How can you tell if your headache requires urgent care. What are the warning signs of a potentially dangerous headache. When should you worry about headache pain lasting for days. Which headache symptoms indicate a medical emergency.

Recurring Headaches: Frequency and Impact on Daily Life

Chronic headaches, defined as headaches occurring 15 or more days per month for over three months, can significantly disrupt daily activities. If you experience two or more headaches weekly that interfere with your routine, it’s time to consult a medical professional.

Possible underlying causes of recurring headaches range from tension headaches to more serious neurological issues. A healthcare provider can help identify triggers and develop an appropriate treatment plan to manage symptoms effectively.

When do recurring headaches warrant medical attention?

• Frequency: 15+ days per month for over 3 months
• Severity: Interfering with daily activities
• Occurrence: 2+ headaches per week

Persistent Headaches: Duration and Impact on Quality of Life

While a long-lasting headache can be debilitating, it’s not always cause for immediate alarm. However, if you’ve experienced a continuous headache for a week or more, it’s advisable to seek medical evaluation. Persistent headaches may indicate an underlying headache disorder or other health concerns.

Consider seeking professional help if your headache persists for an extended period, especially if it impacts your ability to function normally or requires frequent medication use for pain management.

Signs that a persistent headache requires medical attention:

• Duration: Lasting more than one week
• Impact: Difficulty functioning in daily life
• Medication use: Frequent pain relief medication required

Changes in Personality or Mental Function: Potential Stroke Indicators

An intense headache accompanied by confusion, weakness, or loss of coordination could be a sign of a stroke. Recognizing these symptoms and seeking immediate medical attention is crucial for preventing irreversible brain damage.

Stroke symptoms often include difficulty walking, speaking, or slurred speech. If you observe these signs in yourself or someone else, seek emergency medical care without delay. Prompt treatment can significantly improve outcomes for stroke patients.

Key stroke symptoms to watch for:

• Intense headache
• Confusion or disorientation
• Weakness or numbness
• Loss of coordination
• Difficulty walking or speaking
• Slurred speech

Intense Pain: The “Worst Headache of Your Life”

If you experience a headache that you would describe as the worst of your life, it’s crucial to seek immediate medical attention. These sudden, intense headaches, often called “thunderclap headaches,” may indicate a life-threatening condition such as an aneurysm or bleeding in the brain.

While only about 10% of thunderclap headaches are caused by brain hemorrhages, the potential severity of the condition warrants urgent medical evaluation. A healthcare provider can perform necessary tests, such as a CT scan, to rule out serious underlying causes and administer appropriate treatment.

Additional symptoms that may accompany a severe headache:

• Blurred vision
• Loss of consciousness
• Seizures

Headache with Fever and Stiff Neck: Potential Meningitis Warning

The combination of a severe headache, fever, and stiff neck could indicate meningitis, an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord membranes. This condition requires immediate medical attention, as some forms can progress rapidly and lead to serious long-term disability or death.

Additional symptoms of meningitis may include muscle pain, vomiting, drowsiness, and a rash. If you suspect meningitis in yourself or someone else, seek emergency medical care without delay. A healthcare provider can determine the appropriate course of treatment based on the specific type of meningitis present.

Key meningitis symptoms to be aware of:

• Severe headache
• Fever
• Stiff neck
• Muscle pain
• Vomiting
• Drowsiness
• Rash

Headache After Head Injury: Concussion and Brain Injury Concerns

Any head injury, even those that appear minor, should be evaluated by a medical professional. A headache following a blow to the head may indicate a concussion or other brain injury that requires proper assessment and treatment.

Concussion symptoms can include loss of consciousness, dizziness, nausea, and confusion. If you suspect a concussion in yourself or someone else, seek medical attention promptly. Healthcare providers can conduct necessary tests and scans to determine the severity of the injury and recommend appropriate treatment.

Common concussion symptoms to watch for:

• Headache
• Loss of consciousness
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Confusion

Headache Accompanied by Visual Disturbances: Migraine or Something More?

While visual disturbances are common in migraine headaches, they can also indicate more serious conditions. Visual symptoms such as blurred vision, blind spots, or flashing lights may be associated with retinal problems, increased intracranial pressure, or even stroke.

If you experience persistent or severe visual disturbances along with your headache, especially if they’re new or different from your usual migraine symptoms, it’s important to seek medical evaluation. A healthcare provider can perform necessary tests to rule out underlying conditions and recommend appropriate treatment.

