What are the main types of headaches. How can you identify different headaches based on their location and symptoms. What causes various types of headaches. How can understanding headache types help with proper treatment.

Understanding Tension Headaches: The Most Common Type

Tension headaches, also known as “tension-type” headaches, are the most prevalent form of primary headache. Globally, an estimated 46-78% of people experience them at some point in their lives, often beginning in adolescence. These headaches result from muscle tension in the shoulders, neck, scalp, or jaw.

Symptoms and Location of Tension Headaches

Tension headaches typically present as a pressing, dull pain. They are often described as “hatband” headaches due to the pain’s distribution around the back of the head, temples, and forehead, mimicking the sensation of a tight hat squeezing the head. The pain is usually mild to moderate in intensity and can last from a few hours to several days. Interestingly, tension headaches can coexist with migraines, with one potentially triggering the other.

Causes of Tension Headaches

The exact cause of tension headaches is not fully understood, but researchers believe they may result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The most common trigger is stress, but other potential causes include:

• Lack of sleep
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Skipping meals
• Alcohol consumption

Migraine: A Debilitating Primary Headache Disorder

Migraine affects approximately 1 billion people worldwide, causing moderate-to-severe primary headaches that typically occur on one side of the head. This condition can significantly impact daily activities due to its intensity and associated symptoms.

Migraine Prevalence and Gender Disparity

Migraine is more common among females than males. According to a 2018 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), women were twice as likely as men to experience migraine or a severe headache in the past 3 months. This gender disparity highlights the importance of considering hormonal factors in migraine research and treatment.

Symptoms and Location of Migraine

During a migraine episode, individuals may experience:

• Moderate-to-severe throbbing or pulsing pain on one side of the head
• Pain lasting 4-72 hours
• Worsening pain with physical activity

Some people experience migraine with aura, which includes sensory symptoms such as:

• Seeing bright or flashing lights
• Observing geometric patterns
• Experiencing auditory hallucinations
• Feeling numbness or tingling sensations

Other common migraine symptoms include:

• Neck pain and stiffness
• Sensitivity to light, sounds, and smells
• Nausea and vomiting
• Weakness
• Insomnia
• Unexplained mood changes

Causes and Triggers of Migraine

Experts believe that migraine may have a genetic component, as it tends to run in families. However, various factors can trigger migraine attacks, including:

• Stress
• Anxiety
• Hormonal changes in females
• Bright or flashing lights
• Tobacco use
• Caffeine and alcohol consumption
• Sleep disturbances
• Strong smells
• Certain foods (e.g., chocolate, matured cheeses, processed meats)

Cluster Headaches: Rare but Intense

Cluster headaches are a less common type of primary headache, affecting fewer than 1 in 1,000 adults, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Despite their rarity, cluster headaches are known for their intense pain and distinctive pattern of occurrence.

Prevalence and Demographics of Cluster Headaches

Unlike migraine, cluster headaches are more common in men than women. They typically develop in or after a person’s 20s, suggesting a potential link to hormonal or neurological changes that occur during this life stage.

Symptoms and Location of Cluster Headaches

Cluster headaches are characterized by:

• Recurrent, boring, burning, or piercing pain
• Pain typically behind or around one eye
• Severe intensity
• Duration of 20 minutes to 2 hours
• Frequent occurrence at night

Cluster headaches can be classified as episodic or chronic:

1. Episodic cluster headaches occur repeatedly over 2 weeks to 3 months, with potential remission periods of months or years.
2. Chronic cluster headaches persist for more than a year without remission, or with remission periods shorter than 3 months.

Additional symptoms of cluster headaches may include:

• Eye redness or watering
• Drooping or swelling of the eyelid
• Reduced pupil size in one eye
• Facial sweating
• Runny or blocked nose
• Restlessness

Interestingly, up to 33% of people with cluster headaches may also experience nerve pain, adding another layer of complexity to this condition.

Causes of Cluster Headaches

The exact cause of cluster headaches remains unclear. However, researchers suspect that they may result from dysfunction in the hypothalamus, a part of the brain involved in various physical functions. This theory could explain the cyclical nature of cluster headaches and their tendency to occur at specific times.

