| The medical profession classifies headaches into two | | | | occur on both sides of the head. If the headache |
| broad categories - primary and secondary. Primary | | | | occurs only on one side of the head, it may well be |
| headaches are those, which are not caused by | | | | caused by a physical abnormality on that side of the |
| another illness. Headaches, which are associated with | | | | body. |
| an illness, are called secondary headaches. The | | | | Constant exposure to environmental factors such as |
| accompanying illness can be minor or major and can | | | | inadequate lighting, excessive noise, close work, |
| even be life threatening. | | | | working with the body in a strained position, |
| Primary headaches include tension headaches, | | | | unpleasant odors and insufficient ventilation will also |
| migraines and cluster headaches. The most common | | | | trigger chronic tension headaches. |
| primary headache is the tension headache. There are | | | | The use of certain artificial sweeteners such as |
| two types of tension headaches - episodic and | | | | sorbitol, xylitol, mannitol and sucrose can also cause |
| chronic. The difference between these two lies in the | | | | or worsen a headache. |
| frequency with which they occur and the intensity of | | | | Tension headaches are normally treated with over |
| the pain. Episodic headaches occur at random | | | | the counter medications taken with a glass of water |
| intervals and usually don't last more than a few hours. | | | | as prescribed on the package. However, if you follow |
| As with all headaches, there are many different | | | | the glass of water with a cup of coffee, your pain |
| causes of episodic. Often just alleviating the cause will | | | | reliever will work faster since caffeine improves the |
| cure the headache. For example, if the headache is | | | | effectiveness of the pill. |
| due to hunger, dehydration or disturbed sleep | | | | The most painful headaches are cluster headaches. |
| patterns; it can be cured by eating, drinking water or | | | | Fortunately these are very rare occurring in less than |
| resuming normal sleep routines. Other causes of | | | | one percent of the population. Unlike many other |
| episodic headaches are stress, emotions, such as | | | | types of headaches, cluster headaches affect men |
| sadness, grief or anger, and environmental conditions. | | | | more often than women. Only fifteen percent of |
| Women who wear hairdos such as ponytails, in which | | | | cluster headaches occur in women. |
| the hair is pulled back, often experience headaches if | | | | Cluster headaches are unilateral. They occur on one |
| the hair is pulled too tightly. In this case, merely | | | | side of the head and always on that side. They begin |
| loosening the hair will eliminate the headache. | | | | in the area around the eye and spread to the |
| When a headache occurs repeatedly or more than | | | | forehead, temple and cheek. Sometimes they are |
| fifteen days in a month, it is said to be chronic. | | | | accompanied by a runny nose or bloodshot eye on |
| Chronic headaches are also triggered by emotional | | | | the affected side of the head. |
| conditions such as repressing sadness, anger or grief, | | | | Chronic smokers and heavy users of alcohol are |
| anxiety and depression. In addition, chronic headaches | | | | most susceptible to cluster headaches. The pain is |
| can be due to certain physical symptoms. These | | | | excruciating making it impossible for the person to sit |
| include: poor posture, arthritis, eyestrain, misaligned | | | | or lie still. |
| vertebrae and abnormalities in discs, bones or neck | | | | Regardless of the type of headache, if the pain |
| muscles. | | | | interferes with one's lifestyle it is advisable to seek |
| Tension headaches are usually bilateral. That is they | | | | medical help. |