Visual symptoms that may warrant medical attention:

• Sudden onset of blurred vision
• Persistent blind spots
• Flashing lights or zigzag patterns
• Double vision
• Partial or complete loss of vision

Headaches During Pregnancy: When to Be Concerned

While headaches are common during pregnancy, certain types or patterns of headaches can signal potential complications. Severe headaches, especially in the second or third trimester, may indicate preeclampsia, a serious pregnancy-related condition characterized by high blood pressure.

If you’re pregnant and experience persistent or severe headaches, particularly if accompanied by other symptoms such as vision changes, abdominal pain, or swelling, contact your healthcare provider immediately. Early detection and management of pregnancy-related complications are crucial for the health of both mother and baby.

Pregnancy headache red flags:

• Severe or persistent headaches
• Headaches accompanied by vision changes
• Sudden onset of headaches in the second or third trimester
• Headaches with abdominal pain or swelling

Headaches in Children: Special Considerations

Headaches in children can be challenging to assess, as young children may have difficulty describing their symptoms. While most childhood headaches are not serious, certain signs warrant prompt medical attention.

If a child experiences frequent or severe headaches, headaches that wake them from sleep, or headaches accompanied by changes in behavior or school performance, it’s important to consult a pediatrician. Additionally, headaches associated with fever, neck stiffness, or persistent vomiting should be evaluated promptly.

When to seek medical care for a child’s headache:

• Frequent or severe headaches
• Headaches that wake the child from sleep
• Changes in behavior or school performance
• Headaches with fever, neck stiffness, or persistent vomiting
• Headaches following head injury

Cluster Headaches: Recognizing and Managing Severe Pain

Cluster headaches are extremely painful headaches that occur in cyclical patterns or clusters. They are characterized by intense pain, often described as a burning or piercing sensation, typically centered around one eye. While not life-threatening, cluster headaches can significantly impact quality of life and may require specialized treatment.

If you experience recurring, severe headaches with symptoms such as redness and tearing of the eye, nasal congestion, or restlessness during attacks, consult a healthcare provider. They can diagnose cluster headaches and recommend appropriate treatments, which may include oxygen therapy, medications, or preventive measures.

Distinguishing features of cluster headaches:

• Severe, one-sided pain (typically around the eye)
• Redness and tearing of the affected eye
• Nasal congestion or runny nose on the affected side
• Restlessness or agitation during attacks
• Attacks occurring in cycles or clusters

Headaches and Medication Overuse: A Vicious Cycle

Ironically, frequent use of pain medications to treat headaches can lead to medication overuse headaches, also known as rebound headaches. This condition occurs when pain relievers are used too often, causing the body to become dependent on the medication and triggering headaches when it wears off.

If you find yourself using pain relievers more than two or three days per week or if your headaches worsen or become more frequent despite medication use, it’s time to consult a healthcare provider. They can help you break the cycle of medication overuse and develop a more effective treatment plan for your headaches.

Signs of medication overuse headaches:

• Headaches becoming more frequent or severe
• Need for increasing doses of pain medication
• Headaches occurring daily or near-daily
• Headaches improving temporarily with medication but returning as it wears off

New-Onset Headaches in Older Adults: Potential Red Flags

While headaches can occur at any age, new-onset headaches in older adults (typically those over 50) should be taken seriously. These headaches may indicate underlying health issues such as temporal arteritis, a condition that can lead to vision loss if left untreated.

If you’re an older adult experiencing new or different headaches, especially if accompanied by symptoms like jaw pain, vision changes, or scalp tenderness, seek prompt medical evaluation. Early diagnosis and treatment of conditions like temporal arteritis can prevent serious complications and improve outcomes.

Concerning symptoms in older adults with new-onset headaches:

• Sudden onset of severe headaches
• Headaches accompanied by jaw pain or difficulty chewing
• Vision changes or loss
• Scalp tenderness
• Unexplained weight loss or fever

Understanding when to worry about a headache is crucial for maintaining your health and well-being. While most headaches are not life-threatening, certain symptoms and patterns can indicate more serious underlying conditions. By recognizing these warning signs and seeking appropriate medical care when needed, you can ensure that any potential health issues are addressed promptly and effectively.

Remember, if you’re ever in doubt about the severity of your headache or if you’re experiencing any of the symptoms discussed in this article, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and consult a healthcare professional. Your health is paramount, and taking action when necessary can make all the difference in managing headaches and any associated conditions.

When to Worry About a Headache: 7 Most Serious Symptoms

May 28, 2019

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At Advance ER, we know that headaches are common, but sometimes serious warning signs. Here’s how you’ll KNOW when to worry about a headache.

When to Worry About a Headache: 7 Most Serious Symptoms

Here’s how you’ll KNOW when to worry about a headache.

Headaches are often treated like taxes or bad weather: a minor annoyance that we just have to put up with.

