Only one percent of people are lucky enough to escape the symptoms of a headache in their lives. In fact, more than ninety percent of humans experience at least one headache per year. Unfortunately, this means that most people are familiar with the symptoms of headaches: the pounding, the sensitivity to noise and light, the inability to concentrate. There are many different kinds of headaches. Not every type feels the same, but they all have one common factor: they hurt!
The Primary Headache & The Secondary Headache
A headache is a pain in your head. Usually, this pain occurs above your ears or eyes, in the back of your neck, or behind your head. We know that headaches can be caused by a number of things, but there is much we do not understand. Scientists are only just beginning to discover how our brains function.
A headache can be classified as either primary or secondary.
Primary headaches include tension headaches, cluster headaches, and and migraine headaches.
Secondary headaches are caused by other illnesses, such as meningitis and brain tumors.
The most common type of primary headache is a tension headache, whereas migraine headaches are the second most common type of primary headaches.
In fact, more than 28 million American citizens endure the agony of migraines.
To know which type you are suffering from, you must be familiar with your particular headache symptoms.
Tension Headache Symptoms
While once believed to be causes by muscle spasms in the neck and upware, the latest research suggest that there might be a change in the chemicals of the brain involved. Actually, no one is certain about the cause of a tension headache.
The pain affects the front, sides, or top of your head.
You feel mild to moderate pain, constant pressure or throbbing.
The pain often begins gradually and in the middle of the day.
The pain can last anywhere from half an hour to a couple of days.
You probably often feel your headache upon awakening in the morning.
You are sensitive to noise and light.
You are irritable and tired.
Migraine Headache Symptoms
Migraine headache symptoms can vary widely, but the following include the most common:
You feel moderate to severe throbbing and pounding in your entire head or on just one side.
You have blurry vision.
You experience abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.
You are extra sensitive to noise, light, and odor.
You lose your appetite.
You experience bouts of dizziness and disorientation.
You have a fever.
You suffer from what is known as “aura” – visual disturbances, such as bright flashes and blind spots.
Cluster Headache Symptoms
The cluster headache is much rarer than the tension or migraine headache – but they can be much more painful because they may occur several times each day for months. Then they will depart and leave the sufferer in peace … for a time. In other words, they're very unpredictable.
The duration is also widely varied: from five minutes to several hours.
And, in contrast, more men get cluster headaches than women.
The pain is behind one eye or in the eye region, and it does not switch sides.
The pain is intense and throbbing.
The pain doesn't last too long (although it seems like forever at the time!): generally, it lasts anywhere from thirty to ninety minutes.
Many times, your headache will disappear… only to reappear later that day. It is common for sufferers to experience up to three headaches per day during a cluster attack!
Each day in the United States, headaches cause one in seven people to restrict – or even quit – their normal activities. Headaches that attack without warning can be the result of infection or illness. Although it is rare, headaches can be the indication of a more serious problem. If you are one of millions of sufferers, you should at least be aware of which symptoms of a headache require prompt medical attention.
Objawy schorzenia says
Great stuff. I like it!