short period and sometimes the headache may be relentless and last for hours.
Headaches can be divided into several types according to the pattern of the ache; there may be a number of causes behind each type. Though headaches can be painfully annoying, generally there is no grave cause behind the headaches and these do not usually indicate any serious problem. Headaches that are not persistent may be eased with the help of proper medication and necessary lifestyle changes.
What are the causes of headaches?
Finding a general cause of headache can be quite difficult. Leigh Headache experts have been able to figure out a number of causes that fall under two general categories – tension headaches and migraine headaches.
What are tension headaches?
Tension headaches generally occur due to contraction of the muscles in the head and neck. Researches show that tension headaches are quite common; out of all types of headaches, tension headaches form at least 70%. Both male and female, of any age, may experience this type of headache and it is mostly seen in adolescents and adults. Tension headaches are actually seen as isolated cases but for some it may turn out to be a chronic problem. There may be a number of reasons behind muscle contraction that give rise to the tension headaches. These causes include:
- Fatigue
- Stress
- Eye strain
- Poor posture
- Consumption of alcohol
- Hormonal changes that occur in women before and/or after their menstrual cycle
What are migraine headaches?
Studies show that of all types and causes of headaches that people experience, migraine accounts for at least 20%. There are no concrete theories as to what the causes of migraine are, but there are several theories that may be the probable cause of migraine.
Researches show that migraines are the result of complex changes in the nerve, chemical signalling, and blood vessels. People with migraine usually feel the effects of it as throbbing pain on the sides of the head. They may also be extremely sensitive to sound and light, and may have feeling of sickness. Migraine occurs more in women than men and the migraine that women experience is generally chronic. These factors have been narrowed down as the probable causes behind migraine:
- When migraine runs in the family
- Prolonged stress and muscle tension
- Consumption of alcohol
- Exposure to smoke
- Women can experience migraine during their menstrual cycle and for using oral contraceptive pills
- Lack or proper sleep
Leigh back pain and neck and headache experts believe that what we eat has direct impact on our body’s functioning. Your diet may also play a vital role in as far as having migraine is concerned. Foods like nuts, chocolates, pickled or fermented condiments, foods that contain amino acid tyramine such as red wine, aged cheese, and smoked fish, as well as foods containing artificial sweeteners and preservatives are often linked with migraine.
Author Bio: Celia Barrymore is a health care professional who has expertise in both the fields of chiropractics and physiotherapy and she is also a Leigh headache expert.
Processing your request, Please wait....