Thankfully, most headaches aren’t serious. But what do you do when you have one that is particularly painful or continues to interrupt your daily life?

There are more than 150 different kinds of headaches. It can be difficult to know if what you’re experiencing is normal or a warning sign that something more serious is going on.

Read on to learn more about when to worry about a headache.

• Recurring Headaches
  Chronic headaches are defined as headaches that occur 15 days or more a month for longer than three months. They can disrupt your daily life and be difficult to manage without medical advice.
  Seek medical care if you are regularly having two or more headaches a week and the symptoms are interfering with your daily activities. There are many possible underlying causes. These range from simple tension headaches to serious problems with the brain.
  Your doctor will be able to determine the most likely cause and the best course of treatment. They will help you identify your headache triggers and make changes in your daily routine to reduce your symptoms.

• Persistent Headaches
  A long-lasting headache can be a miserable experience that often leads to missed days of work or school. However, it is usually not a cause for alarm on its own. If you notice that you have had a headache for a week straight, it may be time to go to the doctors and see what the issue is.
  While a persistent headache isn’t automatically a sign of a serious underlying condition, it can be an indicator of a headache disorder. You should seek a professional opinion if you experience a headache that lasts longer than a week.
  If you are having trouble functioning in daily life or have to frequently take medications to manage the pain, talk with your doctor.

• Changes in Personality or Mental Function
  If you or someone else has an intense headache along with confusion, weakness, or loss of coordination, seek emergency medical help immediately. These symptoms could be the warning signs of a stroke.
  Knowing the signs and symptoms of a stroke will help you know what to look for. If someone is having trouble walking and speaking, or if they are slurring their speech, get them to the emergency room right away. A stroke left untreated can cause irreversible damage to the brain.
  Your doctor will be able to perform an emergency assessment. Treatment varies depending on the type of stroke.

• Intense Pain
  If you have a headache that you would describe as being the worst headache of your life, you should seek medical help immediately. Intense, sudden headaches (often called thunderclap headaches) are not always serious, but they can be a sign of a potentially life-threatening condition.
  A sudden and intense headache can indicate an aneurysm or bleeding in the brain. Additional signs of this are blurred vision, loss of consciousness, and seizures. Untreated aneurysms can lead to coma or death.
  Only about 10% of thunderclap headaches are caused by bleeding in the brain but seek medical attention right away. A doctor can order a CT scan to rule out an aneurysm or administer treatment as necessary.

• Headache with Fever and Stiff Neck
  If you are experiencing fever and a stiff neck in addition to a severe headache, there is a chance you could be suffering from meningitis. Meningitis is an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord membranes. Additional symptoms include muscle pain, vomiting, drowsiness, and a rash.
  Meningitis requires immediate medical attention. Some forms of the illness will go away on their own, but bacterial meningitis progresses quickly and can lead to serious long-term disability or death.
  If you suspect you or someone else may be suffering from meningitis, get medical help immediately. Your doctor will determine the necessary course of treatment.

• Headache After a Blow to the Head
  Head injuries should always be evaluated by a medical professional. Even if the injury appears to be minor, they should rule out any serious damage that might not be immediately obvious.
  A headache after a blow to the head may not be serious, but it could indicate that you have suffered a concussion or other brain injury. In that case, tests and scans should be conducted to determine the severity.
  Symptoms of a concussion include loss of consciousness, dizziness, nausea, and confusion. If you suspect someone has suffered a concussion, take them to the emergency room immediately. If you are the one affected, have someone drive you. Do not drive yourself.
  You may experience symptoms such as headache and trouble concentrating for up to months after the initial injury. These symptoms generally go away with time and rest, but they should be monitored. Your doctor can help you manage these symptoms.

• Headache with Nausea and Vomiting
  It is not unusual for nausea and occasional vomiting to happen with a bad headache, especially if you are suffering from a migraine. Migraines are typically associated with symptoms such as vision disturbances and dizziness that can lead to nausea and vomiting. These symptoms are unpleasant and sometimes debilitating, but they are generally not life-threatening and go away with time and treatment.
  If you experience frequent vomiting that goes on for longer than a day or two, it’s best to seek medical care. Continued vomiting can cause dehydration, which can lead to serious complications.

When to Worry About a Headache
If your headache goes on for a long time, keeps coming back, or interferes with your life in general, you should consult a medical professional for help managing your discomfort. If you or someone you love has a very severe headache or additional symptoms like confusion and loss of consciousness, it could be an emergency.

Get help immediately.

Headaches can range from annoying to debilitating, but you don’t have to suffer. Knowing when to worry about a headache is the first step toward your best health. The next step is knowing when to go to the emergency room for treatment. 