The Impact of Headaches on Daily Life

Headaches, regardless of their type, can significantly impact a person’s quality of life. They can interfere with work productivity, social interactions, and overall well-being. Understanding the specific type of headache one experiences is crucial for effective management and treatment.

Economic and Social Burden of Headaches

The World Health Organization reports that headache disorders are among the most common disorders of the nervous system. They not only cause substantial personal suffering but also impose a significant economic burden on society. Lost productivity due to headaches results in billions of dollars in economic losses annually.

Importance of Proper Diagnosis

Given the variety of headache types and their potential underlying causes, proper diagnosis is essential. A healthcare professional can help differentiate between primary and secondary headaches and develop an appropriate treatment plan. This may involve keeping a headache diary to track symptoms, triggers, and patterns.

Treatment Approaches for Different Headache Types

Treatment for headaches varies depending on the type, frequency, and severity of the condition. A comprehensive approach often involves a combination of lifestyle modifications, over-the-counter medications, and in some cases, prescription drugs.

Tension Headache Treatment

For tension headaches, treatment may include:

• Over-the-counter pain relievers (e.g., ibuprofen, acetaminophen)
• Stress management techniques
• Regular exercise
• Improving sleep habits
• Massage or physical therapy

Migraine Treatment

Migraine treatment often involves a multi-faceted approach:

• Abortive medications to stop an attack in progress
• Preventive medications to reduce frequency and severity of attacks
• Lifestyle modifications to avoid triggers
• Complementary therapies (e.g., acupuncture, biofeedback)

Cluster Headache Treatment

Treating cluster headaches typically focuses on:

• Oxygen therapy
• Triptans or other fast-acting medications
• Preventive medications during cluster periods
• In some cases, nerve stimulation or surgery

When to Seek Medical Attention for Headaches

While many headaches can be managed at home, certain symptoms warrant immediate medical attention. These red flags include:

• Sudden, severe headache often described as a “thunderclap”
• Headache accompanied by fever, stiff neck, confusion, or rash
• Headache following a head injury
• Chronic headaches that worsen over time
• New onset of headaches in individuals over 50 years old
• Headaches associated with vision changes, weakness, or loss of consciousness

If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s crucial to seek medical care promptly to rule out potentially serious underlying conditions.

Emerging Research and Future Directions in Headache Management

The field of headache research is continuously evolving, with new insights into the underlying mechanisms and potential treatments emerging regularly. Some exciting areas of current research include:

Genetic Studies

Researchers are investigating the genetic factors that may predispose individuals to certain types of headaches. This could lead to more personalized treatment approaches in the future.

Neuroimaging Advancements

Advanced brain imaging techniques are providing new insights into the structural and functional changes associated with different headache types. This could help in earlier diagnosis and more targeted treatments.

Novel Therapeutic Approaches

New classes of drugs, such as CGRP inhibitors for migraine, are showing promise in clinical trials. Additionally, non-pharmacological approaches like neuromodulation are being explored for various headache types.

Artificial Intelligence in Headache Diagnosis

AI-powered tools are being developed to assist in headache diagnosis and treatment planning, potentially improving accuracy and efficiency in clinical settings.

As research progresses, our understanding of headaches and their management continues to improve, offering hope for more effective treatments and better quality of life for those affected by these common yet often debilitating conditions.

Types by symptoms, location, and causes

A chart showing where a headache occurs may help people understand the cause. For instance, cluster headaches often occur behind or around one eye. Knowing the type of headache can help a person access suitable treatment.

There are many types of headache, and they may require professional care. Sometimes, this is because they stem from an underlying health condition.

Below, learn about the different types of headache, including their causes and other symptoms.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), almost half of all adults experience a headache at least once a year.

A headache results from inflammation in pain-sensitive parts of the head and neck. These areas include the:

• nerves
• muscles
• blood vessels

The International Headache Society classifies more than 150 types of headache. More broadly, doctors recognize two categories: primary and secondary headaches.

When someone has a primary headache, the headache itself is the main concern — it is not a symptom of an underlying problem. A secondary headache results from a different health issue.

These are sometimes called “tension-type” headaches. They result from muscle tension in the shoulders, neck, scalp, or jaw.

