Coping With Tension and Cluster Headaches

Published May 21, 2010

The medical profession classifies headaches into two broad categories – primary and secondary. Primary headaches are those, which are not caused by another illness. Headaches, which are associated with an illness, are called secondary headaches. The accompanying illness can be minor or major and can even be life threatening.

Primary headaches include tension headaches, migraines and cluster headaches. The most common primary headache is the tension headache. There are two types of tension headaches – episodic and chronic. The difference between these two lies in the frequency with which they occur and the intensity of the pain. Episodic headaches occur at random intervals and usually don’t last more than a few hours.

As with all headaches, there are many different causes of episodic. Often just alleviating the cause will cure the headache. For example, if the headache is due to hunger, dehydration or disturbed sleep patterns; it can be cured by eating, drinking water or resuming normal sleep routines. Other causes of episodic headaches are stress, emotions, such as sadness, grief or anger, and environmental conditions.

Women who wear hairdos such as ponytails, in which the hair is pulled back, often experience headaches if the hair is pulled too tightly. In this case, merely loosening the hair will eliminate the headache.

When a headache occurs repeatedly or more than fifteen days in a month, it is said to be chronic. Chronic headaches are also triggered by emotional conditions such as repressing sadness, anger or grief, anxiety and depression. In addition, chronic headaches can be due to certain physical symptoms. These include: poor posture, arthritis, eyestrain, misaligned vertebrae and abnormalities in discs, bones or neck muscles.

Tension headaches are usually bilateral. That is they occur on both sides of the head. If the headache occurs only on one side of the head, it may well be caused by a physical abnormality on that side of the body.

Constant exposure to environmental factors such as inadequate lighting, excessive noise, close work, working with the body in a strained position, unpleasant odors and insufficient ventilation will also trigger chronic tension headaches.

The use of certain artificial sweeteners such as sorbitol, xylitol, mannitol and sucrose can also cause or worsen a headache.

Tension headaches are normally treated with over the counter medications taken with a glass of water as prescribed on the package. However, if you follow the glass of water with a cup of coffee, your pain reliever will work faster since caffeine improves the effectiveness of the pill.

The most painful headaches are cluster headaches. Fortunately these are very rare occurring in less than one percent of the population. Unlike many other types of headaches, cluster headaches affect men more often than women. Only fifteen percent of cluster headaches occur in women.

Cluster headaches are unilateral. They occur on one side of the head and always on that side. They begin in the area around the eye and spread to the forehead, temple and cheek. Sometimes they are accompanied by a runny nose or bloodshot eye on the affected side of the head.

Chronic smokers and heavy users of alcohol are most susceptible to cluster headaches. The pain is excruciating making it impossible for the person to sit or lie still.

Regardless of the type of headache, if the pain interferes with one’s lifestyle it is advisable to seek medical help.

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Coping With Tension and Cluster Headaches

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