When to Go to the Emergency Room for Headache Treatment? 

First, remember that individual situations can vary and it’s always best to consult with a healthcare professional or call (214) 494-8222 our emergency room if you’re unsure about the severity of your symptoms.

That being said, there are certain situations where it might be advisable to consider going to the emergency room for headache treatment:

1. Sudden, severe headache: If you experience an intensely severe headache that comes on suddenly, sometimes described as the “worst headache of your life,” it could be a sign of a serious condition such as a ruptured aneurysm or bleeding in the brain. Seek emergency medical care immediately.

2. Headache after head injury: If you’ve recently experienced a head injury, such as a fall, and develop a headache along with symptoms like loss of consciousness, confusion, vomiting, or difficulty speaking, it’s important to seek medical attention promptly.

3. New or different headache: If you have a history of headaches but suddenly experience a new or different type of headache, especially if it is accompanied by neurological symptoms like vision changes, weakness, numbness, or difficulty speaking, it’s advisable to consult a healthcare professional.

4. Headache with other concerning symptoms: If you have a headache along with symptoms such as fever, neck stiffness, rash, seizures, or changes in mental status, it may be a sign of a more serious underlying condition that requires urgent evaluation.

5. Chronic headache worsening dramatically: If you have a pre-existing chronic headache condition (e.g., migraines) but experience a sudden and severe worsening of symptoms that is unresponsive to usual treatment measures, it might be appropriate to seek emergency care

If you require professional care, Advance ER medical services will get you on the path to wellness. Call (214) 494-8222 or contact us online for medical care. 

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• Common Emergency Room Symptoms

Headache: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

A headache is pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck. Serious causes of headaches are rare. Most people with headaches can feel much better by making lifestyle changes, learning ways to relax, and sometimes by taking medicines.

The most common type of headache is tension headache. It is likely caused by tight muscles in your shoulders, neck, scalp, and jaw. A tension headache:

• May be related to stress, depression, anxiety, a head injury, or holding your head and neck in an abnormal position.
• Tends to be on both sides of your head. It often starts at the back of the head and spreads forward. The pain may feel dull or squeezing, like a tight band or vice. Your shoulders, neck, or jaw may feel tight or sore.

A migraine headache involves pain that is throbbing, pounding, or pulsating, and is on one side of your head. It usually occurs with other symptoms, such as vision changes, sensitivity to sound or light, or nausea. With a migraine:

• The headache may be associated with an aura. This is a group of warning symptoms that start before your headache.
• The pain usually gets worse as you try to move around.
• Migraines may be triggered by foods, such as chocolate, certain cheeses, or monosodium glutamate (MSG). Caffeine withdrawal, lack of sleep, and alcohol may also be triggers.

Rebound headaches are headaches that keep coming back. They often occur from overuse of pain medicines for other headaches like migraine or tension headaches. For this reason, these headaches are also called medicine overuse headaches. People who take pain medicine more than 3 days a week on a regular basis can develop this type of headache.

Other types of headaches:

• Cluster headache is a sharp, very painful headache that occurs daily, sometimes up to several times a day for months. It then goes away for weeks to months. In some people, the headaches never come back. The headache usually lasts less than an hour. It tends to occur at the same times every day.
• Sinus headache causes pain in the front of the head and face. It is due to swelling in the sinus passages behind the cheeks, nose, and eyes. The pain is worse when you bend forward and when you first wake up in the morning.
• Headaches may occur if you have a cold, the flu, a fever, or premenstrual syndrome.
• Headache due to a disorder called temporal arteritis. This is a swollen, inflamed artery that supplies blood to part of the head, temple, and neck area.

In rare cases, a headache can be a sign of something more serious, such as:

• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Bleeding in the area between the brain and the thin tissue that covers the brain (subarachnoid hemorrhage)
• Blood pressure that is very high
• Brain infection, such as meningitis or encephalitis, or abscess
• Brain tumor
• Buildup of fluid inside the skull that leads to brain swelling (hydrocephalus)
• Buildup of pressure inside the skull that appears to be, but is not a tumor (pseudotumor cerebri)
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Lack of oxygen during sleep (sleep apnea)
• Problems with the blood vessels and bleeding in the brain, such as arteriovenous malformation (AVM), brain aneurysm, or stroke

There are things you can do to manage headaches at home, especially migraines or tension headaches. Try to treat the symptoms right away.

When migraine symptoms begin:

• Drink water to avoid getting dehydrated, especially if you have vomited.
• Rest in a quiet, dark room.
• Place a cool cloth on your head.
• Use any relaxation techniques you have learned.

