Face a throbbing headache head on

More than 45 million Americans suffer from headaches that disrupt their daily routine.

Medical professionals recognize headaches as a legitimate neurobiological disease. Science is rapidly progressing to better understand what causes headaches.

"Headache pain is a real and legitimate condition," said Dr. Seymour Diamond, executive chairman of the National Headache Foundation and director and founder of the Diamond Headache Clinic. "Because headaches can interfere with having a good quality of life, frequent headache sufferers should see a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and a treatment plan specific to their needs."

Headaches can be classified into two main categories: primary and secondary. Primary headaches include tension-type, the most common form of headache. About 78 percent of adults experience tensiontype headaches at some point in their lives.

Causes may be related to chemical or neuronal imbalances in the brain or muscle tightening behind the neck or on the scalp. The pain is pressing or tightening, of mild to moderate intensity and occurs on both sides of the head.

Another type of primary headache, migraine, affects 29.5 million Americans. Migraines are characterized by throbbing pain on one side of the head and are often accompanied by nausea and light sensitivity. Triggers may be individual or a combination of diet, activity, environment, emotions, activity, medications or hormones. Migraines can last any where from four to 72 hours.

Unlike primary headaches, secondary headaches are caused by another disease or condition such as aneurysm or meningitis. These headaches can be lifethreatening, so immediate evaluation by a doctor is recommended.

For most primary headache sufferers, there are steps that can be taken to help enhance quality of life.

•Eat regular meals, avoiding food and drinks that are known to trigger headaches, such as aged cheeses, red wine, lunchmeats, hot dogs or foods with monosodium glutamate.

•Maintain a regular sleeping schedule, even on weekends and during vacations.

•Do daily stress-reduction techniques.

•Keep a "headache diary" of when headaches occur, along with any triggers, to share with a healthcare provider.

•Make an appointment with a healthcare provider to discuss symptoms.

•Participate in treatment. For more information, visit www.headaches.org.