What are the causes of extreme headaches? Discover the diverse types of headaches, their symptoms, and effective treatments in this comprehensive guide. From tension-type headaches to migraines, cluster headaches, and thunderclap headaches, we explore the intricate factors that can lead to debilitating head pain.

Understanding the Diverse Causes of Extreme Headaches

Headaches are a common health concern that affects most individuals at some point in their lives. From emotional factors like stress, depression, and anxiety to medical conditions, physical injuries, and environmental triggers, the causes of extreme headaches can be multifaceted. Recognizing the specific type of headache and its underlying cause is crucial in determining the appropriate course of action for effective management and relief.

Tension-Type Headaches: The Most Common Form

Tension-type headaches (TTH) are the most prevalent form of headache, affecting approximately three-fourths of the general population. Previously known as “muscle contraction headaches,” TTH is closely associated with tension in the muscles of the neck, face, and jaw. A 2020 study found that TTH is closely linked to stress. Individuals with TTH may experience a constant, dull ache on both sides of the head, as well as a feeling of having a tight band around the head and pain spreading to or from the neck. TTH can be episodic, lasting for a few hours or several days, or chronic, occurring on 15 or more days per month for at least 3 months.

Migraines: The Third Most Common and Seventh Most Disabling Illness Globally

Migraines are the third most common and the seventh most disabling illness globally, affecting almost 16% of the U.S. population according to a 2021 survey. Migraine headaches are characterized by pulsating, throbbing pain that often occurs on one side of the head but may switch sides. During a migraine episode, individuals may also experience lightheadedness, sensory disturbances (such as changes in vision, known as an aura), sensitivity to light or sound, and nausea, possibly with vomiting. Migraine headaches can significantly impact an individual’s quality of life and can last from 4 to 72 hours if left untreated or unsuccessfully treated.

Medication Overuse Headaches: The Rebound Effect

Medication overuse headaches (MOH), also known as rebound headaches or medication-misuse headaches, occur in individuals who take medications to treat their headaches too frequently. People with primary headache disorders like migraine often develop MOHs, which can cause migraine episodes to occur more frequently and become more severe. Instead of alleviating symptoms, the medications can actually cause headaches and increase their intensity and frequency. MOHs tend to result from taking opiate-based medications, such as those containing codeine or morphine.

Cluster Headaches: Severe, Recurring Pain

Cluster headaches are characterized by brief but severe pain around or behind the eye on one side of the face. These headaches usually last between 15 minutes and 3 hours, and they may occur one to eight times per day. Cluster headaches may frequently arise for 4 to 12 weeks, then disappear. Between the clusters, the person may have no symptoms, and these remission periods may last months or years. Cluster headaches are often accompanied by red or watery eyes, drooping or swollen eyelids, blocked or runny nose, and a smaller pupil (constricted) in one eye.

Thunderclap Headaches: Sudden, Severe, and Potentially Life-Threatening

Thunderclap headaches are sudden, severe headaches that people often describe as the worst headache of their lives. They reach maximum intensity in about 30 seconds to a minute and slowly fade within a few hours. Thunderclap headaches are considered a secondary headache, as they can indicate a life-threatening condition, such as an aneurysm, reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome, meningitis, pituitary apoplexy, bleeding in the brain (hemorrhage), or a blood clot in the brain. Individuals who experience these sudden, severe headaches should seek immediate medical care.

Classifying Headaches: Primary vs. Secondary

Headaches can be categorized based on whether an underlying health condition is responsible for the pain. A primary headache is not a symptom of an underlying condition, while a secondary headache is a symptom of an underlying condition. Classifying the type of headache and its associated pain can help healthcare providers reach an accurate diagnosis and develop an effective treatment plan.

Seeking Appropriate Treatment for Extreme Headaches

Recognizing the specific type of headache and its underlying cause is crucial in determining the appropriate course of action for effective management and relief. Seeking medical attention and working closely with healthcare providers can help individuals identify the root cause of their extreme headaches and explore targeted treatment options, which may include medications, lifestyle modifications, and other therapies. By understanding the diverse causes of headaches and taking proactive steps, individuals can find relief and improve their overall quality of life.

