Headache Causes
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Headache Causes
Headaches are still somewhat of a mystery in the medical world and, when it comes to pinpointing certain headache causes, the job can be complicated. There are many different types of headaches, and many things that can cause each type - combine that with the fact that no two headaches are alike and you've got a recipe for confusion.
Be that as it may, with over 70% of Americans suffering from them, there has been plenty of research into headaches, their causes and treatments. While a lot more is known about the physiology of headaches today, there really hasn't been that much advance in finding the causes or the treatments for these annoying occurrences.
If you suffer from headaches and are seeking relief, one thing you might try to do is keep a headache journal. In this journal, you should write down everything you eat and what you're doing at certain times during the day. The problem is, of course, that you don't really know when a headache is going to come on so you have to keep the journal religiously each and every day. After a few headache episodes, you might find some common headache causes such as a food or a particular activity and you can try to eliminate these and see if they make your headaches go away.
Be that as it may, with over 70% of Americans suffering from them, there has been plenty of research into headaches, their causes and treatments. While a lot more is known about the physiology of headaches today, there really hasn't been that much advance in finding the causes or the treatments for these annoying occurrences.
If you suffer from headaches and are seeking relief, one thing you might try to do is keep a headache journal. In this journal, you should write down everything you eat and what you're doing at certain times during the day. The problem is, of course, that you don't really know when a headache is going to come on so you have to keep the journal religiously each and every day. After a few headache episodes, you might find some common headache causes such as a food or a particular activity and you can try to eliminate these and see if they make your headaches go away.
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Types Of Headaches
There are many different types of headaches, each one with its own variations. Here are three that might be affecting your quality of life:
Cluster Headaches
These actually affect only a small percentage of the population, but they can really interrupt your life. These types of headaches happen at the same time every day. They can be very severe and they seem to have no rhyme or reason other than the fact that they happen at the same time. They might come on out of nowhere and happen for days or weeks and then suddenly disappear only to re-occur again sometime later in the future.
Migraine Headaches
These are probably the most talked about type of headaches and while many people will claim that they have a migraine they are actually just mistaking a severe headache for this particular type of headache. A migraine has its own symptoms such as sensitivity to light, nausea and even sensitivity to sounds which may come on in different combinations or alone. This type of headache is quite debilitating and if you've got one, you'll know it.
Tension Headaches
Tension headaches are the most common kind of headaches and are caused by, as you might expect, tension. This can be stress in your life, or simply tension in your muscles from bad posture or an unhealthy lifestyle. Poor diet, not getting enough sleep and even exercising too much can also be causes of these headaches.
Cluster Headaches
These actually affect only a small percentage of the population, but they can really interrupt your life. These types of headaches happen at the same time every day. They can be very severe and they seem to have no rhyme or reason other than the fact that they happen at the same time. They might come on out of nowhere and happen for days or weeks and then suddenly disappear only to re-occur again sometime later in the future.
Migraine Headaches
These are probably the most talked about type of headaches and while many people will claim that they have a migraine they are actually just mistaking a severe headache for this particular type of headache. A migraine has its own symptoms such as sensitivity to light, nausea and even sensitivity to sounds which may come on in different combinations or alone. This type of headache is quite debilitating and if you've got one, you'll know it.
Tension Headaches
Tension headaches are the most common kind of headaches and are caused by, as you might expect, tension. This can be stress in your life, or simply tension in your muscles from bad posture or an unhealthy lifestyle. Poor diet, not getting enough sleep and even exercising too much can also be causes of these headaches.
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Headache Treatments
While there are quite a few new medications out there on the market for headaches, not everyone wants to submit themselves to the side effects that some pills can have. For those people, here are some alternative headache treatments you might want to try.
Massage
While a massage can relax you, and this might actually relieve a headache, the kind of massage I'm talking about actually has more to do with acupressure than anything else. There is a point in between your index finger and your thumb that, when pressure is applied, can actually relieve headaches. The great thing about this? You can do it yourself!
Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been used for ages to relieve many things and it seems to work great for headaches too.
Aromatherapy
Since most headaches are brought on by stress, it makes sense that aromatherapy - a stress relieving alternative therapy - could be helpful in relieving headaches. Try lavender or sandalwood essential oils the next time you get a headache and see if it gives you some relief.
Massage
While a massage can relax you, and this might actually relieve a headache, the kind of massage I'm talking about actually has more to do with acupressure than anything else. There is a point in between your index finger and your thumb that, when pressure is applied, can actually relieve headaches. The great thing about this? You can do it yourself!
Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been used for ages to relieve many things and it seems to work great for headaches too.
Aromatherapy
Since most headaches are brought on by stress, it makes sense that aromatherapy - a stress relieving alternative therapy - could be helpful in relieving headaches. Try lavender or sandalwood essential oils the next time you get a headache and see if it gives you some relief.
by LeeD
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