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OH, MY ACHING HEAD!

UNDERSTANDING YOUR HEADACHE CAN BE THE FIRST STEP TOWARD RELIEF

By Elizabeth A. Katz

Everyone knows what a headache feels like. Yet, when it comes to the malady, this is all many people have in common. That's because there are different types of headaches, also known as neurobiological disorders, and no single cause for any of them, according to the National Headache Foundation (NHF). Treatments can lessen pain, but their success depends on the type and source of a headache.

Sorting it all out can be enough to give you, well, a headache. Here's help.

The Big 4

THERE ARE FOUR MAIN TYPES OF HEADACHES, EACH WITH A UNIQUE SET OF SYMPTOMS AND REMEDIES.

TENSION

Almost 80% of adults have experienced a tension-related headache, according to the NHF, making it the most common type. It is usually caused by stress and accompanied by a dull pain on the sides and back of the head, as well as the neck muscles. Mild anti-inflammatory medications (such as naproxen and ibuprofen), rest and identifying the cause of the headache are the best remedies, says Fredrick Junn, M.D., chief of neurosurgery at Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center.

MIGRAINE

These painful headaches affect 29.5 million Americans, according to the NHF. Many sufferers can know a migraine is on its way when they see a visual "aura," or patterns of flashing lights. Pain is throbbing, usually on one side of the head, and sufferers are sensitive to sound and light.

Causes include certain foods, hormone changes in women, medications and caffeine. Remedies include migrainespecific medications that counteract the headache's cause or injections followed by preventive medications, Junn says.

CLUSTER

These headaches, also known as histamine headaches, are rare and occur mostly in men. Doctors aren't certain of the cause but say that the pain can be worse than migraines. Pain usually occurs behind one eye and the eyelid can droop. Sufferers also experience nasal drip. These headaches often occur in spring or fall.

One recommended remedy is steroid shots, and surgery if needed, to restore proper blood flow, according to Junn.

SECONDARY

These headaches are caused by events in the brain, such as an aneurysm or tumor, though doctors say tumors don't often cause headaches, and an aneurysm does only if it has also resulted in bleeding in the brain. Warning signs include change in headache pattern, focal weakness, loss of consciousness, and confusion or pain that is increasingly severe. Medical attention should be sought immediately.

EVERY HEADACHE IS DIFFERENT

While headache symptoms, like headache sufferers, all differ, they can be easily diagnosed, says Joshua Adler, M.D., a neurologist at DMC Harper University Hospital in Detroit.

"I think that with experience, you get to know key complaints," he says. "By and large, anyone who says they want to be in a dark room, away from people - that's a giveaway that it's a migraine."

He says sinus headaches, on the other hand, are not nearly as common as believed, and a headache accompanied by a runny nose is no indication of one. Unless you're experiencing pain directly above the bridge of your nose or below your eyes, it's not a sinus headache, Adler says.

Headaches can be symptomatic of other issues. Stress can certainly trigger a headache, Adler says, but does not cause the pain itself. Thus, eliminating the source of the stress will not eliminate the pain.

Stress also can be a cause of teeth grinding and clenching, which can lead to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, a condition often associated with headaches.

"There's a lot of musculature involved with the biting forces of teeth, and there are many muscles involved in opening and closing your mouth," says Alan Grodin, D.D.S., who has a private practice in Clawson. "When you are constantly squeezing your teeth together, you are putting a strain on those muscles. The result can be pain in that area."

Grodin says a custom bite guard, also known as an occlusional guard, often helps reduce patients' headaches. The guard is worn on the upper teeth at night and inhibits full contraction of the jaw muscles.

A hot compress placed on the upper jaw, anti-inflammatory medication and a diet of soft food also have been shown to help reduce headaches caused by TMJ.

Numerous other factors can cause headaches, including environmental triggers, such as changes in weather or altitude, smells, and eyestrain. Though everyone gets a headache now and then, you should consult a doctor if you suffer frequent headaches, they occur more than once a week, or the pain interferes with daily life.

"Any headache that occurs daily or continuously deserves a look-see," Adler says.