Headaches: Causes, types, and treatment

Headaches are a common health problem that most people experience at some time.

Factors that lead to headaches may be:

• emotional, such as stress, depression, or anxiety
• medical, such as migraine or high blood pressure
• physical, such as an injury
• environmental, such as the weather

Frequent or severe headaches can affect a person’s quality of life. Knowing how to recognize the type of headache and its cause can help a person take appropriate action.

Some of the various kinds of headaches include:

Tension-type headache (TTH)

This is the most common form of headache, affecting three-fourths of the general population. Tension-type headache was previously called muscle contraction headache. It is associated with the muscles of the neck, face, and jaw.

A 2020 study found that TTH is closely related to stress.

A person with TTH may feel:

• as if they have a tight band around their head
• a constant, dull ache on both sides of the head
• pain spreading to or from the neck

Tension-type headaches may be episodic or chronic. Episodic attacks usually last for a few hours, though they can last for several days. When TTHs occur on 15 or more days per month for at least 3 months, they are considered chronic.

Learn more about tension-type headaches.

Migraine

Migraine is the third most common and the seventh most disabling illness globally. Based on a 2021 survey, it affects almost 16% of the U.S. population.

A migraine headache may involve pulsating, throbbing pain. It often occurs on one side of the head but may switch sides.

During an episode, a person may also experience:

• lightheadedness
• sensory disturbances, such as changes in vision, known as an aura
• sensitivity to light or sound
• nausea, possibly with vomiting

Migraine headaches are the second most common form of primary headache after TTH. They can significantly impact quality of life.

A migraine episode may last from 4–72 hours when untreated or unsuccessfully treated. The frequency of episodes can vary greatly, but many people have two to four migraine episodes in a month.

Learn about migraine triggers here.

Medication overuse headache (MOH)

Also known as rebound headaches and medication-misuse headaches, this type occurs in people who take medications to treat their headaches too often.

People with primary headache disorders like migraine often develop medication overuse headaches. These can cause migraine episodes to occur more frequently and become more severe.

Instead of alleviating symptoms, the medications cause headaches and increase their intensity and frequency. MOHs tend to result from taking opiate-based medications, such as those that contain codeine or morphine.

Beyond the headache, a person may experience:

• neck pain
• restlessness
• a feeling of nasal congestion
• reduced sleep quality

The location, severity, and frequency of MOHs vary from person to person, but they often occur daily or nearly daily and are present upon waking up. MOH can cause dull pain like a tension headache to more severe pain similar to a migraine headache.

Cluster headache

These headaches usually last between 15 minutes and 3 hours, and they may occur one to eight times per day.

Cluster headaches may frequently arise for 4–12 weeks, then disappear. They tend to happen at around the same time each day.

Between the clusters, the person may have no symptoms. These remission periods may last months or years.

Cluster headaches often involve brief but severe pain around or behind the eye on one side of the face. This pain can radiate to other parts of the face.

Learn more about headaches behind the eyes here.

The following may accompany a cluster headache:

• red or watery eyes
• drooping or swollen eyelids
• blocked or runny nose
• a smaller pupil (constricted) in one eye
• sweating on the forehead

Find out more about cluster headaches.

Thunderclap headache

These are sudden, severe headaches that people often describe as the worst headache of their lives. They reach maximum intensity in about 30 seconds to a minute and slowly fade within a few hours.

A thunderclap headache is a secondary headache that can indicate a life threatening condition, such as:

• an aneurysm
• reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome
• meningitis
• pituitary apoplexy
• bleeding in the brain (hemorrhage)
• blood clot in the brain

People who experience these sudden, severe headaches should receive immediate medical care.

Learn more about thunderclap headaches.

A headache can affect any part of the head, and pain may be present in one or several locations. Headaches also cause various types of pain. Classifying the pain can help a doctor reach a diagnosis.

Doctors also categorize headaches based on whether an underlying health condition is responsible for the pain. In other words, a headache may be primary or secondary, notes the International Headache Society.

Primary headaches

A primary headache is not a symptom of an underlying illness. Instead, these headaches result from problems involving the structures of the head and neck.

