1. More Than One Kind
Vascular headaches are an assortment of headaches characterized by blood vessel swelling. These headaches occur when the blood vessels in the tissues around your head and eyes dilate and inflame. The resulting pain affects a single side of your head or both. Physical activity intensifies the throbbing pain that often accompanies nausea and visual disturbances. Types of vascular headaches include cluster, migraine and toxic. Each one possesses its own unique symptoms.
2. Men Are a Favorite Target
Considered one of the most severe types of vascular headache, cluster headaches strike suddenly and without warning. The pain behind or surrounding one eye pierces, burns, throbs, pulsates and is excruciating. Its victims, mostly males ages 20 to 45, often become restless and resort to rocking, pacing or banging their head against an object to ease their pain. An average headache lasts anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes up to several hours. They customarily occur at a specific time each day, generally in the early morning or late night hours, and continue until the "cluster period" ends. Cluster periods extend for 4 to 8 weeks and sometimes reoccur every 2 to 3 months. Most cluster headache sufferers contend with up to four headaches during a single cluster period. A remission period of months, even years, follows, during which time no headaches occur.
3. Maybe It's a Migraine
Everything hurts when a migraine headache strikes. Sufferers experience severe pain, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound and overall exhaustion once their headache abates. Victims of this type of vascular headache will try anything to alleviate the suffering and discomfort it brings. Prescription drugs and natural supplements provide the best relief.
4. Toxic Headaches are an Environmental Malady
Toxic headachesâââ‰â¬Â¢one of the least common vascular headacheâââ‰â¬Â¢often are a byproduct of a fever associated with a systemic poisoning or a severe illness, such as mumps, tonsillitis, measles or pneumonia. Toxic chemicals that make their way into your body cause vascular headaches, too. Stay away from lead, pesticides, solvents and alcohol-based cleansers. To treat your toxic headache, establish and eliminate the cause, or take care of the fever and illness.
5. Treating Vascular Headaches
Your headache's severity and health history dictate the best treatment for you. Options for treating vascular headaches include taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, such as analgesics or anti-depressants; implementing dietary changes, engaging in a physical fitness program, applying ice packs and eliminating stress. Always consult with your physician before beginning any drug treatment regimen. Ask about possible side effects and interaction with other medications.
