HEADACHE                                                                      

Just about three out of four persons suffer from headache each year.  Headache is a seldom a symptom of an underlying brain disease, even when the pain is intense.  The two main types of headache are migraine and tension headache which are described below.

HEADACHE - MIGRAINE                                                   

Migraine, a common and painful headache that typically occurs on one side of the head, often beigns at puberty or early adulthood, runs in families and tends to recur.  More women than men suffer from migraines (about 75% of the cases), usually before menstruation, with the attacks tapering off after menopause.

Symptoms

Migraines without aura:

• Pain, usually felt on one side of the head. It gradually builds up to full throbbing intensity and is aggracated by movement, light or noise.
• Nausea.
• Vomiting.

Migraine with aura:

• An aura (Unusual sensation) coming about 20 minutes hefore the headache.  The symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, enlarging blind spots, flashing or zigzagging light, strange noises or smells and numbness in one side of the body.
• same symtoms as common migraine, but the onset of pain more abrupt.
• Sensitivity to light.
• In rare-cases, paralysis on one side of the body.

Cause

Not yet fully known, but attributed by many experts to chemical inflammation of the dural blood vessels, which stimulate the nerve endings.  Factors that trigger the condition include:

• Stress (eg andger, changes in climate, distress, overexertion, shcok).
• Certain kinds of beverages, food, and food additives (eg. alcohol, monosodium glutamate, nitrites, red wind).
• Head injury.
• Sensory stimulation (eg. bright light, blaring sounds).
• Overexertion.
• Hunger.
• Hormonal imbalance, oral contraceptives.

What you can do

• Lie down and sleep or rest in a dark, quiet room.
• Apply an ice pack to the painful area.
• Take a cold shower.
• Take a simple painkillers.
• Try to identify the factors that trigger the headache and avoid them.
• Consult a doctor if the pain is unbearable or if the recommende measures offer no relief.

What your doctor can do

• Rule out serious underlying caused of headaches.
• Prescribe stronger painkillers.
• Prescribe prophylactic (preventive) medicine for migraine.
• Prescribe medicine to stop the migraine.

Preventiion tips

• Avoid the factors that can trigger the headache.