A primary headache may be due to overactivity of — or problems in — pain-sensitive structures in the head, including:

• specific areas of the brain
• blood vessels
• muscles
• nerves
• brain chemicals

Common primary headache disorders include migraine, cluster, tension, and medication overuse headaches.

Secondary headaches

This form of headache is a symptom of an underlying medical condition. The cause of a secondary headache may be:

• pregnancy
• systemic conditions, such as an infection
• hypothyroidism
• giant cell arteritis
• stroke
• brain tumor

According to an article in Practical Neurology, secondary headaches that occur during pregnancy are often caused by underlying conditions like eclampsia and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES).

Secondary headaches can result from serious health issues. A 2019 study lists red flags that are considered life threatening and require immediate attention:

• neurological symptoms like seizure, loss of consciousness, and confusion
• fever
• thunderclap headaches
• headache worsened by coughing, sneezing, or exercise
• headache occuring in those with a history of tumors
• being above 50 years old

It is also important for a person to seek medical advice if their headache:

• is severe or disruptive
• is persistent
• occurs regularly
• does not improve with medication
• occurs alongside other symptoms, such as confusion, fever, sensory changes, or sudden neck stiffening

Rest and pain relief medication are the main treatments for headaches.

Options include:

• over-the-counter pain relief medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• prescription pain relief medications
• preventive medication for specific conditions, such as migraine
• other treatments for underlying conditions

It is crucial for a person to follow their doctor’s guidance to prevent medication overuse headaches.

Treating medication overuse headaches involves reducing or stopping the medication. A doctor can help develop a plan to ease off the medication safely. In extreme cases, a person may need a short hospital stay to manage withdrawal safely and effectively.

To discover more evidence-based information and resources for headache and migraine, visit our dedicated hub.

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Several alternative forms of headache treatment, now known as integrative treatments, are available. However, it is important for a person to consult a doctor before making any significant changes or beginning new treatments.

Some of these approaches include:

• acupuncture
• cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• herbal and nutritional health products
• hypnosis
• meditation

A 2021 study found acupuncture therapy to be more effective than medications in treating chronic tension-type headaches, similar to the findings of a 2018 study. Meanwhile, a 2020 study found that using CBT decreased the frequency of migraine in children and adolescents.

Some evidence has suggested that migraine episodes may be more likely to occur when a person has low levels of magnesium and vitamin D. While the evidence is not conclusive, a person may find that taking 400–500 milligrams of magnesium oxide per day helps prevent episodes.

Nutrient deficiencies may result from the quality of a person’s diet, malabsorption issues, or other medical conditions.

Learn more about using magnesium to treat migraine.

Certain care strategies can help prevent headaches or ease the pain. A person may try:

• using a heat or ice pack against the head or neck, but avoiding extreme temperatures and never applying ice directly to the skin
• avoiding stressors whenever possible and using healthy coping strategies for unavoidable stress
• eating regular meals, taking care to maintain stable blood sugar levels
• getting enough sleep by following a regular routine and keeping the bedroom cool, dark, and quiet
• exercising regularly to boost overall health and lower stress
• limiting alcohol intake and drinking plenty of water
• taking breaks when working to stretch and prevent eye strain

Find more home care techniques for headaches.

The characteristics of a headache — and the effects on daily life — can vary. A headache may:

• affect one or both sides of the head
• radiate from a central point
• involve sharp, throbbing, or dull pain
• have a vise-like quality
• come on gradually or suddenly
• last from under an hour to several days

The features of the pain depend, to some extent, on the type of headache.

Is it a headache or migraine episode? What is the difference?

A doctor can usually diagnose a type of headache after asking the person about:

• their symptoms
• the type of pain
• the timing and pattern of attacks

In some cases, the doctor may perform or request tests to rule out more serious causes of head pain. The tests may involve blood samples or imaging, such as a CT or MRI scan.

Many people experience a headache at least once in their lives. While commonly not a cause for concern, some headaches may be too disabling and severe, affecting a person’s daily life.

Anyone who experiences severe or reoccurring headaches should consult a doctor or otherwise receive professional care.

Here, learn about some other types of headache.

Read the article in Spanish.

Severe Headache | Causes, When to Worry, & Treatment

Thunderclap headache

A thunderclap headache is a severe headache that feels like the worst of one’s life and it could be the sign of a bleed in the brain. You should see a doctor immediately!

