A headache is a pain - literally and figuratively. It can interfere with life, causing lost time or missed work and frustration. But when the pain comes back again and again, what does it mean? What causes recurring headaches?
Identifying the type of headache is key to prevention. There are five main types of headaches; migraine, tension, cluster, sinus, and rebound.
MIGRAINE HEADACHE
A migraine headache is cause by a neurological disorder and can last from 4 - 15 hours. Women make up 75% of adult migraine suffers. However migraines strike prepubescent boys and girls equally. For most, a typical migraine headache is unilateral or only affecting one side of the head. Migraine headache symptoms include nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, and can be triggered by every day activities. About one-third of people suffering from migraines also experience what is known as an aura, or some kind of signal or warning that a migraine is on its way. An aura can be visual, such as blind spots or wavering lines, or physical, like numbness in a hand or arm. At this time, the cause of migraines is unknown, but it is thought to be the body's excessive reaction to stimuli. Changes in sleep patterns, skipping meals, menstrual cycles in women, weather changes, bright lights, and a host of other stimuli can all bring on a migraine headache.
Identifying the type of headache is key to prevention. There are five main types of headaches; migraine, tension, cluster, sinus, and rebound.
MIGRAINE HEADACHE
A migraine headache is cause by a neurological disorder and can last from 4 - 15 hours. Women make up 75% of adult migraine suffers. However migraines strike prepubescent boys and girls equally. For most, a typical migraine headache is unilateral or only affecting one side of the head. Migraine headache symptoms include nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, and can be triggered by every day activities. About one-third of people suffering from migraines also experience what is known as an aura, or some kind of signal or warning that a migraine is on its way. An aura can be visual, such as blind spots or wavering lines, or physical, like numbness in a hand or arm. At this time, the cause of migraines is unknown, but it is thought to be the body's excessive reaction to stimuli. Changes in sleep patterns, skipping meals, menstrual cycles in women, weather changes, bright lights, and a host of other stimuli can all bring on a migraine headache.
