A migraine headache can come with and without auras although neither is less painful than the other. The biggest difference is that migraines without an aura may be less stressful and frightening. While migraines are often associated with auras, the reality is that only about twenty percent of sufferers actually experience any symptoms. The aura stage is part of the complex migraine, following the prodome stage. The aura stage usually lasts less than half an hour and its symptoms and effects can vary tremendously from one migraine sufferer to the next. Depending upon how extreme these symptoms get, the aura stage can become something quite horrifying, like a bad dream or, worse, a movie sequence of a bad dream.
Every adult has experienced a headache at some point. However, headaches vary greatly in frequency and severity. Most people can self-diagnose their own headaches and often turn to over-the-counter medications to help relieve the pain. However, doctors do not have any set of tests to diagnose headache types and causes. Instead, they mostly rely on the description that patients give them, and typically, the descriptions of the symptoms of headache pains vary wildly.
There are plenty of different types of headache symptoms that people have to contend with. Since there are so many different types, the symptoms vary from one extreme to the other.
Tension headaches are the most common type of headaches experienced by many. Tension headaches result from the tightening of muscles in the back, neck, shoulders and face.
Migraines, on the other hand, affect about 6% of men and 13% of women. Compared to tension headaches, migraines can be much more intense and last longer.
While everyone suffers from a headache at one point or another, some individuals are more at risk to experiencing more severe and sudden frequent headaches than others. There are several studies that are able to pinpoint the likely culprits. These studies are still ongoing, and they are continually looking at the risk for the various types of headaches including tension headaches, migraines and cluster headaches.
Tension headaches are headaches that result from the muscles tensing up. Tension headaches can be triggered by normal daily activities including the way you hold the phone and how you sit. Your muscles are continually stretching and you can cause them to become inflamed by your actions. This in turn can result in tension headaches occurring.
Tension headache symptoms are thought to come about as a result of tension that settles in the body around the face, shoulders, neck and back. Most headaches are considered to fall under the category of tension headaches. However, the entire concept of headaches is still quite a mystery even though most of us have suffered from them at one time or another.
Many researchers believe that both tension headaches and migraines are caused by the amount of serotonin that is produced. Studies show that anti-depressants and various other types of drugs can help change the amount of serotonin that is able to interact with the cells of the nerves.
Cluster headaches are relatively rare, but people who suffer from them can tell you that they are the most painful type of headache you will ever experience. Approximately 10% of the population is affected by migraines, but less than one-third of 1% of these people have experienced the symptoms of a cluster headache. Migraine headaches can be rather painful, but the pain brought on by migraines cannot hold a stick to the pain caused by a cluster headache. Very few people suffer from cluster headaches, less than 1% of the population actually.
