Migraine

How to head off a headache like tension headache, migraine and cluster?

Understanding the source of your headache is the key to ease the pain. Headaches can be triggered by any number of factors, including lack of sleep or food, anxiety, or even medications. But if your headache does not go away, try the remedies specific to the type you are expecting.

Tension Headache Where it hurts most:
- It occurs on both sides of the head.
- These headaches are very common are usually triggered by extreme stress or neck strain.
Ease the ache:
- Over-the-counter drugs are usually all that’s needed.
- You may also find relief with a massage to loosen tight neck muscles.
Stop it:
- Sit up straight at work.
- Sitting hunched over your desk all day can set it off, especially if you are under stress.
- Keeping tension headaches at bay may be as simple as a quick walk outside away from the tumult of the office.

Migraine

Where it hurts most:
- Usually on one side of the head.
- Migraine’s symptoms are intense, throbbing pain, accompanied by nausea and/or sensitivity to light or sound.
- It is not fun and is more common in women.
Ease the ache:
- Prescription medicines are most helpful.
- Rest in a quiet, dark room.
Stop it:
- Identify and eliminate your triggers (the most common are red wine, caffeine and cheese).
- Regular exercise has also been shown to reduce frequency and severity.

Cluster

Where it hurts most:
- It occurs behind one eye.
- This type of pain is signified by a sharp pain that strikes suddenly, and goes away just as quickly.
- They come in groups or clusters and can reoccur for days or months.
- Cluster headaches are rare, affecting less than 1% of adults, but men in their 20s are more likely to get them.
Ease the ache:
- Oxygen therapy has been shown to help alleviate the pain.
- Get yourself checked for sleep apnea – up to 80% of cluster headache sufferers aso have the condition, and treating one may help eliminate the other.
Stop them:
- These headaches are hard to predict but there are several drugs including methysergide maleate, that your doctor may recommend as a preventive measure.

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Migraine – Kind of Headache

A migraine headache is a form of vascular headache. Migraine headache is caused by a combination of vasodilatation (enlargement of blood vessels) and the release of chemicals from nerve fibers that coil around the blood vessels. During a migraine attack, the temporal artery enlarges. Enlargement of the temporal artery stretches the nerves that coil around the artery and causes the nerves to release chemicals. The chemicals cause inflammation, pain, and further enlargement of the artery. The increasing enlargement of the artery magnifies the pain.
Various triggers are thought to bring about migraine in certain people prone to developing migraine. Different people may have different triggers :
- Certain foods, especially chocolate, cheese, nuts, alcohol, and MSG, bring on headaches in some people.
- Missing a meal may bring on a headache.
- Stress and tension are also risk factors.
- Birth control pills are a common trigger.
- Smoking.

Symptoms of Migraine :
- Prodrome: A variety of warnings can come before a migraine. These may consist of a change in mood or a subtle change of sensation. Fatigue and muscle tension are also common.
- Aura: This is commonly a visual disturbance that precedes the headache phase.
- Headache: Although migraine pain usually appears on one side of the head, 30-40% of migraines occur on both sides. Throbbing pain may be present. More than 80% feel nauseated, and some vomit. About 70% become sensitive to light and sound. This phase may last 4-72 hours.
- Headache termination: Even if untreated, the pain usually goes away with sleep.
- Postdrome: Other signs of the migraine (for example, inability to eat, problems with concentration, or fatigue) may linger after the pain has disappeared.