Headaches
come in all different varieties. There’s your all-time
classic "tension headache" (think vanilla),
so common that anyone who’s got a head has experienced
one. Eyestrain, fatigue, stress (mental or emotional) are all
key ingredients making up this popular flavour.
Next on the list is the "sinus headache."
It often comes on with or following nasal congestion, a
stuffy or a runny nose. Pain is usually felt at the front of
the head. It is commonly worse in cold, damp weather and in
mornings yet lessens in afternoons.
Then there’s the "cluster headache"
which, just as the name implies, typically occurs in "clusters"
ranging from 2 attacks a week to several a day. Episodes usually
last for 6 to 8 weeks or sometimes longer. Unlike tension headaches,
stress isn’t a triggering factor. For some unknown reason
they affect more men than women.
"Ice pick headaches" are
fairly rare — but when they strike, watch out! Severe pain
is localized to one small spot and comes without warning, like
you’ve just been hit over the head with an ice pick. The
medical name for ice-pick headache is chronic paroxysmal hemicrania.
Attacks usually last less than an hour and generally for 10
to 15 minutes.
Finally, we have the "migraine"
— no ordinary headache. Pain ranges from mild to severe
and isn’t necessarily the only symptom. Migraines can also
trigger nausea and vomiting. In some people with migraines,
visual disturbances called "auras" (like seeing zigzag
flashes and shimmering lights) may show up right before the
migraine starts, for about 10 to 30 minutes. A migraine "attack"
can last from two to 72 hours. The agony usually stops people
in their tracks. It disrupts work and play activities, and many
sufferers need to retreat and rest until the migraine is over.
Rarely, certain headaches can be a sign of a serious
problem. For example, headaches that appear out-of-the-blue
with fever and a stiff neck could point to a brain infection
called meningitis. Headaches plus signs of imbalance
and double vision can be a warning of a stroke.
The take-home message: Headaches
are a pain, but they usually disappear on their own. But if
your headaches are severe and long-lasting, see your doctor
immediately — so you can put your mind at rest.
