IN order to properly treat a headache, one first has to identify the type. The most popular types of headache are tension, sinus and migraine.

Tension headache is most common and is also known as chronic daily headache. It is characterised by a constant ache or pressure at the temples or the back of the head and neck, and is usually caused by work conditions, sleep posture or over-exercising.

When the sinuses become inflamed due to infection, sinus headaches occur. It is characterised by a deep, constant pain in the forehead, cheekbones or the bridge of the nose, and is accompanied by other symptoms of sinusitis such as: nasal stuffiness, cough and sore throat. The pain tends to worsen with sudden head movement.

The most intense of the three is the migraine headache. Though the exact cause of migraines is unknown, they may be hereditary. A migraine is characterised by a moderate to severe pounding, throbbing pain on one side of the head. This may last between four hours and three days, usually occuring between one to four times per month, and is accompanied by either nausea and/or vomiting, or sensitivity to light and sound.

Remedy.

1 – For tension headaches, you could:

Sleep: try sleeping in a dark room, ideally flat on your back and without a pillow

Stretch exercises: simple neck and back stretches, such as slowly rolling your head in circles, then changing direction, done before or after exercise or when you have a headache, can help relieve tension.

2 – For sinus headaches, you could:

* Avoid irritants such as perfume and cigarette smoke

* Place a small towel in water, as hot as you can tolerate, and apply to your forehead

3 – For migraines, you could:

Stretch: the neck (chin forward, upward, and toward each shoulder) then shrug shoulders up (up, forward and up and back) and then press palm into forehead and hold. Press hand on each side of the head; hold each stretch for five seconds twice a day for 20 minutes.

* Wetting a towel, placing it in the freezer to cool and then holding it at the temples and lying down in a dark room.

* Avoid foods containing alcohol, phenylethylamine (found in chocolate and cheese) and tyramine

(found in nuts and fermented meats, cheeses, and

soy) as these are known migraine triggers for some individuals.

Chenee Davis has degrees in biotechnology and zoology, and occupational and environmental safety and health.