Tension headaches are the most common type of primary headache. Globally, around 46–78% of people experience one at some point. They often start during a person’s teenage years.

Symptoms and location

Tension headaches typically involve a pressing, dull pain. People sometimes refer to these as “hatband” headaches because the pain typically occurs around the back of the head, the temples, and the forehead, almost as if a tight hat is squeezing the head.

The pain is usually mild to moderate but not severe. It often comes on without warning, and can last from a few hours to several days.

Tension-type headaches can coexist with migraine, and one may trigger the other.

Causes

Researchers believe that tension headaches may occur in response to both genetic and environmental factors.

The most common cause is stress. Other possible causes include:

• a lack of sleep
• depression
• anxiety
• skipping meals
• alcohol use

Learn more about tension headaches.

Migraine affects approximately 1 billion people worldwide. It can cause a moderate-to-severe primary headache that typically occurs on one side of the head. The pain and other symptoms can keep a person from doing their daily activities.

Migraine is more common among females than males. According to a 2018 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), women were twice as likely as men to experience migraine or a severe headache in the past 3 months.

Symptoms and location

During a migraine episode, a person may have moderate-to-severe throbbing or pulsing pain on one side of their head. The pain may last 4–72 hours and worsen with physical activity.

Some people experience migraine with aura. An aura is a set of sensory symptoms, which may include:

• seeing bright or flashing lights
• seeing geometric patterns
• having auditory hallucinations
• having numbness or tingling sensations

Other symptoms of migraine can include:

• neck pain and stiffness
• sensitivity to light, sounds, and smells
• nausea and vomiting
• weakness
• insomnia
• unexplained mood changes

Causes

Experts believe that migraine may have a genetic cause, since the condition tends to run in families.

Other factors that could trigger it include:

• stress
• anxiety
• hormone changes in females
• bright or flashing lights
• tobacco use
• caffeine and alcohol consumption
• sleeping too much or too little
• strong smells
• certain foods, such as:
  • chocolate
  • matured cheeses
  • processed meats

Learn more about migraine.

Cluster headaches are a less common type of primary headache, affecting fewer than 1 in 1,000 adults, as the WHO reports.

The organization also notes that these headaches are more common in men than women and typically develop in or after a person’s 20s.

Symptoms and location

Cluster headaches typically involve recurrent, boring, burning, or piercing pain, typically behind or around one eye. The pain tends to be severe and may last between 20 minutes and 2 hours. It usually occurs at night.

Cluster headaches can be episodic or chronic. Episodic cluster headaches occur repeatedly over 2 weeks to 3 months. A person may not have another for months or years.

Chronic cluster headaches persist for more than a year without a remission — or with a remission shorter than 3 months.

Other symptoms of cluster headaches include:

• eye redness or watering
• drooping or swelling of the eyelid
• reduced pupil size in one eye
• facial sweating
• a runny or blocked nose
• restlessness

Up to 33% of people with cluster headaches may also experience nerve pain.

Causes

The cause of cluster headaches is not yet clear. However, they may result from dysfunction in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus, which is involved in several physical functions.

Cluster headaches often develop in people who smoke.

Learn more about cluster headaches.

This is also called a rebound headache, and it is the most common type of secondary headache.

A medication overuse headache results from the regular use of pain relief medications, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and opiates. It typically develops in people who have been taking large doses of pain relievers for at least 3 months.

For someone with a medication overuse headache, the pain is typically dull and constant, occurring on most days. The location of the pain varies from person to person.

Other possible symptoms include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• stomach pain
• diarrhea
• disturbed sleep
• restlessness

The sinuses are a network of air-filled cavities in the skull. The main sinuses sit inside the forehead, cheekbones, and nasal cavity. A sinus headache is a secondary headache, and the pain affects one or more of these areas.

Sinus headaches are usually a symptom of a sinus infection, and this type of infection is often bacterial.

Other possible symptoms of a sinus infection include:

• a runny nose
• green nasal discharge
• tenderness in the area
• painful teeth
• bad breath
• coughing
• a fever
• fatigue

Learn more about sinus headaches.

This is a secondary headache that occurs in response to head trauma.

Post-traumatic headaches are the most common acute symptom after a traumatic brain injury. Experts estimate that around 18–58% of people with this type of brain injury experience a post-traumatic headache within the next year. However, the headache usually develops 7 days after the injury.

A post-traumatic headache is often mild to moderate, and the pain may be pressing or dull. It frequently occurs in the:

• temples
• forehead
• neck

Less often, the headache may occur at the back and top of the head and around the eyes.

Other possible symptoms include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• sensitivity to light and sound
• impaired cognitive function
• anxiety
• depression
• urinary incontinence

Different types of headache can cause different types of pain. Headache pain also varies in severity, duration, and frequency.

There are two broad categories of headache: primary and secondary, depending on whether the headache is the primary concern or whether it results from another health condition.

Anyone with new or more frequent headaches should contact a healthcare professional. It is especially important to receive medical care for any headache that occurs with concerning symptoms or is severe or otherwise keeps a person from their daily activities.

Tension headache: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

A tension headache is the most common type of headache. It is pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck, and is often associated with muscle tightness in these areas.

Tension headaches occur when neck and scalp muscles become tense or contract. The muscle contractions can be a response to stress, depression, head injury, or anxiety.

They may occur at any age, but are most common in adults and older teens. It is slightly more common in women and tends to run in families.

Any activity that causes the head to be held in one position for a long time without moving can cause a headache. Activities may include typing or other computer work, fine work with the hands, and using a microscope. Sleeping in a cold room or sleeping with the neck in an abnormal position may also trigger a tension headache.

Other triggers of tension headaches include:

• Physical or emotional stress
• Alcohol use
• Caffeine (too much or withdrawal)
• Colds, the flu, or a sinus infection
• Dental problems such as jaw clenching or teeth grinding
• Eye strain
• Excessive smoking
• Fatigue or overexertion

Tension headaches can occur when you also have a migraine. Tension headaches are not associated with brain diseases.

The headache pain may be described as:

• Dull, pressure-like (not throbbing)
• A tight band or vise on or around the head
• All over (not just in one point or one side)
• Worse in the scalp, temples, or back of the neck, and possibly in the shoulders

The pain may occur once, constantly, or daily. Pain may last for 30 minutes to 7 days. It may be triggered by or get worse with stress, fatigue, noise, or glare.

You may have difficulty sleeping. Tension headaches usually do not cause nausea or vomiting.

People with tension headaches try to relieve pain by massaging their scalp, temples, or the bottom of the neck.

If your headache is mild to moderate, without other symptoms, and responds to home treatment within a few hours, you may not need further examination or testing.

With a tension headache, there are usually no problems with the nervous system. But tender points (trigger points) in the muscles are often found in the neck and shoulder areas.

The goal is to treat your headache symptoms right away and to prevent headaches by avoiding or changing your triggers. A key step in doing this involves learning to manage your tension headaches at home by:

• Keeping a headache diary to help you identify your headache triggers so that you and your health care provider can make changes in your lifestyle to reduce the number of headaches you get
• Learning what to do to relieve a headache when it starts
• Learning how to take your headache medicines the correct way

Many people can treat their tension headaches with conservative therapy, such as relaxation or stress-management training, including:

• Massage
• Biofeedback
• Cognitive behavioral feedback
• Acupuncture
• Ice or hot packs

When needed, medicines that may relieve a tension headache include:

• Over-the-counter (OTC) pain medicines, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen
• Narcotic pain relievers are generally not recommended
• Muscle relaxers
• Tricyclic antidepressants to prevent recurrences

Be aware that:

• Taking medicines more than 3 days a week may lead to rebound headaches. These are headaches that keep coming back due to overuse of pain medicine.
• Taking too much acetaminophen can damage your liver.
• Too much ibuprofen or aspirin can irritate your stomach or damage the kidneys.

If these medicines do not help, talk to your provider about prescription medicines.

Tension headaches often respond well to treatment. But if the headaches are long-term (chronic), they can interfere with life and work.

Call 911 if:

• You are experiencing “the worst headache of your life.”
• You have speech, vision, or movement problems or loss of balance, especially if you have not had these symptoms with a headache before.
• The headache starts very suddenly.
• The headache occurs with repeated vomiting.
• You have a high fever.

