What is a Headache?

The simple definition of a headache is a pain in the head or upper neck. This is the most common pain in a human being. If you have this pain in your head or upper back fifteen days or more out of a month it is referred to as a chronic headache. In our society the head pain can be so severe it actually has an impact, missed workdays that could account in productivity losses.

Headaches are divided into three categories consisting of primary, secondary and the third category includes cranial, neuralgias and facial pain.

A headache can happen at any time. If the head is pounding with pain above the eyes and ears, behind the head or in the shoulders and upper neck the chances are you have a more severe attack. The pain sensitive structures in the head are blood vessel walls and membranous coverings of the brain, neck and scalp muscles. These head pains can last from thirty minutes to a whole week.

Most headaches are caused from excessive contraction of face or neck muscles, often brought on by fatigue, stress or frustration. The more severe pain attacks are vascular. The weather has also been blamed for a headache. Change in weather conditions such as sun or snow, particular weather conditions mandated by the barometric pressure, change of seasons and humidity all help to trigger head pain.

A headache might be prevented by avoiding situations and substances like alcohol, carbonated beverages and some types of food that trigger the onset of pain. Food, dairy products, carbonated beverages and alcohol contribute to causing the more severe head pains. Some food and dairy that are known to trigger the onset of pain are aged cheese, whole milk, ice cream, red wine, beer and alcohol. Additionally, processed meats, avocados, overripe bananas, pork, soy-based foods, nuts, seeds and chocolate are also triggers for pain. All of these foods contain tyramine which is an amino acid. By identifying which items are causing the head pain and eliminating them from your diet there should be a difference for the better with less head pains. Therapies such as yoga, meditation or regular exercise also help.