Health & Beauty

Headaches

Types of headaches

The most common types of headaches usually are not serious but may occur again and again.

• Tension headaches are the most common type of headache and are often caused by stress and emotional strain. Most adults have tension headaches from time to time. See an illustration of possible areas of pain from a tension headache.
• Cluster headaches
• Migraine headaches. Approximately one-third of people who have migraine headaches first began having them as teenagers.

Common causes of headaches

Common causes of headaches include:

• Alcohol, caffeine, or other drug use or withdrawal.
• Changes in the levels of chemicals in the body (neurotransmitters).
• Coughing or sneezing.
• Dehydration.
• Dental problems or procedures, such as pain from grinding the teeth or from a root canal.
• Eating or drinking cold foods and fluids.
• Emotional stress.
• Exposure to smoke or fumes from chemicals, including carbon monoxide.
• Eyestrain.
• Fever.
• High altitude. Lower oxygen levels at high altitudes can cause headaches.
• Medical procedures, such as the aftereffects of a lumbar puncture (spinal tap).
• Medications. Many medications can cause headaches.
• Muscle strain in the neck, upper back, or shoulder muscles.
• Upper respiratory infections.

Erectile dysfunction

Q:

Is it true that men with erectile dysfunction are at increased risk of heart disease?

A:

Evidence suggests that men with erectile dysfunction have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke. This is likely due to the systemic nature of atherosclerosis — which can affect the blood vessels supplying the penis as well as blood vessels elsewhere in the body.

Erectile dysfunction has many causes, including some medications used to treat heart disease. Men with erectile dysfunction should be screened for other risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes.