Headaches - Symptoms and Guide

Headaches are a common complaint am9ng many, however, the causes for headaches do vary from person to person. The severity of the pain will also differ.

Tension headaches are probably the most common type. They are usually caused by tension in the muscles in the neck, shoulders and face. Migraines are much more severe, and affect around 6% of men and 13% of women. These are often more painful and longer lasting than tension headaches. Cluster headaches are also quite severe, and sometimes last for as much as several weeks.

Everyone has experienced a tension headache at one time or another. They usually only last for a short period of time, and are characterized by pain around the eyes and temples. The area of discomfort is in part due to the muscle that is feeling the strain. Although it is usually in the above areas, the pain can appear anywhere above the neck.

Watery eyes and runny nose are often symptoms that accompany a tension headache. Red eyes can also occur as the pain works it's way down from the eyebrows. Unlike other types of headaches, tension headaches rarely cause vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound. This is more common to migraine headaches.

Anyone who has ever suffered from a migraine knows that they are totally unrelated to tension headaches. Genetics play a major role in the appearance of this type of headache, but other factors are largely unknown. There are relatively useful treatments for migraines but in most cases, migraine sufferers would have to deal with it for the rest of their lives.

Migraines are characterized by intense, throbbing pain around the eyes and temples. Many times the pain will alternate from one temple to the other. The pain can be so debilitating that it seems to affect other areas of the head as well. Inflammation of the blood vessels in the eyes is also a common symptom of migraine headaches.

Secondary headaches are severe headaches that are associated with some already existing medical condition. An example would be a headache caused by a brain tumor.

There are various other symptoms associated with migraines as well. Extreme sensitivity to sound and light are common. Such kinds of discomfort can last from any time between a few hours or even up to a week. Feeling tired and drained or having desires for sweet treats are symptoms that a migraine is about to trouble you.

The pain is sometimes so intense that it is accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Sensitivity to light and sound, diarrhea, and cold hands and feet are also common symptoms. These episodes can be brought on by something as simple as walking up the stairs.

Cluster headaches tend to have a patten of discomfort. They usually last only a short time, but they come back every day for a certain amount of time. Sometimes this pattern continues for as much as a month or more. After this period of time, they usually go away for months, and then return. This pattern is what separates cluster headaches from migraines. The type and severity of the pain is similar in both cases.