A tension headache often causes the head to feel as if it has a tight band around it, according to MayoClinic.com. Stress, neck strain, missed meals or lack of sleep often triggers the headache, which can last anywhere from 30 minutes to an entire week. Holding your head in one position for extended time periods, clenching or grinding the teeth or overexerting the body can also usher in the headache, according to the New York Times. The dull and achy pain usually begins on both sides of the head, starting from the back and spreading to the front. Although the pain is persistent, it never gets worse with normal daily activity.
Dull and Achy Pain
A tension headache often causes the head to feel as if it has a tight band around it, according to MayoClinic.com. Stress, neck strain, missed meals or lack of sleep often triggers the headache, which can last anywhere from 30 minutes to an entire week. Holding your head in one position for extended time periods, clenching or grinding the teeth or overexerting the body can also usher in the headache, according to the New York Times. The dull and achy pain usually begins on both sides of the head, starting from the back and spreading to the front. Although the pain is persistent, it never gets worse with normal daily activity.
Light Sensitivity, Nausea, Vision Loss, Throbbing and Severe Pain
For migraine sufferers, pain can become increasing worse causing throbbing and severe pain. Visual disturbances such as light sensitivity, the New York Times says, can cause sharp waves of pain through the body. Sensitivity to sound may also occur in which sufferers may easily feel nauseous in disruptive environments, according to MedlinePlus. Additionally, momentary loss of vision may occur when sufferers see flashing lights or zigzag lines. Migraines are three times more common in women and often occur due to anxiety, stress, light exposure and hormonal changes in females. Migraine sufferers often require medication to cope with the condition.
Recurring Pain
Cluster headaches are generally recurring and can occur off and on for weeks at a time, MayoClinic.com says. The pain rapidly appears without warning and can reach a maximum intensity point within a short time. As a localized headache, it usually afflicts one side of the head and accompanies tearing or redness of the eye, droopy eyelid and runny or stuffy nose, MayoClinic.com says. Due to the intense nature of this headache and pain, over-the-counter medications are ineffective. Sufferers require prescription medications for treatment, which includes nasal sprays, injectable drugs and 100 percent oxygen inhalation masks.
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