The pain and duration of the lingering headache may be annoying, but generally not life threatening. Taking productivity and quality of life issues into account, however, many experts believe headaches pose a heavy burden on people. Why do headaches have such a pervasive effect?

Two-thirds of all adult men and greater than 80 percent of women in developed countries suffer from them, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Their effects are just as destructive to developing nations too, largely because people don't regard headaches as a disease. WHO estimates about half of the people who have headaches never receive any treatment for them either.

People who suffer from chronic daily headaches amount to a staggering 4 to 5 percent of the world's population, surpassing the rate of many other illnesses. Experts believe, in relation to those suffering from disabilities, the number of headache sufferers is about the same.

Medical expenses, lost work time and lower productivity accounts for about $50 billion in losses for American businesses.

Headaches can be grouped into three kinds:

• Tension headaches make up the largest group (80 percent) that are largely treated with over-the-counter drugs

• Vascular headaches, including migraines and cluster headaches, can be painful and incapacitating and involve the nervous system

• Brain tumors, aneurysms or other maladies account for less than 2 percent

Migraines are particularly troublesome. Statistically, they affect some 30 million in the U.S. Seventy percent of migraine sufferers are women, mainly due to their fluctuating monthly hormonal cycles.

However, males suffer the lion's share (90 percent) of cluster headaches, aptly named because they occur in bunches, several in a day for as long as four months. Some experts believe cluster headaches are some of the most severe pains a man can suffer. They can even wake a man from a sound sleep.

Those who suffer from cluster headaches also endure other symptoms, including nasal congestion, drooping eyelids and eye tearing.

Health Scout July 14, 2004

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Headaches are so common that Americans dish out more than $1 billion every year to get relief from migraines. Just as troubling: The pain associated with migraines can be so severe that some patients will actually consider suicide as a reasonable alternative. Conventional medicine focuses on drugs that only solve the problem temporarily. I've found most people experience dramatic improvement after adopting the nutrition plan I promote. Most migraines seem to have a food-based reaction relating to wheat, dairy, sugar, or artificial preservatives or chemicals. Eliminating these foods and incorporating the other eating plan measures, frequently improves migraines. Generally there is a 70-80 percent reduction in the frequency and intensity of the pain after people begin following the eating plan that you can study in more detail in my book, Total Health Program. Headaches are very common problems for many people who see me for the first visit, but the vast majority of people who return in one month for their follow-up visit tell me that their headaches are gone. If you need additional help, I also recommend psychological acupressure tools like EFT. This technique focuses the attention on the cause of the stress, rather than just treating the pain. A series of EFT videos are also available that have been significantly updated and improved so you can learn to use this method on your own. Related Articles: Are You Caught in the Drug Trap? Find Out How to be Set Free From a Drug-Controlled Life Acupuncture 'Beats Headache Pain' More Clues to Migraine Pain Most Doctor Visits for Headache Due to Migraine Headache Patients Find Relief in Alternative Therapies