The Early Show

Headache Education

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

December 21, 2001 / 3:27 PM EST / CBS

About 45 million Americans suffer from chronic headaches – many needlessly so. But a proper diagnosis can mean the difference between excruciating pain and feeling clear-headed. CBS News Health Contributor Dr. Jordan Metzl visits The Saturday Early Show to explain.

Most headaches are temporary, and the most common types are tension headaches, migraines, and cluster headaches.

THERE ACTUALLY ARE MANY TYPES OF HEADACHES, AREN'T THERE?
That's right. The International Headache Society has classified 12 headache types with more than 60 subsets. The good news is the vast majority of headaches are temporary and can be remedied by an over-the-counter pain medication. However, there are other types of headaches that require a doctor's attention.

MIGRAINES
Migraines typically affect the front of your head or one side. Between 16 and 18 million Americans suffer from migraines and what many people may not know is that two-thirds of the sufferers are women. People with migraines often describe their pain as intense, throbbing and pounding. The headache can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, appetite loss, and chills. Stress is a common trigger, but others include fatigue, lack of sleep and birth control pills.

IS THERE A STANDARD CURE FOR MIGRAINES?
The Food and Drug Administration has approved several drugs for the treatment of migraines. Their benefits vary from person to person. There are also several preventive medicines on the market, which act by constricting the blood vessels in the brain.

CLUSTER HEADACHE
This kind of headache is centered around an eye. Nearly one million Americans suffer from them. Unlike migraines, most cluster headache sufferers are men who smoke. Cluster headaches get their name because they happen in clusters, several times a day for several weeks or months. Each headache will last between 15 minutes and four hours. The pain can only be described as excruciating.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO STOP A CLUSTER HEADACHE?
Unfortunately, painkillers (whether they're over-the-counter or prescription) DON'T work. Some sufferers find relief from inhaling 100 percent oxygen through a mask for about 10 minutes. But because the cause of cluster headaches is still not known, scientists haven't been able to find a proper remedy.

TENSION HEADACHE
The pain is felt in both the front and back of the head. This is the most common kind of headache and accounts for 90 percent of all headaches not caused by disease. Stress is a typical trigger.

WHAT DO YOU PRESCRIBE FOR THIS TYPE OF HEADACHE?
Over-the-counter pain relievers usually do the trick. Other people like hot packs. However, if you are getting this type of headache all the time, you'll want to call your physician. It could be a sign of depression.