Also, contact your provider if:

• Your headache patterns or pain change.
• Treatments that once worked are no longer helpful.
• You have side effects from medicines, including irregular heartbeat, pale or blue skin, extreme sleepiness, persistent cough, depression, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain, cramps, dry mouth, or extreme thirst.
• You are pregnant or could become pregnant. Some medicines should not be taken when pregnant.

Learn and practice stress management. Some people find relaxation exercises or meditation helpful. Biofeedback may help you improve the effect of doing relaxation exercises, and may be helpful for long-term (chronic) tension headache.

Tips to prevent tension headaches:

• Keep warm if the headache is associated with cold.
• Use a different pillow or change sleeping positions.
• Practice good posture when reading, working, or doing other activities.
• Exercise the neck and shoulders frequently when working on computers or doing other close work.
• Get plenty of sleep and rest. 

Massaging sore muscles may also help.

Tension-type headache; Episodic tension-type headache; Muscle contraction headache; Headache – benign; Headache – tension; Chronic headaches – tension; Rebound headaches – tension

• Headache – what to ask your doctor

• Headache
• Tension-type headache

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.

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

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.

Main types and causes of headache

Article author:

Lysikova Tatyana Alexandrovna

, neurologist

Nowadays, you rarely meet a person who is not familiar with different manifestations of headache. It has many varieties, and each tells you about a malfunction in the body, so neurologists say that you can not endure a headache or constantly use painkillers. At the heart of any pain, including a headache, is a disease.

Headache is a symptom, in other words, an alarm signal, which is why an experienced doctor at the Semeynaya clinic will recommend not to eliminate a headache pointwise, but to undergo an examination and find the cause of the headache, and hence the disease itself. Modern medicine has learned to deal effectively with almost all types of headaches. Most often, patients complain about:

• intense pain in the temples,
• many are familiar with the pain of high blood pressure,
• owners of osteochondrosis know how their neck and head hurt during an exacerbation of this disease,
• Migraines often torment both the young and the elderly.

In all cases, not knowing the nature of the pain, and using the wrong drugs, you can only intensify it and worsen the situation with the underlying disease that causes headache. When visiting a doctor with complaints of a headache, he will definitely ask you to describe the pain in detail: “Where and how does your head hurt?”. Let’s try to deal with the main types and causes of headache.

Tension headache

Feeling of spreading, dull, monotonous pain that starts from the back of the head and neck, smoothly flows to the front of the head, to the temples, can be on one or both sides. In rare cases, it is accompanied by dizziness or nausea, reminiscent of pulling the head with a tight hat or ribbon.

Why is it dangerous not to pay attention to such a headache?

This kind of tension headache speaks of a strong tension in the muscles of the scalp and neck and appears due to severe mental stress or deep nervous exhaustion. People who feel such a headache most often do not seek help from doctors, but the frequent use of painkillers can in this case lead to an increase in pain sensitivity and an increase in the occurrence of pain.

How to treat a tension headache?

This type of pain has been known to doctors for a long time and can be successfully treated. After establishing the diagnosis, the doctor, depending on the severity and neglect of the disease, may prescribe the use of NSAIDs, muscle relaxants according to indications, vitamin preparations, a course of exercise therapy or some type of reflexology may be needed. You may need to contact a psychotherapist to get rid of depression, the doctor will conduct a psychoanalysis, work out internal and external conflicts, or prescribe medication. Having carried out a complex of therapeutic measures, you can get rid of disease causing headache.

Headache associated with the cervical spine

Headache associated with the cervical spine (cervicogenic cranialgia) is characterized as severe pain starting at the back of the neck, often accompanied by nausea and dizziness. It is provoked by a sharp movement of the neck, colds, air conditioners in the summer, and the wrong position of the head and body during sleep. There is muscle tension, spasm, which, in turn, increases pain – the so-called “vicious circle of pain.”

If you do not take preventive measures with systematic pain associated with dysfunction of the cervical spine, symptoms such as vascular insufficiency, hearing loss, vision loss, tinnitus may appear. Due to frequent exacerbations, the patient experiences mental discomfort, anxiety, depression, sleep may be disturbed and psychogenic sexual disorders appear.

