Most, if not every adult, in today’s busy and stressful time has suffered from a severe headache, or migraine, at least once in their life. It can cause a number of questions to run through the conscious and subconscious mind – what are the causes of migraines?…What are some good migraine medicines?…Where can I get some headache help! Many rarely speak of it, for fear that they would be thought weak or pathetic for letting such a “trivial” matter get the better of them.
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Many different types of headaches exist, most of them with varying causes. Of the more than 150 diagnostic headache categories, the most common type of headache afflicting adults in the modern era is said to be Tension Headaches.

Tension headaches are not only named this way because of the factor that stress plays in inciting or aggravating the headaches, but more so for the fact that it is mainly caused by the contraction/tensioning of the muscles in the neck, face, scalp and upper back region.

A typical tension headache session lasts between 4 and 6 hours, however it varies significantly, and can last from anything between minutes to days, months or even years.

Tension Headache Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Tension headaches have a variety of different causes, but the most common causes are:

  • Stress
  • Muscle Sprains or Tension, and
  • Spinal Injuries

Symptoms of tension headaches can include:

  • Constant mild, moderate or severe unilateral or bilateral headache
  • Neck pain
  • Pain that radiates from the neck, back, eyes or other muscle groups in the upper body.

Treatment of tension headaches mostly depend on the severity and frequency (chronic or episodic) of the headaches.

  • Over the counter pharmaceuticals such as aspirin and other non-prescription pain medication can usually alleviate the symptoms of most mild and moderate headaches, however in more severe cases prescribed medications may be necessary.
  • If you experience chronic headaches, it is advisable to seek professional care as it is extremely difficult to treat certain chronic headaches with over the counter medicines. These headaches could also be a symptom of a much more serious condition that may go undiagnosed if left unheeded.
  • Certain non-pharmaceutical treatments such as relaxation therapy, ultrasound and massage have also been proven to ease the effects of tension headaches.

Types of Migraines and Treatment Options

Migraines are generally misunderstood and in most cases are extremely painful and energy-sapping conditions.

Migraine headaches are throbbing or pulsating headaches that are usually unilateral and are often associated with nausea; light and sound sensitivity; vomiting; sleep disruption and depression.

Migraines are caused by the dilation and constriction of blood vessels that release inflammatory substances that causes painful pulsations. A Migraine generally lasts from 4-6 hours, but like tension headaches, can last far longer. Frequency of migraines also varies tremendously.

The two most common types of migraines are migraines with aura and migraines without aura. Aura is a neurological phenomenon that is usually experienced 10-30 minutes before the headache. The most common types of aura are usually described as bright shimmering lights around objects or at the edges of your vision. Other auras include zigzag lines, wavy images or hallucinations. In rare cases the aura can also be a temporary loss of vision.

Other less common types of migraines include:

  • Basilar Artery Migraine
  • Carotidynia
  • Headache-free Migraine
  • Abdominal Migraine (Most common in small children)
  • Ocular Migraine
  • Status Migraines (Rare but very serious type that lasts more than 72 hours, and usually need hospitalization).

Treatments of migraines also depend on the severity, frequency and type of migraine. Treatments are generally divided into two categories:

  • Prophylactic treatment – Which aims to prevent or reduce the number of migraines
  • Abortive treatment – Which aims to alleviate symptoms and reduce the duration of the migraine.

Other treatments of migraines which have proven successful include the non-pharmaceutical modalities mentioned in connection with tension headaches, these are: therapeutic ultrasound, massage and relaxation therapy.

If ever you experience what you believe to be a migraine, be sure to consult your physician, as certain neurological conditions and tumors have very similar symptoms.

Migraines and headaches can cause serious depression, chronic pain and a decrease in quality of life, however it need not to. Medicine has reached a stage where most of the symptoms (if not the cause), can be alleviated or cured. If you suffer from any of the symptoms mentioned in this article it is advised that you consult your physician for the best course of treatment. In today’s stressful life we can’t afford to live in constant pain, luckily with pharmaceutical, therapeutic and if need be – surgical help, we don’t need to.
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