A headache diary can help you identify your headache triggers. When you get a headache, write down the following:

• Day and time the pain began
• What you ate and drank over the past 24 hours
• How much you slept
• What you were doing and where you were right before the pain started
• How long the headache lasted and what made it stop

Review your diary with your health care provider to identify triggers or a pattern to your headaches. This can help you and your provider create a treatment plan. Knowing your triggers can help you avoid them.

Your provider may have already prescribed medicine to treat your type of headache. If so, take the medicine as instructed.

For tension headaches, try acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen. Talk to your provider if you are taking pain medicines 3 or more days a week.

Some headaches may be a sign of a more serious illness. Seek medical help right away for any of the following:

• This is the first headache you have ever had in your life and it interferes with your daily activities.
• Your headache comes on suddenly and is explosive or violent. This kind of headache needs medical attention right away. It may be due to a ruptured blood vessel in the brain. Call 911 or the local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency room.
• Your headache is “the worst ever,” even if you regularly get headaches.
• You also have slurred speech, a change in vision, problems moving your arms or legs, loss of balance, confusion, or memory loss with your headache.
• Your headache gets worse over 24 hours.
• You also have a fever, stiff neck, nausea, and vomiting with your headache.
• Your headache occurs with a head injury.
• Your headache is severe and just in one eye, with redness in that eye.
• You just started getting headaches, especially if you are older than 50.
• Your headaches are associated with vision problems, pain while chewing, or weight loss.
• You have a history of cancer or immune system problem (such as HIV/AIDS) and develop a new headache.

Your provider will take a medical history and will examine your head, eyes, ears, nose, throat, neck, and nervous system.

Your provider will ask many questions to learn about your headaches. Diagnosis is usually based on your history of symptoms.

Tests may include:

• Blood tests or a lumbar puncture if you may have an infection
• Head CT scan or MRI if you have any danger signs or you have been having headaches for a while
• Sinus x-rays
• CT or MR angiography

Pain – head; Rebound headaches; Medication overuse headaches; Medicine overuse headaches

• Headache – what to ask your doctor

• Brain
• Headache

Digre KB. Headaches and other head pain. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 370.

Garza I, Robertson CE, Smith JH, Whealy MA. Headache and other craniofacial pain. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff’s Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 102.

Hoffman J, May A. Diagnosis, pathophysiology, and management of cluster headache. Lancet Neurol. 2018;17(1):75-83. PMID: 29174963 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29174963.

Jensen RH. Tension-type headache – the normal and most prevalent headache. Headache. 2018;58(2):339-345. PMID: 28295304 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28295304.

Rozental JM. Tension-type headache, chronic tension-type headache, and other chronic headache types. In: Benzon HT, Raja SN, Liu SS, Fishman SM, Cohen SP, eds. Essentials of Pain Medicine. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 20.

Updated by: Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Department of Neurology, Cooper Medical School at Rowan University, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

ᐈ Chronic headache ~【Causes and treatment in Kyiv】

According to WHO, about half of all people experience a headache once a year. It is good when a single attack either stops after a few minutes, or is quickly eliminated by taking a simple medicine. But sometimes pain begins to disturb regularly, while significantly reducing the quality of life and can cause disability. Chronic headache is a feeling of pain in the occipital, parietal, temporal part of the head, which manifests itself systematically and lasts at least two weeks.

If you experience these symptoms, you should take the problem seriously and immediately consult a doctor to find out the cause of your discomfort. The MEDIKOM clinic has a high-class diagnostic base that helps experienced specialists to absolutely accurately determine the sources of headache and select the optimal treatment method.

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Classification

More often people of working age from 18 to 65 complain of headaches. About a third of them report migraine attacks, and about 4% suffer from chronic headaches that last more than 14 days a month. Headache is becoming a problem for people in all countries regardless of age, occupation, income level and racial differences.

Headaches can be recurrent or chronic. Periodic pain, as a rule, occurs with a frequency of no more than 1-2 times a week, is of a general nature and disappears without medical attention. However, if headache attacks become more frequent, the intensity of the pain increases, and pain relief is required for its relief, you should consult your doctor.

