Shattering pain

Headache sufferers can find the search for pain relief a solitary and frustrating experience. Fortunately, they are not alone in this most common of complaints Sometimes it is a dull ache which spreads from the base of the head to the neck and shoulders. On other occasions, it occurs as a throbbing pain on the forehead or the crown. For an unlucky minority, it manifests as a needle-like jabbing just above the eye, so intense that chopping off the head seems a viable option as a cure. Whether it is our stressful lifestyle and computer-oriented work environments, the food and drink we eat, or simply a genetic disposition, headaches are an unwelcome visitor to most people's bodies.

Each year, tension headaches affect around 70 per cent of the population while migraines, their more severe cousins, attack some 15 per cent of people. Typically, they occur during the 20-50 age groups and tail off during the 60s and 70s. For reasons not yet fully understood, but probably linked to hormones, women tend to be the main sufferers of both types.

It is a common misconception that a bad headache is a migraine. In fact migraines are much more debilitating and tend to be accompanied by nausea, often preceded by flashes of light, zig zags, blind spots or stars. Occasionally, migraines are not felt in the head, but in the stomach, when they are known as an abdominal migraine. "Typically migraine occurs once a month in women more than men and is a moderate to severe headache lasting a few hours to three days often accompanied by nausea or vomiting and dislike of light and noise," explains Timothy Steiner, director of the Princes Margaret Migraine Clinic in London.

Scientists believe migraine is inherited, since studies show it does run in families. Stress is thought to bring on migraine or make it worse, while hormonal changes, such as menstruation and the menopause, also tend to trigger symptoms. Foods like nuts, chocolate, coffee, sauerkraut, wheat, cheese and other dairy products, and food additives are other likely catalysts.

"The pain can almost take over the whole of one side of your head and face so your teeth ache, your neck hurts, the whole of your head feels as though it is throbbing," says Ann Turner, director of the Migraine Action Association.

A migraine sufferer herself, she has found relief using a triptan drug, of which there are four on the market, but notes not everyone is so lucky. Each individual reacts differently to the treatment and some try for years before finding one that works.

Tension headaches, which affect most people at some time in their lives, are not generally as severe as migraines, but are usually the body's sign something needs to give. Often triggered by stress, they may also be caused by an inappropriate bed or chair, poor posture, over-use of computers or strained eyes. While the occasional headache can be alleviated by taking a painkiller, regular bouts indicate a chronic problem which should be addressed. "In the case of tension headaches, frequent use of painkillers may make it worse," warns migraine expert Steiner. Most symptoms can be controlled by relaxation techniques, and in the case of postural or other physical problems, a physiotherapist can provide appropriate treatment.

Complementary medicine is also effective in managing this type of headache, and has benefited migraine sufferers too. Relaxing treatments like aromatherapy, reflexology and acupuncture have proved successful, in addition to gentle exercise such as swimming or yoga. The herb feverfew is known to be helpful for vascular headaches. Scientists have shown a dose of the plant stops blood platelets from releasing too much serotonin, the chemical which tends to lead to migraine headaches. Willow bark, which contains salicylic acid (the main ingredient in the first aspirin) can also be an effective natural pain reliever.

Dee Atkinson, director of Napier's Clinic in Edinburgh, often gets referrals from GPs who have been unable to help patients. "We've got a more than 50 per cent chance of being able to treat the person," she says. Herbalists examine the patient as a whole and there are no side effects to their remedies. Like all treatments for the condition, they are by no means a cure. Every headache sufferer makes a lonely pilgrimage in search of their own personal pain relief Contact Napier's Clinics on 0131-225 5542 or 0141-339 5859. Migraine Action Association, 01932 352468 or see www.migraine.org.uk

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