Rarity: Uncommon

Top Symptoms: thunderclap headache

Urgency: Hospital emergency room

Tension headache (first onset)

Tension headache is described as feeling like there is a band around the head that gets tighter and tighter. The headaches may occur in episodes – a few times a week – or chronically, where they almost never entirely go away.

This is a common type of headache but the cause remains unclear. It may be a combination of stress and an overactive sensitivity to pain.

Symptoms include dull, aching pain and tightness in the forehead, sides, and back of the head, and sometimes pain in the neck and shoulder muscles. Unlike migraines, there is usually no nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light.

Tension headaches are not dangerous in themselves, but can interfere with work and with quality of life.

Diagnosis is made through patient history and sometimes physical examination. CT scan or MRI may be done to rule out a more serious cause of the headaches.

Over-the-counter and other pain relievers are sometimes prescribed. Lifestyle changes to reduce stress, improve diet, and increase exercise are often helpful, as is massage and biofeedback.

Rarity: Common

Top Symptoms: new headache, nausea or vomiting, moderate headache, loss of appetite, mild headache

Symptoms that always occur with tension headache (first onset): new headache

Symptoms that never occur with tension headache (first onset): photo and phonophobia, throbbing headache, headache resulting from a head injury

Urgency: Self-treatment

Sinus headache

Sinus headache, also called sinusitis or rhinosinusitis, is caused by either a bacterial or a viral infection of the sinuses (open spaces) behind the eyes and nose.

Symptoms include fever; thick nasal discharge which may be clear, white, greenish or yellowish; some loss of sense of smell; foul-smelling breath; and pain, congestion, and pressure over the sinus areas of the face, especially if bending forward or lying down.

A self-diagnosed “sinus headache” very often turns out to be a migraine headache with a few sinus symptoms. This requires very different treatment from an actual , and is an important reason to see a medical provider about any sort of ongoing headaches.

Diagnosis is made through patient history, physical examination, and sometimes CT scan or MRI of the head to look for changes in the sinuses.

A true sinus headache, if caused by a bacterial infection, will be treated with antibiotics. If caused by a viral infection, the symptoms can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers and alternating hot and cold compresses.

Rarity: Common

Top Symptoms: headache, headache that worsens when head moves, facial fullness or pressure, mucous dripping in the back of the throat, sinus pain

Symptoms that always occur with sinus headache: headache

Symptoms that never occur with sinus headache: fever, being severely ill, sore throat, muscle aches, cough, drooping eyelid, wateriness in both eyes

Urgency: Self-treatment

New migraine

A migraine is a one-sided headache that causes intense pain and throbbing due to blood vessels dilating in the brain.

The exact reason for new-onset migraine headache is not known, but a number of causes are being studied:

• Pregnancy.
• Soy isoflavone supplements, especially in men.
• Use and overuse of certain medications.
• Traumatic head injury.
• Angioma, which is a cluster of dilated blood vessels in the brain.
• A complication of surgery for some heart conditions.

Anyone with a sudden severe headache should be seen by a medical provider, so that a more serious cause can be ruled out. A transient ischemic attack, also known as TIA or mini-stroke, can have symptoms similar to a migraine but is far more serious.

Diagnosis is made through patient history, physical examination, and imaging such as a CT scan.

Treatment for migraine varies with the individual. Lifestyle changes may be recommended and there are a number of medications that may be tried.

Rarity: Common

Top Symptoms: new headache, fatigue, nausea, mild headache, headache that worsens when head moves

Symptoms that always occur with new migraine: new headache

Symptoms that never occur with new migraine: fever, diarrhea, productive cough, headache resulting from a head injury

Urgency: Self-treatment

Insomnia disorder

Insomnia disorder means being unable to fall asleep, or to stay asleep long enough to get the normal seven to eight hours of sleep per night.

Common causes are pain; sleep apnea; depression; stress and worry over life events; circadian rhythm disorders such as jet lag; aging; and certain medications.

Many medical conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, cause poor sleep. Women who are pregnant or menopausal may experience insomnia due to hormone shifts.

