Migraines and Headaches - types and causes
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Other common types of headaches

Tension headaches - are far more common than migraines. They account for about 90% of all headaches. A tension headache is a condition involving pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck, usually associated with muscle tightness in these areas.

- They occur when tense muscles in the neck go into spasm. This causes constriction of blood vessels, and pain. Much of this pain is neurologically shifted, or "referred" to the brain. This referred pain usually feels like a dull ache that encompasses whole head.
     - Tension headaches are approximately as common in men as in women, and are usually caused by stress. Sometimes tension headaches and migraines occur at the same time, and exacerbate one another.
     - Tension headaches usually last only a few hours, but some people suffer from chronic tension headaches that can be present almost every day, with varying degree of intensity.

Cluster headaches affect one side of the head (unilateral) and may be associated with tearing of the eyes and nasal congestion. They are similar to migraines, because they're caused by vascular constriction followed by rebound dilation, and strike just one side of the head.

     - Cluster headaches tend to occur in groups or clusters, happening repeatedly every day at the same time for several weeks and then remitting. They are intensely painful, begin suddenly, usually last only about half an hour, but then recur later in the day. As many as four each day may occur during a cluster period. Cluster headaches are 900% more common among men than women. Thus, some people think of cluster headache as "male migraines". It is possible that cluster headache disappear quickly because probably most male have a biochemical response system or feedback mechanism that allows for better control of blood vessel flexibility, once symptoms arise. This mechanism probably involves serotonin, which is generally more stable among male.

Organic headaches - are caused by disease and infection. An organic headache is the result of an abnormality in the brain or skull. It can be caused by a benign or malignant brain tumor, a brain aneurysm, hematoma, meningitis, brain abscess, brain infection, cerebral hemorrhage, or encephalitis.

     - Organic headaches occur far less commonly than the other types of headaches. Only 2% of all headaches are organic headaches, caused by disease, and disrse is usually minor.
     - Sinus infection headaches are relatively common, but they generally go away quickly when the infection is controlled.
     - Some people who have severe headaches fear that they may have an organic headaches caused by a brain tumor, because their pain is so agonizing. However, this is extremely rare. Only about 15% of all brain tumors cause pain. Therefore, the chance that a severe headache is being caused by a brain tumor is almost infinitely small.
     - Fortunately, very few headaches (less than 5 percent) are caused by tumors, and not all people with tumors experience headaches. A tumor will cause a headache if it intrudes on arterial space or increases intracranial pressure. If there is a brain tumor, the headache will probably come on suddenly and intensely. It may get progressively worse and can be aggravated by coughing or physical activity.
     - Tune into symptoms that could be red flags: a sudden, sharp, intense or severe pain (particularly if you never or only occasionally have a headache); sudden lack of balance or falling; confusion; inappropriate behavior; seizures; difficulty speaking. If these symptoms are left undiagnosed, they can lead to serious consequences.

Sexual headaches - Headaches are sometimes associated with sexual activity and are known by the following names:

     - Benign sex headache
     - Benign coital headache
     - Orgasmic or coital cephalalgia
     - Thunderclap headache

The International Headache Society classifies the term sexual headache as an idiopathic headache under "miscellaneous headaches unassociated with structural lesions." There are three subtypes:

     - Type 1 is a dull ache in the head and neck that intensifies as sexual excitement increases.
     - Type 2 is a sudden severe "explosive" headache occurring at orgasm.
     - Type 3 is developing after orgasm, is called a "postural headache", resembling headache caused by low cerebrospinal fluid volume.

The prevalence of sexual headache is unknown. In the only population-based, epidemiological study, the lifetime prevalence was 1%, similar to that of benign cough headache and benign exertional headache (exercise-induced). Some experts feel that sexual headache is underestimated, because patients often feel too embarrassed to report details about their sexual activities.

Studies to date have shown that more men than women experience sexual headache, at a rate of 3 to 4:1. The average age of onset is between 30-40 years. Sexual headache is induced by sexual intercourse or masturbation, and can occur in monogamous and extramarital relationships.

Sexual headache can occur before or after orgasm, in both cases lasting for several hours. Alternatively, a migrainous headache may begin with orgasm; the pain tends to start as orgasm is reached, as a dull cramping feeling at the back of the head. It gets worse rapidly and is very intense for 5-15 minutes. The pain can last anywhere from a few minutes up to 2 days. Milder pain can then last for up to 72 hours. The head pain can occur on either one or both sides of the head, or the entire head.

Sufferers may experience regular attacks whenever they are sexually active although others may not experience the attacks for several years at a time. Severe pain can recur when patients resume sexual activity in the days after an attack. Patients are advised to remain sexually inactive until they are completely free of symptoms.

A thunderclap headache is a sudden and severe headache, diagnosed via a process of exclusion with accompanying negative CT and lumbar puncture results.

Thunderclap headaches can be indicative of life threatening medical problems. If one occurs in yourself or someone else then they must be taken to a hospital immediately. If no transportation is available or the condition is rapidly deteriorating then a call for help must be made.

In the next article on this headaches we will present few treatment principles for migraines and headaches.

Have a wonderful day... no headaches!

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