Chronic (persistent) headaches are primary and secondary. The primary types of headache are divided into the following main groups:

• Migraine.
  Occurs on one side, can be severe or moderate, pulsating or constant. Often with minor physical stress provokes nausea and vomiting. The headache attack lasts from several hours to 3 days. May appear once a week or once a year. They are first observed in the puberty period, and by the age of 35 it reaches its peak. Women suffer from migraines twice as often as men.
• Chronic tension headache.
  The most common type of headache. There is a feeling of squeezing, as if wrapped in a tight bandage. The pain may radiate to the neck. A headache attack often lasts from several hours to several days. Chronic tension-type headache occurs in 1-3% of the adult population. Among patients – 60% of women and 40% of men. The onset of the disease most often occurs in adolescence. Chronic tension-type headache can last for a long time and, in comparison with intermittent headache, contribute more to a decrease in quality of life.
• Cluster.
  A rare type of primary persistent headache. They are observed in 0.1% of adults. Unlike other types of chronic headache, this pain is 6 times more likely to bother men. The disease is first diagnosed mainly at the age of over 20 years. This is a frequent headache in the form of short but very severe attacks, felt in the eye sockets (sometimes one-sided), accompanied by redness of the eyes, watery eyes, runny nose or nasal congestion from the pain localization. Sometimes there is drooping of the eyelids. Attacks of cluster pain can be both manifestations of chronic headache, and periodic.

The main types of secondary chronic headache:

• Abuse – a consequence of excessive intake of painkillers. This type of secondary chronic headache is the most common, affecting about 7% of the adult population, mostly women. The pain has a pressing character, lasts long enough and reaches its maximum intensity in the morning after waking up.
• Persistent headache caused by problems with cerebral circulation, including stroke.
• Chronic headache as a result of traumatic brain injury and various diseases: brain tumors, ENT pathologies, hypertension, infectious diseases, including meningitis.

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Etiology and pathogenesis

All people are familiar with episodic headache, even practically healthy people. But for some people, the pain becomes intense, and attacks become more frequent. Frequent headaches should make you alert and see a doctor. Qualified medical care will allow you to establish the causes of chronic headache and choose an adequate treatment.

Very often the causes of chronic headaches are:

Unnatural and forced position of the head and neck, oxygen starvation, spasms of cerebral vessels can also cause chronic headaches.

Causes of secondary headache:

• mental disorders;
• injuries;
• infectious inflammations;
• vascular diseases;
• pathologies of the neck, spine, ENT organs, oral cavity;
• drug reaction.

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Headache is often a symptom of an incipient illness. For example, pain during a conversation, chewing food, brushing your teeth, which stop at rest, can be the cause of cranial nerve neuralgia.

The appearance of a headache in the back of the head with tinnitus, flickering in the eyes and nausea may indicate hypertension. A sharp intense headache often becomes a sign of an acute stroke. Spasmodic headaches are often caused by diseases of the ears, nose, or teeth. Severe, dull pain, especially in the back of the head and crown, can be caused by degenerative-dystrophic disease, pathologies of the spine.

Clinical manifestations, symptoms, signs of headache

Watch out for symptoms of chronic headaches. The intensity of pain, the frequency of attacks, concomitant effects, such as nausea, nasal congestion, tinnitus, etc., may indicate various diseases.

Manifestations of chronic headache, the symptoms of which indicate the development of various diseases:

• cerebral hemorrhages and brain tumors – pain occurs suddenly, sometimes accompanied by symptoms characteristic of meningitis;
• brain tumors, subdural hematoma or drug abuse – pain is prolonged, with increasing intensity;
• meningitis, encephalitis, neuroborreliosis, systemic vasculitis – pain associated with fever and skin rash, sore neck, aggravated by movement;
• cerebral hemorrhage or brain tumor – the pain is due to coughing or physical effort.

All of the above symptoms of chronic headache require immediate investigation.

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Chronic headaches during pregnancy

80% of pregnant women experience headaches. It can appear even in those who had no health problems before pregnancy. Most often appears in the first or third trimester of pregnancy and can be very strong.

If a woman had a migraine or chronic headache before pregnancy, the problem may develop into hypertension during pregnancy. And this is the risk of premature birth. Also during this period, a woman is more likely to develop preeclampsia, thrombosis of the cerebral arteries, compression of the brain, which are accompanied by a headache.

Pregnant women must be under mandatory medical supervision. The attending physician, if necessary, will refer you for diagnosis and treatment of chronic headache.

Factors contributing to frequent headaches during pregnancy:

• dehydration;
• stress:
• lack of fresh air;
• overweight;
• infectious and other diseases;
• changes in hormonal status;
• hunger leading to a drop in glucose levels;
• hypotension or arterial hypertension;
• consumption of foods containing tyramine and phenylamine.

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If you notice signs of chronic headache during pregnancy, try to follow these simple rules:

• sleep in a dark, well-ventilated room;
• eat fractionally and enough to eliminate bouts of hunger;
• walk outdoors;
• take a break every half an hour during work;
• exercise, such as swimming.

