Headaches are one of the most common disorders affecting the nervous system, according to the World Health Organization. Headaches can be dull or sharp, constant or dull. This condition is pandemic and often remains undertreated. Men tend to ignore the condition and try to ignore the pain until the headache temporarily resolves. Usually men only go to the doctor when the pain has become severely disabling. This increases the patient's suffering and delays proper medication. Understanding the most common headache disorders affecting men can increase the chances that the disease will be treated properly.
Cluster Headaches
Cluster headaches are a rare class of headaches that is more common in men, according to FamilyDoctor.org. Cluster headaches occur in 12-week periods, or clusters, and happen around the same time each day within the “cluster period.” The pain in cluster headaches begins suddenly and is located behind or around one eye. The pain is severe. The eye and nose on the same side of the pain often becomes red and swollen. The headache typically lasts between 45 to 90 minutes and occur either early in the morning or afternoon. The cluster periods last four to eight weeks and usually appear during the spring or fall.
Cluster headaches are typically triggered by medications such as nitroglycerin, heavy smoking, alcohol consumption or problems with the hypothalamus, which is the organ that controls a patient's sleeping and eating patterns.
Tension Headaches
Tension headaches are one of the most common forms of headaches. They typically occur in adults and adolescents, according to Medline Plus, a National Institutes of Health website. Tension headaches are described as a band of pain around the patient’s head. The headaches occur when the muscles of the neck or scalp muscles contract. This contraction is usually a response to stress, depression, anxiety or a head injury. The most common causes of these headaches are situations that cause the head to be held in one position for along time. Such situations include computer work, fine detailing and using a microscope. Other causes include caffeine use, eyestrain, teeth grinding, fatigue and nasal congestion.
Migraines
Migraines are a form of headaches that most probably are passed from parents to children, according to the World Health Organization. In this condition, the activation of a mechanism deep within the brain causes the release of pain-producing substances. These substances cause inflammation of the nerves and blood vessels in the head. The pain is moderate to severe in intensity, is localized to one side of the head and aggravated by physical activity. The pain can lasts for a couple of hours to two or three days and is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting and an intolerance for light and sound.
