Headaches affect a majority of the population from time to time. For some, though, headaches can be a daily condition. Whether suffering from tension headaches or migraines, people who experience regular headaches are often uncertain of what to do. While there are new medications that help control migraines better than in the past, results are erratic; continuing research provides hope for more effective solutions.

New Hope stems from New Research -

At the National Institute of Health, research projects addressing headache pain are conducted on a regular basis. It is now understood that headaches hurt because nociceptors, cells that feel pain, react to specific headache triggers and send messages along the trigeminal nerve to the thalamus. The thalamus controls the brain's reaction to certain stimuli and forwards messages to the parts of the brain that manage pain awareness.

Much of the research is focusing upon the brain's meninges. It is suspected that small changes in this lining may lead to stimulation of the trigeminal nerve and the vascular system of the brain. Understanding the relationship of these changes to the onset of a migraine may lead to better medications.

Mast cells, typically associated with immune system responses are also being investigated. These specialized cells may be releasing substances that activate the nociceptor cells that transmit the messages of pain to the brain. Finding the link will allow for new treatments that potentially stop headaches at the source.

The Genetic Component of Headaches -

It is well understood that headaches have a genetic component. That means that people with one or both parents who are headache sufferers have a much larger chance of developing headaches themselves. In 2008 a study showed that children who have regular headaches have different gene expression profiles than those who don't experience headaches. There may be specific, genetically related deficiencies that increase a person's likelihood of experiencing headaches throughout their lives.

Does Poor Sleep Cause Headaches or is the Other Way Around? -

Until the last few years it was believed that people who have headaches often sleep poorly. New research suggests that the equation is reversed. People who suffer from a lack of restorative sleep often have headaches.

While we don't know the cause, there are some people who just don't know how to sleep well. Once identified, they can be taught a series of behaviors that promote healthful sleep. With sleep patterns normalized, headaches decrease significantly and sometimes even disappear. In order to benefit from this particular research study patients are evaluated during sleep and a customized program is worked. Small changes can produce remarkable results.

Headache Relief from Unusual Sources -

One of the more unusual sources of headache relief is Botox. Injections of Botulinum toxin A, Botox, reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines. In comparison with the control group, 55% of subjects reported improvements whereas in those injected with a placebo only 35% indicated any improvement. At this point the use of Botox as a treatment for migraine is in the experimental stages.

Headaches are remarkably multidimensional occurrences. Even with constant research, scientists have only just touched the tip of the iceberg when it comes to understanding all the causes and their cures.