Chronic headache in children

If a child under 6 points to the head, this does not always indicate pain. General malaise, dizziness, tinnitus and other sensations can cause anxiety. In this case, a consultation with a pediatric neurologist will help, who, knowing the characteristics of childhood, will help to establish the true cause of complaints.

In older children, there are 2 periods associated with an increase in headache complaints:

• 1st is 6–7 years old, when the child goes to school and his stress load increases;
• 2nd – 13-15 years old, during puberty.

In children, the vast majority of attacks (90%) of headaches are tension pain, and migraine is also diagnosed. Both types of pain are the result of hunger or dehydration, drinking caffeinated drinks, eating and sleeping disorders. These conditions are not life-threatening for the child, but they must be distinguished from conditions where the child needs emergency care.

Seek immediate medical attention if:

• the cause of pain is an injury;
• the child woke up in pain at night;
• in addition to pain, there is vomiting, pain and difficulty in moving in the neck, loss or impairment of vision, impaired consciousness, uncertainty when walking, high fever.

Attention to the peculiarities of the child’s condition will help prevent the severe consequences of chronic headache.

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Headache First Aid

If you have a headache, take a pain reliever prescribed by your doctor.

To relieve pain, lie down in a darkened, quiet room, ask your loved ones not to disturb you and do everything to remove provoking factors. If the cause of the pain is vasospasm, you can take a warm shower. You can’t take a bath, a contrast shower is also contraindicated, it can cause vasospasm. If possible, you can do a light massage of the head and neck. On the day after the attack, do not overeat or drink alcohol.

Diagnosis of chronic headaches

Headaches can be caused by a variety of causes, so different methods are used for diagnosis. Differential diagnosis of headache makes it possible to establish the causes of pain.

Examination begins with laboratory diagnostics, which includes a complete blood and urine test.

To determine the causes in the differential diagnosis of headache, the following tests are carried out:

• Ultrasound of neck vessels;
• CT;
• electroencephalography;
• in some cases MRI.

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Conducting a differential diagnosis of headache will allow you to establish an accurate diagnosis and choose the right tactics for treating the disease.

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Treatment of chronic headaches

The choice of treatment for chronic headaches depends on the cause of the pain. The doctor will prescribe therapy to eliminate the headache. The treatment method is chosen after a detailed study of the signs of chronic headache and the results of the examination. Therapy is selected individually, taking into account such factors:

• type of pain;
• disease severity;
• age and sex of the patient;
• health status and the presence of other diseases.

To relieve pain, the doctor will select analgesics and antispasmodics. Indicates in what doses drugs should be used, and also indicates the duration of treatment for chronic headaches.

If necessary, soothing, relaxing, anticonvulsant, vascular drugs, neuroprotectors will also be prescribed. Treatment of chronic headache with physiotherapy methods can be effective: electrophoresis, massage, procedures in water. Strict adherence to the doctor’s prescriptions will avoid the severe consequences of chronic headache.

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Prevention of headaches: tips and tricks

Prevention of headaches is a healthy lifestyle, including proper nutrition, sufficient physical activity, adequate sleep.

Following simple rules reduces the intensity of pain and the number of attacks:

• periodically take breaks from work, during which you can do simple exercises in the fresh air;
• drink enough water throughout the day;
• observe the diet, avoid starvation and overeating;
• do not abuse coffee and alcohol;
• for eye diseases, wear glasses or lenses fitted by an ophthalmologist;
• treat diseases of the nose, if necessary, visit an ENT doctor;
• visit the dentist every six months;
• Take your medicines recommended by your doctor regularly.

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Q&A

What is tension headache?

Tension headache is a girdle headache, the sensation of a hoop being put on. The primary diagnosis of HDN is reduced to the exclusion of internal disorders: blockage of blood vessels, tumors and other brain diseases. Therefore, do not neglect the advice of a neurologist. In the treatment of tension headache, doctors take care of restoring the psycho-emotional state of a person and relieving the pain syndrome.

What will chronic headaches lead to?

Chronic headaches are often caused by poor sleep, long-term use of analgesics, or as a consequence of extra pounds. If headache attacks last continuously for more than 3 days in a row for more than 3 months, then they are chronic.

Which headache is especially dangerous?

Headache is dangerous if it occurs in the form of a backache, especially in children and people over 50 years of age. It is also dangerous when the duration of pain is more than 3 days in a row, it increases intensively for a short time, and the frequency of attacks or the strength of tension increases, squeezing occurs. The manifestation of headache in patients with HIV, oncology, etc. is unsafe. It is worth being careful, paying attention if the headache intensifies with physical exertion, sudden movements.

Do I have to endure a headache?

