Headaches and Migraines
A look at different types of headaches and tips on dealing with them
By Roxanne Poon, RN, BS, CPHQ
Although we all get headaches from time to time, doctors at the National Headache Foundation say students appear to be particularly prone to them. Students who responded to a Student Health 101 survey identified eyestrain, exhaustion, anxiety, menstruation, poor eating habits, bad posture, excessive caffeine, alcohol, and stress as causes of headaches.
We often categorize headaches as tension headaches, cluster headaches, or migraine headaches.
Tension Headaches
A tension headache is the most common form of headache. The severity of pain varies from one individual to another, but it is usually described as if there is a tight, constricting band around your head. Unlike migraine headaches, tension headaches aren’t usually associated with visual disturbances (such as flashing lights or blind spots) or nausea and vomiting.
Migraine Headaches
More common among women, migraines are usually an intense, throbbing pain on one or both sides of your head. A migraine is distinguished by a sensitivity to light and sound, and it is usually accompanied by nausea and/or vomiting. People often describe seeing spots or flashing lights and sometimes can experience a temporary loss of vision. An attack can interfere with your daily activities. Researchers think that migraines are due to abnormal changes in levels of substances that are produced in the brain, causing causing blood vessels in the brain to swell and press on nearby nerves.
ROXANNE M. POON IS A REGISTERED NURSE WHO WORKS AS A QUALITY IMPROVEMENT SPECIALIST AT A MAJOR TEACHING HOSPITAL IN NEW JERSEY.
Find Out More
Click for more about headaches from the National Headache Foundation.
Click for some great headache prevention tips from the American Headache Society.
How Can You Get Relief or Prevent Headaches
For Headaches:
• Take over-the-counter pain-relief drugs such as aspirin, acetaminophen, or NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen, which relieve headache pain for most people, even those with mild migraines.
• Get enough sleep.
• Eat healthfully and do not skip meals.
• Get regular exercise.
• Limit alcohol and caffeine intake.
• Learn ways to effectively deal with and reduce stress.
For Migraines (in addition to the measures listed above):
• Avoid known triggers.
• Seek medical attention to obtain a prescription that specifically treats the type of migraines you get.
• Carry your migraine medication with you, and take it as soon as symptoms begin.
What Sets Off a Migraine
People who experience migraines react to a combination of triggers that may set off an attack. Many people who complain of migraines have attacks, which may be triggered by such things as:
• stress and anxiety
• weather changes
• alcohol (often red wine)
• caffeine (too much or withdrawal)
• foods that contain nitrates, such as hot dogs and lunch meats, or contain MSG (monosodium glutamate) or flavor enhancers
• foods that contain tyramine, such as aged cheeses, soy products, fava beans, hard sausages, smoked fish, and Chianti wine
• aspartame (NutraSweet and Equal)
• bright lights, loud noises, or strong odors
• (for women) hormone changes during the menstrual cycle
There are two forms of migraines seen most often. People who experience a migraine with an aura (classical migraine) have sensory symptoms 10 to 30 minutes before an attack. Common symptoms are seeing flashing lights, wavy lines, or blind spots. Sufferers may also experience numbness or tingling in the face or hands, a disturbed sense of smell, and a “fuzzy” feeling. Typically, 1 in 5 people, less commonly women, will experience this type migraine. Migraines without the aura (common migraine) have all the other symptoms but without the aura.
Cluster Headaches
Cluster headaches are usually located around or behind the eye on one side. The pain is usually described as sharp and stabbing, and develops very quickly. Other symptoms may include nasal congestion, a runny nose, and tearing or redness of the eye.