Symptoms include waking up during the night; feeling tired in the morning; daytime sleepiness and irritability; and increased errors and accidents through inability to concentrate.

Diagnosis is made through physical examination, patient history, and sometimes testing at a sleep study center.

Treatment consists of addressing underlying medical conditions, along with managing stress and checking all medications and supplements.

Improving “sleep hygiene” means establishing a routine of lying down in a dark room at the same time each night, with no television, computer, or phone. Avoiding food and caffeine before bedtime will prevent heartburn and wakefulness while trying to sleep.

Concussion not needing imaging

A concussion is also known as traumatic brain injury or TBI.

Concussion is the result of being struck in the head. In some cases, especially with infants, being violently shaken so that the head whips back and forth can also cause a concussion.

Most susceptible are those playing contact sports. However, concussion is often the result of an automobile accident or simple fall and can happen to anyone.

Symptoms include headache; loss of balance and coordination; difficulty with memory and concentration; and sometimes, but not always, loss of consciousness.

If symptoms do not clear within a few hours, or seem to get worse, take the patient to the emergency room or call 9-1-1.

Diagnosis is made through patient history and physical examination. A mild concussion does not show up on imaging because there is no bleeding or swelling in the brain. Mild concussion is entirely a disruption in brain function, with nothing to see on an image.

A concussion does not usually need treatment, but head injuries can result in more serious complications, like bleeding in the brain, you should be seen for an evaluation today, just to be sure. The health care provider will determine if imaging of your head, like a CT scan, is necessary. If your symptoms change or worsen, go to the ER immediately.

Rarity: Common

Top Symptoms: dizziness, irritability, depressed mood, difficulty concentrating, trouble sleeping

Symptoms that always occur with concussion not needing imaging: head or face injury

Symptoms that never occur with concussion not needing imaging: recent fall from 6 feet or higher, severe vomiting, posttraumatic amnesia over 30 minutes, slurred speech, fainting, moderate vomiting

Urgency: Primary care doctor

Common cold

The common cold is a contagious viral infection that can cause cough, congestion, runny nose, and sore throat. Most adults catch two to three colds per year, and kids can get more than eight colds each year.

Rest and drink plenty of fluids. Colds are contagious and can easily spread to other people, so if possible, avoid close contact with others, such as hugging, kissing, or shaking hands. Colds typically resolve within 7 to 10 days.

Cluster headache (first attack)

A “new onset” cluster headache means that the person has never experienced a before. These headaches most commonly start after age 20.

A cluster headache is characterized by intense pain on one side of the forehead, especially over one eye. It often strikes in “clusters,” meaning the headache comes and goes frequently. It may occur at about the same time of day for several days or weeks in a row.

The specific cause for cluster headache is not known. Drinking alcohol, breathing strong fumes, exercising to the point of becoming overheated, and heavy smoking are all possible triggers.

Diagnosis is made through patient history, since there is no specific test for cluster headache. Blood tests, neurologic tests, and imaging such as a CT scan or MRI may be done to rule out any other cause for the new onset of head pain.

Referral will be made to a headache specialist, who can offer new treatments to help the patient manage the symptoms and improve quality of life.

Rarity: Uncommon

Top Symptoms: new headache, severe headache, nausea, throbbing headache, congestion

Symptoms that always occur with cluster headache (first attack): severe headache, new headache

Urgency: Hospital emergency room

Acute bacterial sinusitis

Acute bacterial sinusitis, also called bacterial rhinosinusitis or “sinus infection,” has symptoms much like viral rhinosinusitis but a different treatment.

Any sinusitis usually begins with common cold viruses. Sometimes a secondary bacterial infection takes hold. Like cold viruses, these bacteria can be inhaled after an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Anyone with viral sinusitis, upper-respiratory allergy, nasal passage abnormality, lung illness, or a weakened immune system is more prone to bacterial sinusitis.

Symptoms include thick yellowish or greenish nasal discharge; one-sided pain in the upper jaw or teeth; one-sided sinus pain and pressure; fatigue; fever; and symptoms that get worse after first improving.

See a doctor right away for severe headache, high fever, stiff neck, or vision changes. These can indicate a medical emergency.

