The 3 Most Common Types of Migraine Headaches

There are many sufferers of migraine headaches. You might also be surprised to learn that there are many different types of headaches, in fact, doctors and researchers have identified dozens and dozens of different types of headaches. For most headache sufferers this information might not be important, but for anyone suffering from chronic headache symptoms this information might just make your life more pleasant.

It is estimated that more than 28 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches and another 1.5 million people suffer from trauma headaches. In addition, a poll showed that nearly 90% of women and 90% of men experience at least 1 (one) headache in any given year. That is a lot of aching heads walking around. It is a fact that nearly everyone will have at least one tension headache in their lifetime, and for approximately 3% of the population they suffer from daily chronic tension-type headaches.

While there are dozens of classified headaches, there are the primary types of headaches and a few more common secondary types. The three primary headache types are: Tension Headache, Migraine Headache, , and Cluster Headache.

Tension Headaches

The most common type of headache, it is estimate that between 30% and 78% of the entire population describe tension headaches symptoms at least once in their lifetime. The tension-type headache is probably the most misunderstood, often thought of as a mild and self treatable condition due solely to a lack of sleep, stress, or another equally benign diagnosis.

However, these muscle contraction headaches can be quite severe lasting up to 7 days. The pain is described as like a tight band squeezing the head, or for extreme pain symptoms more like putting your head in a vice.

Even more serious are those sufferers with episodic symptoms every day. These chronic tension-type headaches are very serious and can negatively effect many areas of a persons life. This condition can significantly impact a persons quality of life and can included a headache induced disability which make treatment challenging.

Migraine Headaches

Of the 28 million suffers of migraine headaches, women are more prone to these types of headaches than men. 18% of all women in the Unites States are estimated to have pain from migraine headaches, compared with 6% of men. This puts women well ahead of men with nearly 3 out of 4 migraine sufferers being women. Children are not immune and it is estimated that somewhere between 5% to 10% of children under the age of 18 exhibit migraine symptoms.

Classified as a vascular headache, it is usually associated with severe pain on one or both sides of the head, with the possibility of visual impairment, and an upset stomach and possible vomiting. These classic symptoms can occur at the same time or at different times, and these migraine head aches may include other symptoms.

Migraines typically last between 4 hours and lasting up to 72 hours, and can be exacerbated by strenuous physical activity. The condition can include a migraine with aura, or a migraine without aura. An aura is a neurological symptom that may occur before, during, or after the episode and can affect the eye or senses and often differ between attacks.

Cluster Headaches

Much less common is the cluster migraine headache occurring in only about 1% of the population. Their name is derived from the cyclical pattern associated with them, where the clusters may last from weeks to months and then stop completely. The cycles will differ greatly among people but the pattern of headache clusters and then an absence of headaches is similar. Most sufferers have one or 2 episodes per year and during the remission period may not experience a headache for months or even years.

Most cluster headache sufferers are men between the ages of 20 to 40, in contrast most migraineurs are women beginning with the start of menstruation. The also differ from migraine headaches in that they typically last for shorter periods of time, but much more frequently, up to 8 times daily, or clustered around a specific period of time.

Pain is severe and centered in and around the eye or along the side of the head. They are often accompanied by an ipsilateral eye lid edema, nasal congestion, and a sense of restlessness or agitation.

With all of these common types of headaches there is more not understood than medicine understands. It is not always known what the exact triggers are to bring about an attack, and cures do not exist to completely eliminate them from a persons life. Since it is not understood exactly what causes headaches, the medical approach is to try and control them through lifestyle changes or medications, and to develop a personal system of cataloging your activities with the onset of an event.

If you are a chronic migraine headache sufferer it is important to understand the different types of headaches, the migraine symptoms and possible headache causes, so that you can participate with your doctor to accurately diagnose your symptoms and establish a system of treatment.

Do you want more information about how to deal with debilitating chronic headaches once and for all? Or get all of your answers by ordering immediately below!

8 Week Money Back Guarantee!