There are four types of headache:
1. Vascular
2. Muscle contraction (tension)
3. Traction
4. Inflammatory

The most common type of vascular headache is migraine. Migraine headaches are usually characterized by severe pain on one or both sides of the head, an upset stomach, and, at times, disturbed vision. Women are more likely than men to have migraine headaches. After migraine, the most common type of vascular headache is the toxic headache produced by fever.

Other kinds of vascular headaches include "cluster” headaches, which cause repeated episodes of intense pain, and headaches resulting from high blood pressure. Muscle contraction headaches appear to involve the tightening or tensing of facial and neck muscles.

Traction and inflammatory headaches are symptoms of other disorders, ranging from stroke to sinus infection. Like other types of pain, headaches can serve as warning signals of more serious disorders. This is particularly true for headaches caused by inflammation, including those related to meningitis as well as those resulting from diseases of the sinuses, spine, neck, ears, and teeth.

Symptoms

Many headache attacks are caused by stress triggers. Those who have never suffered from headaches or migraine will find it difficult to appreciate how awful they really are. Visual disturbances, nausea and pain are the main symptoms of a migraine. Learning to avoid things in your life which act as triggers or your response to them can help immensly in the treatment of migraines and tension headaches.
Often, pain killers aren’t completely affective and you may find yourself in an akward situation where you have to stop what you're doing and lie down quietly in a darkened room until the pain passes.

Treatment

Hypnosis, and other forms of alternative medicine, can help with any kind of pain that is triggered by stress. Pain relief and management are achieved by deep and rhythmic breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation and visualisation or 'guided imagery'. Creating a calm, peaceful environment has been proven to help balance the immune system, change the chemicals released in the brain and create a different physiological state when a person is subjected to stress. There are three main reasons why hypnotherapy can be effective in treating headaches:

1) The deep relaxation lowers your blood pressure, easing any tension in and around your brain.

2) The levels of stress hormones in your system drop, returning you to your 'base level'.

3) Your concentration and memory improve so you don't have to push yourself so hard afterwards

In any form of pain treatment, a comprehensive set of notes will be taken about your condition both past and present. Pain control techniques cannot be undertaken unless your doctor has diagnosed your headpain as a headache or a migraine and recommends relaxation or stress management as a suitable treatment.