Vascular Headaches

by Rose Williams

While many of us have heard of tension headaches and migraines there are very few people who have heard of vascular headaches. These headaches are thought of as being an abnormal function that occurs in the brain. The interesting thing about vascular headaches is that migraines, severe tension headaches, blood pressure headaches are also considered as part of the vascular headache class.

In vascular headaches the blood vessels in the brain become affected. This constriction and enlargening of the vessels allows blood to flow to the brain in an uncontrolled manner. (article continues below)

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In vascular headaches there are a few different types of headaches that can be found. Theses headaches are tension vascular headaches, migraine vascular headaches, toxic vascular headaches and cluster vascular headaches

Tension headaches develop into tension vascular headaches when the pain develops into a pulsating condition. Generally tension headaches have a steady, dull, aching pain that can be found on both sides of the head. This pain can become tension vascular headaches when the quality of the pain changes in its intensity.

Some tension vascular headache sufferers will describe the pain as if their head was encased in a vise that is continuously tightening. The pain starts off very gradually and as time passes it increases. Even though the pain is very severe and it can distract you from your tasks it does not have the debilitating effect of migraines.

When the pain in migraines become severe to the point of being disabling they are called migraine vascular headaches. The sensation of the pain comes in throbbing head pain or pulsating form.

 The symptoms of migraine vascular headaches are the same as that of the normal headache. In addition to these symptoms there may other symptoms like numbness, tingling in the face and arms and also vision changes.

These secondary symptoms are known as an aura. This is the body’s early warning call. From these symptoms we can prepare for the onslaught of migraine headaches. Without taking any form of medication the severity of migraine vascular headaches remain constant and they can last for more than 3 days.

Cluster headaches are a rare but very painful type of headache. As this headache occurs in groups or clusters it had been given the name Cluster headaches. Frequent Cluster headaches are another of the vascular headaches.

In this form the attack can last for weeks or months before it subsides. There is a period of remission followed by another cluster headache. With cluster headaches the symptoms sharp penetrating pain, red and teary eyes as well as a congested nose.

The last of the vascular headaches is known as toxic headache. This is the result of a fever which accompanies a very serious illness. Some of the sicknesses that can induce toxic headaches are tonsillitis, pneumonia, mumps and measles. In some cases toxic chemicals like lead, chemical solvents and alcohols can also cause the headache to turn into a vascular headache form.