Headache

Finding headache relief

Headaches, which are defined as pain in the both the head and upper neck, affect us all and have many different causes. In recent years, efforts have been made to classify headaches to aid in their identification and treatment. According to this classification system, there are two types of headaches – primary and secondary.

The Types of Headaches

Primary headaches include the migraine headache and cluster headaches, as well as tension, sinus headache and some other less common forms of headaches. Of the primary types of headache, tension headache is the most commonly suffered, with as many as 90 percent of adults experiencing them at some point in their lives. Migraines are the second most common. Primary headaches share in common the fact that they are widely experienced, can diminish quality of life, but are not life-threatening.

Secondary headaches are symptoms of some other underlying condition, including tumor, encephalitis or meningitis. This type of headache can be an indicator of a very serious threat to one’s health. Because it can be hard for an average person to know what may be causing a headache, any unusually sudden or severe headache should be considered reason to seek medical attention.

Headache Treatment

Headache treatments for primary headaches are widely available and widely used, though successful resolution of the headache occurs more often in some types of headaches than others. For example, tension headaches are nearly always reduced with simple aspirin, or similar medications like ibuprofen or naproxen. Most people will get immediate and lasting headache relief from these remedies.

Migraine headaches and cluster headaches can be more difficult to treat. Some sufferers experience these headaches routinely, and find that over-the-counter remedies do not meaningfully reduce the pain and other associated symptoms. There are prescription medications available for people who have these experiences, and so consulting a doctor when over-the-counter remedies fail is a good first step.

Treatment for other types of headaches more often are connected to the underlying issue causing the headache than the headache per se. Secondary headaches and those caused by issues with nerves can be quite serious, and even life-threatening, and so it is essential that they be treated by a doctor.