Headache is not recommended, regardless of its duration. However, do not overuse medication. If headache symptoms recur frequently, it is worth consulting with your doctor to determine the causes and select a possible treatment.

Why doesn’t my headache go away?

Headaches will not go away if the causes of their occurrence are not eliminated: high blood pressure, vascular obstruction, tumor, etc. Headache diagnosis includes examination of the brain using MRI, CT, vascular ultrasound, general blood tests, blood pressure measurement .

How to relieve pain from chronic headache?

You can get rid of a headache attack with the help of painkillers. Antispasmodics help relieve spasm. A therapist or family doctor will help you choose specific medications based on the diagnosis.

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The article is for informational purposes only. Please remember: self-medication can harm your health.

Sources

• Ukrainian Wikipedia
• Medscape

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The author of the article:

Gancheva Elena Anatolyevna

Therapist of the highest category, gastroenterologist of the second category

Expert in the direction:

Ovchinnikova Natalia Nikolaevna

Head of the consultative, diagnostic and therapeutic department of the hospital, general practitioner of the highest category

Which doctor treats headaches?

Our MEDICOM clinic employs experienced specialists of all profiles who will conduct all the necessary examinations. Treatment should begin with a visit to a general practitioner (family doctor). After a detailed diagnosis, the doctor will recommend a narrow specialist. It can be a neurologist, an ENT doctor, an ophthalmologist, etc.

You can get effective treatment for chronic headaches in Kyiv in the departments of the clinic in Obolon and Pechersk. If you have any questions, please call or email us.

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Reviews

16.02.2022 09:02

Anna P.

Before prescribing treatment, I was fully examined, ultrasound of the vessels of the neck and head, MRI, etc.

23.01.2022 14:15 9000 3

Tetyana

Thanks to the author for all women, for a century, everyone has a headache.

11/19/2021 21:06

Maria Pavlovna

Thank you for the information, tomorrow I’m going to the doctor, I’ll be fully armed.

04.10.2021 16:57

Inesa

I don’t help anything, I want good analyses.

30.08.2021 07:10

Katya

Really correct information, Thank you very much.

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Total 5 reviews

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The International Classification of Headache 3rd Revision (ICHD-3) has come into force Initially, the classification and diagnostic criteria were presented as a beta version.

The previous revision took place in 2004.

Primary headaches

• New diagnostic criteria are included in the migraine with aura section to better distinguish it from transient ischemic attacks.
• Chronic migraine is included in the main diagnoses of the classification.
• The sections “tension headache” and “trigeminal autonomic cephalgia” did not change significantly.
• Revised diagnostic criteria for primary headache on cough, exercise, sexual activity, thunder, shooting, nummular, and hypnotic.

Secondary headaches

• The new classification allows the diagnosis of secondary headaches before treatment of the underlying cause.
• Headache associated with cranial or cervical vascular disorders includes a new form: headache associated with reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome, which presents with recurrent fulminant headaches.
• ICHD-3 recognizes that headache associated with vascular dissection and ischemic stroke can be acute as well as persistent (3 months or more).
• Revised criteria for headache associated with idiopathic intracranial hypertension and low CSF pressure.
• Drug abuse headache is defined as headache for 15 days or more of a month with medication abuse for at least 3 months, but a temporal association between events is no longer required.
• If patients experience chronic migraine and drug abuse, both diagnoses should apply.
• First recognized and classified as a headache associated with air travel – occurs when the aircraft descends, quickly disappears after landing.
• Trigeminal neuralgia was classified by an expert committee as classical, secondary and idiopathic neuralgia.

Diagnostic criteria for migraine with aura:

A. At least two attacks fulfilling criteria B and C.

B. One or more of the following fully reversible signs of aura:

The aura is a complex of neurological symptoms that usually occurs before the headache but may occur after the onset of the headache phase or follow it.

– visual

– sensory

– speech

– motor

– brainstem

– retinal

C. At least three of the following:

– at least one aura develops gradually , more than 5 minutes

– two or more aura symptoms occur in succession

– each aura symptom lasts 5-60 minutes

– at least one aura symptom is unilateral

– the aura is accompanied by a headache within 60 minutes.

Diagnostic criteria for chronic migraine:

A. Headache (migraine-like or tension-type headache) 15 days a month for more than 3 months, fulfilling criteria B and C.

B. Occurs in a patient who has at least five attacks meeting criteria B-D for migraine without aura or criteria B and C for migraine with aura.

C. Eight days of the month for more than 3 months meet any of the following two:

Criteria C and D for migraine without aura;

– criteria B and C for migraine with aura;

– consider that the patient has a migraine at the beginning of the attack, the improvement comes from taking triptan and ergot derivatives.