Diagnosis is made with a simple examination in the doctor’s office.

Bacterial sinusitis can be treated with antibiotics, but this is not always necessary.

Often rest, fluids, and over-the-counter pain relievers and decongestants are enough.

Prevention is done through good lifestyle and hygiene to keep the immune system strong.

Rarity: Common

Top Symptoms: fatigue, headache, cough, sinusitis symptoms, muscle aches

Symptoms that always occur with acute bacterial sinusitis: sinusitis symptoms

Symptoms that never occur with acute bacterial sinusitis: clear runny nose, being severely ill

Urgency: Primary care doctor

Cluster headache

A cluster headache is a type of recurring headache that is moderate to severe in intensity. It is often one-sided head pain that may involve tearing of the eyes and a stuffy nose. Attacks can occur regularly for 1 week and up to 1 year. Each period of attacks (i.e. each cluster) is separated by pain-free periods that last at least 1 month or longer. Other common headaches may also occur during these cluster-free periods.

Rarity: Uncommon

Top Symptoms: severe headache, nausea, throbbing headache, history of headaches, sensitivity to light

Symptoms that always occur with cluster headache: severe headache

Urgency: Hospital emergency room

When to see a doctor for severe headaches

Make an appointment with your medical provider if:

• Your headaches are becoming more severe or more frequent
• Your headaches are accompanied by certain signs that are typical of headache syndromes: Such as visual changes like spots or lines, nausea, inability to tolerate light and sound, and a runny nose or eye tearing on the same side as the headache
• You have tenderness over your temple
• Your headaches are severe enough to interfere with your daily life
• You recently had a lumbar puncture or epidural anesthesia

Medical treatments for severe headaches

Your medical provider may prescribe one of the following severe headache treatments, depending on the cause of your severe headache:

• A daily medication to prevent future headaches: And/or a medication to take to stop a headache once it has begun.
• Referral to a neurosurgeon: If your headaches are being caused by a structural abnormality
• Treatment for any underlying medical conditions that may be contributing to the headache
• Using a headache calendar: This can help track your headaches, identify triggers, and monitor your response to treatment.
• Stopping a pain medication that may be contributing to the headache

At-home treatments and prevention

Some home treatments may help with severe headache symptoms

• Avoid strong smells, cigarettes, and caffeine
• Use good sleep hygiene: Such as going to sleep at the same time every night and avoiding electronics at bedtime
• Avoiding stressful situations and using stress reduction techniques: Meditation can help prevent headaches.

• Have you been feeling more tired than usual, lethargic or fatigued despite sleeping a normal amount?
• Any fever today or during the last week?
• Have you experienced any nausea?
• Have you lost your appetite recently?

Self-diagnose with our free Buoy Assistant if you answer yes on any of these questions.

Headache: causes, diagnosis, treatment

By: Administrator | Tags: types of headache, headache, what to do if your head hurts | Comments:
0 | September 24, 2021

When you have a headache, it is difficult to concentrate on work, school, household chores, and even leisure. Pain reduces the quality of life, interferes with rest and sleep, does not allow to follow the usual way of life. The disease is associated with individual anatomical features of an individual organism. Scientists and doctors do not stop conducting research so that any headache is diagnosed in a timely manner, otherwise adequate treatment cannot be prescribed. What to do if your head hurts – you will learn in this article.

Types and causes of headaches

Every person has had a headache at least once in their life. Sometimes the discomfort goes away after a rest or a good night’s sleep. But if a chronic headache occurs, only a doctor can help find the source of the disease.

Problems may arise due to:

• meteorological dependence;
• frequent stress;
• overheating in the sun, in a bath or sauna;
• prolonged exposure to cold and hypothermia;
• bad habits: too much with strong alcohol, tobacco, etc.;
• sleep disturbances: this is a common reason why your head hurts, what to do – get enough sleep and adjust your schedule;
• overeating, poor appetite;
• exorbitant physical activity.

According to the classification, headaches are divided into:

Primary – associated with disorders of the brain (as an example – tension headache or migraine).
Secondary – which are concomitant symptoms of other diseases. This type manifests itself after injuries, problems with the cervical spine, viral diseases, cerebral ischemia in the chronic stage and other ailments.