Headache treatment for dysfunction of the cervical spine

Violation of cerebral blood flow is restored with the help of specially selected drug therapy. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants are prescribed. In parallel, physiotherapy, manual therapy and other methods of reflexology are used.

Blood pressure and headache

A decrease or increase in blood pressure relative to the norm is almost always accompanied by headaches of varying intensity in the forehead, temples or occiput. Jumps in blood pressure can be triggered by stress, overwork or weather changes. Sudden changes in blood pressure and the headache that accompanies them are symptoms of many diseases, so you should not neglect a headache and suppress it with painkillers without prescribing specialists. The causes of diseases associated with pressure can be disorders in the work of the heart, thyroid gland, kidneys, adrenal glands. As a consequence, the neglect of these diseases can lead to loss of consciousness, increased risk of falls and, consequently, injury, as well as the possibility of stroke.

Treatment of headaches due to pressure changes

Increase or decrease in blood pressure – serious diseases that require long-term observation and treatment. After establishing the underlying cause of the disease, the doctor prescribes a course of treatment, which consists of an individually selected drug therapy. When selecting medications, the doctor will study the entire medical history of the patient and take into account other diseases, if any, as well as the nature of pressure deviations. Only after that, drugs will be prescribed. An experienced specialist, when prescribing a course of treatment, will instruct you on how to competently stop severe pain and hypertensive crises before the arrival of an ambulance.

Increased intracranial pressure and headache

Headache with increased intracranial pressure is described as monotonous, dull, pressing on the whole head. Often accompanied by nausea and vomiting, pain around the eyes. This kind of headache often appears and worsens immediately after waking up, irritants can be bright lights and loud noises, a sudden change in weather, excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, salty and fatty foods, as well as overeating before bedtime, unexpected physical exertion, fatigue.

How an increase in intracranial pressure occurs

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which fills the internal and external cavities of the brain, protects the brain from mechanical impact and affects metabolic processes, constantly circulates between the parts of the brain. In case of insufficient absorption or increased release of fluid, there is a violation of the circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid, which leads to an increase in intracranial pressure, and it manifests itself with severe headaches. The causes can be craniocerebral injuries, inflammatory diseases, anomalies in the structure of the cerebrospinal fluid, as well as the cervical vertebrae. Increased intracranial pressure for a long time leads to a deterioration in the functioning of the brain and the autonomic nervous system. Manifestations can be in the form of decreased hearing, vision, memory and attention, mental disorders in the form of depression and sleep disorders.

Treatment of headaches with increased intracranial pressure

In the treatment of headaches, venotonic drugs, special exercises and manual therapy are successfully used to improve venous outflow from the skull and reduce intracranial pressure.

What is a migraine? types of wines. The causes of this type of headache are not fully understood, but it is based on irritation of the peripheral nervous system in the head and neck, after which there is a sharp narrowing of one of the cerebral arteries, and then a sharp expansion, at which point throbbing pain occurs.

Statistics show that women are much more likely to suffer from migraines. By the way, often recurring attacks lead to depression.

Migraine treatment

When the exact cause of migraine is identified, patients can be referred for treatment to different specialists. It is important to correctly establish the cause of migraine, because if inflammation occurs in the nasal cavity and throat, then an otolaryngologist will come to the rescue, if cervical osteochondrosis has become the cause, then most likely the help of a chiropractor and an exercise therapy doctor is needed. The attending physician will advise the correct diet and methods for eliminating acute pain in the event of a migraine attack.

In this article, we have covered only a few of the most common types of headaches, but in fact, a headache can signal many other diseases, so if headaches become more frequent, contact a neurologist or at least a general practitioner at the Family Clinic. » in Ryazan to make an initial diagnosis and start treatment.

Headache

Headaches – pains in any part of the head, which may be “shooting”, throbbing, dull, may occur suddenly and last for various times. There are many illnesses that can include a headache, but in most cases headaches are not a symptom of a serious disorder. Pain in the head occurs as a result of irritation of sensitive nerve endings of blood vessels, membranes of the brain, skin and muscles of the head. The brain and spinal cord itself does not have its own pain nerve endings.

