Frequent Headache Pain
Nov 2009
I get frequent, painful headaches.
How do I know if they are migraines?
Nearly all of us have the occasional headache, but most of us believe we can handle them. We take an over-the-counter pain medication and before we know it, the headache disappears. As universal as headaches are, though, the symptoms are more complicated and unique than you might realize.
What hurts when you have a headache? The bones of the skull and tissues of the brain don’t because they lack pain-sensitive nerve fibers. Several areas of the head can hurt, however, including the network of nerves that extend over the scalp as well as certain nerves in the face, mouth and throat. Also sensitive to pain, because they contain delicate nerve fibers, are the muscles of the head and neck as well as blood vessels found along the surface and at the base of the brain.
Types of headaches
Headache types range from tension headaches to early symptoms of serious neurological conditions:
• Episodic tension-type headaches occur randomly and are often the result of temporary stress, anxiety, fatigue or anger. They can resemble vice-like aches in your temples, head and neck.
• Chronic tension headaches are those that occur just about every day. The frequency of this type of headache distinguishes it from the episodic one, though each will send you in search of aspirin or other non-prescription medications. A long walk, a good night’s sleep and relaxation methods may also bring relief.
• Migraine headaches cause biochemical changes in the brain, prompting blood flow to shift and thus triggering pain signals within the head and neck. This prevalent headache disorder has a substantial impact on the individual, the family and society. It can put your life on hold for a few hours to several days.
In the United States, the annual direct cost of treating migraine is estimated at more than $1 billion, and the indirect costs are even greater—including the aggregate effects of migraine on productivity at work, at home and in other roles. The total cost of lost production time in the U.S. workforce due to migraine is $20 billion per year.
Women experience migraine at least three times more often than men, suggesting hormones are involved. Since migraine is most prevalent in women 25 to 55 years of age, the condition can disrupt family life, including relationships with spouses, children and friends.
• Cluster headaches are a rare form of headache notable for their extreme pain and pattern of occurring in “clusters,” usually at the same time or times of day for several weeks. Their onset is swift, usually accompanied by excruciating pain on one side of the head, often behind or around the eye. The pain usually peaks over a period of five to 10 minutes and continues at the same intensity for up to an hour or two before disappearing. Most affected individuals experience one to three episodes a day and two cluster periods a year separated by symptom-free periods. Cluster headaches usually occur during spring and/or autumn and thus are often incorrectly associated with allergies.
More than just a headache?
A sudden, severe headache with no known cause can be an early sign or symptom of stroke. Mild to moderate headaches are associated with transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), sometimes called “mini-stroke,” which result from a temporary lack of blood supply to the brain. (Symptoms may include temporary weakness, tingling, numbness or paralysis on one side of the body and or impaired speech, vision, cognition or walking.) The head pain occurs near the clot or lesion that is blocking blood flow. Careful management of stroke risks—such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes—through diet, exercise and medication can prevent many stroke-related headaches.
Headaches caused by hunger or occasional muscle tension are easily remedied. But like other types of pain, a headache may signal a more serious underlying disorder. Seek medical care if:
• The headache is severe and unlike any other headache you’ve had;
• The headache is sudden, severe and accompanied by fever or convulsion;
• You feel confused or lose consciousness;
• The headache produces pain in the eyes and ears;
• You feel a persistent headache yet have no history of headaches.