Consider the most common types of headaches and their causes.

Manifestation of tension headache

It is the most common variety from the group of primary pains. Occurs due to physical overload of the muscles of the shoulder girdle or due to mental stress (stress, phobias, anxiety, depression). If we look deeper, the manifestation is associated with irritation of the nociceptive system.

More common in active young people of working age, students. Usually, this is not a severe headache, but rather dull and monotonous, with a squeezing and pressing effect. Throbbing pain in the head can persist from half an hour to several days.

How does migraine manifest itself?

Migraine – mostly occurs in the fairer sex, with two-thirds of cases – a manifestation of menstrual migraine. Although the mechanism of occurrence and prerequisites for development have not yet been fully studied. Regardless of age, both women and men may experience migraine cluster headache due to physical and emotional overload, due to dietary failures or obsessive pungent odors, after alcohol, due to weather dependence, due to strong noise, etc. It covers half of the head and can be strong or medium, but it is possible to cope with it. Ask your doctor what to do if you have a headache with a migraine.

What to do about a headache with colds?

With a cold, pain in the temples or in another part of the skull appears due to an increase in body temperature and intoxication of the body (toxins affect the functioning of brain cells). May spread throughout the head. The causes of headache in this case are viruses and bacteria. The pain syndrome is joined by: cough, pharyngitis or laryngitis, fever and other symptoms.

Pain in the head with cerebral ischemia

With this disease in the chronic stage, not only does the head hurt in the forehead, but throughout the head, and the discomfort is aggravated by emotional lability, dizziness, impaired coordination of movements, reduction in cognitive functions, disorders of the organs of vision, hearing. At the same time, the head hurts for a long time and constantly, but not much.

Headache as a symptom of other diseases

If the left temple hurts or there is a headache in the frontal part, this may be due to vascular diseases: vegetovascular dystonia, ischemic attack, hypertension, venous discirculation and other ailments.

Vegetovascular dystonia is accompanied, in addition to headache, by nausea and pressure drops, loss of consciousness, neurological disorders.

In hypertension, spasms are combined with clouding in the eyes, nausea, tinnitus, pain in the area of ​​the heart muscle. At the same time, the head hurts in the back of the head, less often in other parts of the skull.

Patients with venous dysfunction experience attacks of pain in the morning and in the evening in the form of a pressing, dull spasm.

Examinations for headaches and diagnosis of diseases

It doesn’t matter if the right side of the head or any other area hurts, timely diagnosis is needed from specialists in various fields: from a general practitioner and neurologist to a neurosurgeon, ophthalmologist and, if necessary, an infectious disease specialist.

In each case, the examination is prescribed on an individual basis, but you can not do without research and analysis, which are considered basic:

• dopplerography;
• lipidograms;
• computed tomography of the skull;
• examination of the cervical spine;
• electroencephalography;
• complete blood count and sugar test;
• thyroid diagnostics.

Headache treatment

After a full examination and an accurate diagnosis, the treatment should be prescribed by the attending physician. The symptoms are studied (the right temple or other part hurts), the diagnostic results are compared and after that individual therapy is selected. Depending on the type of disease, its severity, the presence of concomitant diseases and the age criterion, the doctor writes a treatment regimen that must be strictly followed.

The total treatment includes not only analgesics, but also physiotherapy, medications for symptomatic and disease management, sedatives, etc.
If you experience frequent headaches, migraines, and tinnitus, you need to make an appointment with neurologist (neuropathologist) of our clinic.
In the treatment and diagnostic center “LORITOM” individual therapy for headaches is carried out, patients are diagnosed using high-tech equipment. Therefore, the accuracy of the diagnosis and the results of treatment in our clinic are at their best.

Author
Dubenko Olga Evgenievna
Neurologist, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Neuropathology and Neurosurgery KhMAPE

Treatment of strong head pain in St. Petersburg

“Headache” – this phrase can be heard from a woman or a man, a small child or a very old man. This is a characteristic symptom of many very different diseases, as well as a side effect of fatigue or simply not feeling well. A severe headache is an alarming symptom that the body signals about serious problems in its condition and cannot be ignored.

