![]() ©2007 Publications International, Ltd. An estimated 45 million Americans get chronic, recurring headaches. |
The Three Kinds of Headaches
Although there are nearly two dozen types of headaches, they all fall into three basic categories: tension, vascular, and organic.
Tension headaches, the most common of the trio, cause a dull, nonthrobbing pain, usually accompanied by tightness in the scalp or neck. Triggers range from depression to everyday stresses such as screaming kids and traffic jams.
Vascular headaches are more intense, severe, throbbing, and piercing: They take first prize for pain. Cluster and migraine headaches fall into this category. Triggers for cluster headaches are unknown, although excessive smoking and alcohol consumption can ignite them. Migraines are thought to be caused by heredity, diet, stress, menstruation, and environmental factors such as cigarette smoke.
Less common are organic headaches, in which pain becomes increasingly worse and is accompanied by other symptoms, such as vomiting, coordination problems, visual disturbances, or speech or personality changes. Triggers include tumors, infections, or diseases of the brain, eyes, ears, and nose.
If you are prone to the usual tension headache, keep reading to learn about home remedies that can help you feel a lot better -- fast.
Progressive relaxation consists of alternately tensing and then releasing the tension in each muscle or muscle group from one end of your body to the other. For the purposes of headache relief or prevention, you can focus on the muscles from your forehead to your shoulders. Purposely tense the specific muscle or group as tightly as you can, hold the tension for a few seconds, and finally release the tension, allowing the muscle to slowly relax. Then proceed to the next muscle or group and repeat. Try the following steps to work the headache zone.
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To learn more about headaches and their many causes, visit these links:
- To see all of our home remedies and the conditions they treat, go to our main Home Remedies page.
- Headaches, whether a dull or pain or full-blown migraine, can be treated with some simple herbal preparations. Herbal Remedies for Headaches can show you how.
- Sinusitis, an infection of the sinus cavities, can cause heacaches and other uncomfortable symptoms. Learn more in Home Remedies for Sinusitis.
- In Home Remedies for Hangovers, learn how to bounce back when an excess of alcohol strikes you down.
- Learn about the science behind that throbbing head pain in Headaches Explained.


