FAQ's: Headache Frequently Asked questions

1. How prevalent are headaches? see statistics section for Australian statistics.Click Here

2. What causes Headaches?
There are many different causes of headaches; put simply-anything which causes irritation to the nerves around the face, head, neck, or even inside the skull, can cause pain in the head. These may include: dental problems, neck strain, eyestrain, eye diseases, jaw problems, blood pressure problems, ear/nose or throat problems, muscular tension... e.t.c. So you can see, there are many different causes,and this is why they should always be investigated by the appropriate trained professional(s) - especially if they persist, worsen, or begin suddenly. Migraines often have similiar causes, and many patients suffer both; with headaches often progressing to migraines. For more information, see the head illustration on the home page and roll over the areas you want to know more about.

3. Does stress cause Headaches
Stress is associated with a number of different types of headaches, and often is cited by patients as an aggravating factor to their attacks. Whether stress alone is enough to induce an attack of head-pain, is debatable; but it is thought that stress may have an effect on the nervous system, altering it's control of muscle tone and pain tolerance. Also release of certain 'stress' (adrenaline, cortisol) chemicals may have an effect on blood flow and central nervous system excitability.Read More about Stress

4. Can Headaches be treated?
Most headaches are due to non life threatening causes and can be relieved through appropriate treatment. It is always important to have them thoroughly investigated through consultation with your family doctor, and any specialists that may have unique insight into specific areas that your doctor believes need further investigating. Through following this simple model, the causes and aggravating factors can often be identified, and then addressed through the appropriate treatment(s). It should also be noted that there is often more than one factor involved in patient's headaches and it may be necessary to consult more than one practitioner to gain the necessary expertise and treatment to properly address the head-pain.
Most Headaches and Migraines are treatable. Read More about treatments

5. Does a more Severe Headache mean a more Severe problem?
Often a severe headache can be alarming to a patient, but there are no simple guidelines to follow here. This is why it is very important to have all headaches thoroughly diagnosed by experts, as even mild ones can herald major problems. Fortunately however, once diagnosed, the majority of headaches are quite treatable; and not due to serious problems.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

See Treatments Section Read More

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