Getting To Know Your Headaches Articles | Headache

One of the most common complaints of people seeking medical treatment is headaches. A headache is characterized by pain in the head that is located above the eyes (frontal), ears (temporal), or behind the head (occipital), or in the back of the upper neck (cervicogenic). Headaches are generally directly related to both physical and mental stress. There are two classifications of headaches: primary headaches and secondary headaches.

A primary headache is one in which there no underlying cause that can be identified. Primary headaches can include migraine, migraine with aura, tension-type headache, and cluster headache, and account for about 90% of all headaches. Tension-type headaches are the most common of these. Generally, a primary headache isn't life threatening or permanently disabling, but can be painful and highly prevalent. Primary headaches are idiopathic in nature, meaning the cause is not known. The next classification, secondary headaches are far less common and than primary headaches.

Unlike primary headaches, secondary headaches are indicators of a more serious medical condition. Secondary headaches are most often a result of a minor condition that can be treated, but on occasion it is a symptom of a serious or life-threatening disease. If at all possible, secondary headaches are eliminated by treating the underlying condition.

Treatment of either type of headache is based on symptoms and cause of the headache. A prompt evaluation, soothing environment, and adequate analgesia to relieve the headache are essential. Treatment for any underlying diseases can quickly stops chronic daily headaches. As an alternative to medical treatment, chiropractic adjustments have shown to be as effective in reducing the severity and frequency of headaches.

In summary, headaches are very common. In fact, most of the world population will have a headache at some point. Headaches are for the most part a result of innocuous conditions like muscle tension, stress, or anxiety. Headaches are considered either primary or secondary depending on the causal factors. A primary headache is on that is generally not caused by an underlying medical condition. While secondary headaches are caused by disease or medical condition.