Headaches are either primary or secondary. In primary cases, there is no brain damage (for example, tension headache – arising in response to stress, migraine). Secondary headaches are a manifestation of brain diseases (vascular, inflammatory, tumors).

Synonyms Russian

Cephalgia, cranialgia.

English synonyms

Сephalalgia, cranialgia.

Symptoms

Headaches can spread to the entire surface of the head, or they can affect one specific area.

According to the nature of the headaches are:

• throbbing,
• pressing,
• sharp, shooting,
• dull, aching,
• arching.

Pain in the head may be accompanied by the following symptoms:

• general weakness,
• dizziness,
• loss of consciousness,
• nausea, vomiting,
• fever,
• change in breathing, pulse, blood pressure,
• weakness in the muscles of the arms or legs.

Who is at risk?

• Often experiencing stress, emotional, physical strain.
• Depressed.
• Staying in one body position for a long time.
• Those who are malnourished.
• People who do not get enough sleep.
• Abusing alcohol, smoking.
• Suffering from chronic infectious diseases.

General information

Headaches can be caused by many reasons. By origin, they are primary and secondary. Primary ones occur in the absence of brain lesions and are caused by functional, biochemical changes, and the reaction of cerebral vessels. Primary pains include the following.

• Migraine headaches (migraine) are intense pulsating pains on one side. More common in women. During a migraine attack, hypersensitivity to light and sounds develops. Such pains are provoked by stress, overexertion, alcoholic beverages, hormonal changes in women. The duration of the attack is from several minutes to several hours.
• Tension headaches – occur as a result of mental overexertion. They are one of the forms of headaches arising from the tension of the muscles of the scalp, face, neck, which can occur during stressful situations. Headaches are squeezing, squeezing in nature. Usually quite intense, but short. Pass after a person relaxes, out of a stressful situation.
• Cluster headaches – intense, burning pain in the eye area, can spread to the temple, cheek. Accompanied by redness of the face, nasal congestion, tearing from the eye. They occur predominantly in men. Attacks of pain last from several minutes to several hours. One of the reasons is considered to be vasodilation in response to the release of certain substances by the brain. They are most common between the ages of 20 and 40.

Secondary headaches are caused by diseases of the brain. These include …

• Stroke is a disease in which the blood supply to the brain is interrupted. It develops as a result of a rupture of a cerebral vessel and hemorrhage (hemorrhagic stroke), as well as due to blockage of the vessel (ischemic stroke).
• Tumors of the brain.
• Brain abscess – a limited focus of purulent inflammation of the brain.
• Traumatic intracranial hemorrhage – as a result of a severe head injury, a hemorrhage occurs in the brain, which requires surgical treatment.
• Encephalitis, meningitis – inflammation of the brain and its membranes.
• High blood pressure.
• Trigeminal neuralgia – intense pain in the face, spreading to the eye, upper and lower jaw.
• Glaucoma is a disease that develops due to an increase in intraocular pressure. Accompanied by intense pain in the eye area, headaches, blurred vision.

Thus, in many cases, secondary headaches are one of the symptoms of a serious brain disease, so a detailed examination of the patient, treatment in a hospital is required.

Diagnosis

The volume of diagnostic measures for headache depends on the specific clinical situation. There are many studies that allow you to explore the structure of the brain and identify its diseases.

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows you to detect tumors, circulatory disorders in the brain, inflammatory processes, etc. The study is based on the effect of a magnetic field on body tissues. After computer processing of the received signals, layered images of human tissues are formed. The method is highly informative.
• Computed tomography – X-ray method of research. It is based on a decrease in the intensity of X-ray radiation when passing through human tissues of different density, resulting in images of the internal structures of the body. It is used to diagnose various diseases of both the brain and other organs.
• Computed angiography and magnetic resonance angiography are used to obtain images of blood vessels. In the brain, aneurysms (expansion of the vessel wall) and other changes in the vascular system can be detected.

Laboratory methods of diagnostics include tests of cerebrospinal fluid and blood.

• Analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that bathes the brain and spinal cord. With their diseases, the amount of protein, sugar, cells in the cerebrospinal fluid and others changes in the composition of the cerebrospinal fluid. The study of the composition of the cerebrospinal fluid, its pressure is a valuable diagnostic method.