What is a headache and its types

A person begins to feel pain in the head due to irritation of pain receptors in the meninges, brain vessels, skull bones or facial muscles. Headache varies in intensity, time of occurrence, the nature of the sensations that a person experiences.

A severe headache can be so excruciating that a person is not only unable to lead a normal life, but even get out of bed. Many of us try to treat a headache on our own, which is sometimes justified when it is not strong and rarely occurs, but when severe pain bothers you regularly, you should definitely consult a doctor.

Types of headaches

Headache can be primary or secondary. Primary headaches are a disease in and of themselves without association with any other pathology (eg, migraine). Secondary pains may appear as a result of other pathologies, both of the immediate brain and other organs or systems. Most often, patients go to the doctor with migraine pain, tension headache, severe pain with a cold or flu, pain that occurs when there is a violation of blood circulation in the vessels of the brain (ischemia).

Features of migraine pain

Migraine is the most common form of primary headache. It can be so strong that the WHO has included it in the list of 20 diseases that cause the greatest degree of impaired adaptation of patients. Women suffer from it three times more often than men.

A classic migraine attack, which can last from 4 hours to 3 days, is often accompanied, in addition to severe throbbing pain, by nausea, vomiting, photophobia, aggravated by physical exertion or loud sounds. Various causes can cause an attack – severe mental or physical stress, changes in hormone levels (in women, menstrual cycle fluctuations are the most common cause of migraines), the use of chocolate, alcohol, coffee, or certain drugs.

In some patients, the attack is preceded by the appearance of a migraine aura, with characteristic signs – visual “special effects”, numbness or tingling in the lips, tongue, half of the face.

Features of tension pain

Pain can last from 30 minutes to several days. Unlike migraine, it is less intense and does not cause nausea and vomiting. Pain sensations are bilateral, usually not strong, pressing and squeezing, monotonous and dull. Patients complain of sensitivity and soreness of the muscles of the head and neck. May be exacerbated by bright light or loud noise. Psycho-emotional stress, depression, anxiety and various phobias, overstrain of the muscles of the shoulder girdle are the causes of tension headache. The attack is accompanied by severe weakness, loss of appetite, insomnia, decreased performance.

Features of cold pain

Headaches are a characteristic symptom of most acute or chronic respiratory diseases of a bacterial or viral nature. The intensity of the headache depends on the severity of the cold symptoms. The more intense the signs of intoxication, cough, sore throat, the stronger the pain. It affects the whole head, coughing attacks or moving the head make it worse. Its duration depends on the condition of the patient. It goes away as it heals.

Features of ischemic pain

Pain occurs due to cerebrovascular accident, cerebral vascular stenosis, or dementia, with organic damage to cerebral vessels. Along with a severe headache, vascular ischemia causes dizziness, fainting, fainting, impaired coordination of movements, and an unstable psycho-emotional state. In patients, “flies” may flash before the eyes and noise in the ears may appear. It is characterized by a long course, usually of medium intensity. The pain can affect both the entire head and have localized areas of pain.

How to determine the cause of a headache?

With complaints of primary headache, they turn to a neurologist. To make a diagnosis, the doctor will conduct a survey and clarify the patient’s complaints. If the vascular nature of pain is suspected, an ultrasound scan of the vessels of the brain and brachycephalic vessels of the neck, CT or MRI of the brain and blood vessels, general and biochemical blood tests are prescribed.

Headache treatment

Treatment
severe headaches are usually symptomatic. The doctor, based on the data obtained and taking into account the patient’s state of health, selects an effective anesthetic drug. With a headache caused by a cold, treatment is aimed at treating the underlying disease. With ischemic headache, atherosclerotic therapy of cerebral vessels is additionally performed, and adequate treatment of the underlying disease is also necessary. To prevent seizures, it is important to give up bad habits, eat right, consume plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and a minimum amount of trans fats, play sports and keep a daily routine.

A severe headache must not be ignored! The doctors of the Longa Vita multidisciplinary clinic will help to understand the reasons for its appearance. After a detailed examination and examination, the neurologists of our clinic, using modern diagnostic methods and therapeutic techniques, will select the most effective treatment for severe throbbing migraine pain, occipital pain with hypertension, tension headache, etc.