Headaches are one of the most common medical complaints; most people experience them at some point in their life. Headache is the symptom of pain in the face, head, or neck. It can occur as a migraine, tension-type headache, or cluster headache. They can affect anyone regardless of age, race, and gender.
Headaches are a very common condition that most people will experience many times during their lives. The main symptom of a headache is a pain in your head or face. This can be throbbing, constant, sharp or dull. Headaches can be treated with medication, stress management and biofeedback.
Causes
Causes of headaches may include dehydration, fatigue, sleep deprivation, stress, the effects of medications, the effects of recreational drugs, viral infections, loud noises, common colds, head injury, rapid ingestion of a very cold food or beverage, and dental or sinus issues (such as sinusitis).
Headache pain results from signals interacting among the brain, blood vessels and surrounding nerves. During a headache, an unknown mechanism activates specific nerves that affect muscles and blood vessels. These nerves send pain signals to the brain.
It can be a sign of stress or emotional distress, or it can result from a medical disorder, such as migraine or high blood pressure, anxiety, or depression. It can lead to other problems.
Types Of Headaches
There are more than 200 types of headache. Among them, some are dangerous and some are harmless.
According to International Headache Society (IHS) , headach are broadly classified in to two categories,
1) Primary headache
2) Secondary headache
Primary headaches
90% of all headaches are primary headaches. Primary headache are caused directly by the overactivity of, or problems with, structures in the head that are pain-sensitive. It starts in between the age of 20 to 40 years old.This includes the blood vessels, muscles, and nerves of the head and neck. They may also result from changes in chemical activity in the brain. Most common types of primary headaches are, migraines and tension type headache.
Migraine
Migraine present with pulsing head pain, nausea, photophobia and phonophobia, where photophobia shows sensitivity to light and phonophobia shows sensitivity to sound. Migraines tend to be recurrent, and each attack may last up to 3 days. For many, it is a life-long condition. It develops in females more than males.
Over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers, such as ibuprofen or aspirin, can stop headaches or reduce pain and duration. To relieve nausea and vomiting, doctors prescribe, such as metoclopramide or ondansetron. Migraine-specific combination drugs are also available.
Tension Type Headache
Tension Type Headache are very common, and most people will experience them occasionally. They usually present with non-pulsing "bandlike" pressure on both sides of the head, as a dull, constant pain felt on both sides of the head.
Other symptoms can include, tenderness of the face, head, neck, and shoulders, a feeling of pressure behind the eyes, sensitivity to light and sound. These headaches normally last from 30 minutes to several hours. Severity can vary, but they rarely prevent normal activities.
Other rare type of primary headache are,
1) Hemicrania continua
2) Trigeminal neuralgia or Occipital neuralgia
3) Cluster headaches
Secondary headaches
Secondary headaches are symptoms that happen when another condition stimulates the pain-sensitive nerves of the head.Headaches may be caused by problems elsewhere in the head or neck.
More serious causes of secondary headaches include:
1) Meningitis
2) Intracranial hemorrhage
3) Subarachnoid hemorrhage
4) Ruptured aneurysm
5) Arteriovenous malformation
6) Intraparenchymal hemorrhage
7) Temporal arteritis
8) Acute closed angle glaucoma
9) Brain tumor
Wide range of different factors can cause secondary headaches.These include:
“brain freeze,” or ice-cream headaches, carbon monoxide poisoning, concussion, dehydration, glaucoma, teeth-grinding at night, influenza, overuse of pain medication, known as rebound headaches etc...
Other Types of headaches
There are many types of headaches,
Tension type headaches
Cluster headaches
Migraines
Thunderclap headaches
Rebound headaches
Sinus headaches
Treatment
The most common treatment of headache are, pain relief medication and rest. There are some preventative medication, such as tricyclic antidepressants, serotonin receptor agonists, anti-epileptic drugs, and beta-,blockers, which are prescribed by doctors.
Several alternative forms of treatment for headaches are available, but it is important to consult a doctor before making any major changes.
1) Acupuncture
2) Cognitive behavior therapy
3) Herbal and nutritional health products
4) Hypnosis
5) Meditation
When to see a doctor
Most headaches are rarely a sign of something more serious and most people can manage them efficiently with OTC painkillers.
However, anyone who experiences severe, persistent, recurrent, or worsening headaches should consult a doctor. Medical assistance should be sought immediately for:
1) Headaches that come on very suddenly and are extremely painful.
2) Recurring headaches in children.
3) Following a significant blow to the head.
4)Headaches associated with confusion or disturbed vision, balance, or speech.
5) Headaches associated with numbness or weakness.
6) Headaches associated with fever, seizures, or unconsciousness.
7) Headaches accompanied by a stiff neck or rash.
8)Headaches associated with persistent vomiting.
Home remedies
Try a Cold Pack
If you have a migraine, place a cold pack on your forehead. Ice cubes wrapped in a towel, a bag of frozen peas, or even a cold shower may lessen the pain. Keep the compress on your head for 15 minutes, then take a break for 15 minutes.
Use a Heating Pad or Hot Compress
If you have a tension headache, place a heating pad on your neck or the back of your head. If you have a sinus headache, hold a warm cloth to the area that hurts. A warm shower might also do the trick.
Eat regular meals, taking care to maintain stable blood sugar.
Avoid stressors, where possible, and develop healthy coping strategies for unavoidable stress.
Turn down the lights
Exercise
Check for food intolerance