Is It Just a Pain in the Head?

Zeller, Jr., Tom.  The Headache: The Science of a Most Confounding Affliction --- and a Search for 

         Relief.  New York: Mariner Books, 2025.  ISBN: 9780358507758

 

Do you ever have headaches?  Since the answer is likely, yes, Tom Zeller then wants to know if you ever have had not the normal run-of-the-mill headaches that can be cured with an aspirin, an Excedrin, or Tylenol, but rather the head-splitting pain of a migraine or head-banging pain of a cluster headache since these are the focus of The Headache.

 

Tom Zeller, an American journalist and cluster headache sufferer, opens with his own personal struggle with cluster headaches and his search for relief.  He then launches into a quest to discover why he has this debilitating reoccurring headache problem. He explores the science of headaches, focusing on the confusing and confounding science of the head.  Over centuries folks have been searching for cures and causes behind these head pains with limited success.  All sorts of reasons are suggested as to how the pain starts and what may cause it to die away for awhile, but the best minds in science are still acting like blind men examining an elephant and arguing over their findings.  Since each person experiencing these head pains are unique, what may be a trigger for one person does not bother another.  Likewise a cure for one can be a dud for another.   And often over time the seemingly wonderful cure stops working for particular individuals.  To compound things more, since the science of headaches is not a highly regarded field of study, funding for research is limited.  In all, this adds up to a very frustrating mess for headache sufferers  who are still desperately hoping for some relief.

 

If you suffer from migraines or cluster headaches, know someone who does, or are just interested in exploring aspects of neurological science, pick up The Headache and join Tom Zeller on his journey!