Headache Locations and What They Could Mean

We’ve all had a splitting headache at one time or another, whether it was due to the drinks you had the night before, stress or the tree blooming outside your bedroom window.

Headaches are common—it’s estimated that nearly 75% of people worldwide have at least one headache each year. “Headaches are also one of the most common reasons patients see a neurologist for care,” said Holly Yancy, DO, a headache medicine specialist at Banner – University Medicine Neurosciences Clinic in Phoenix, AZ.

Although they are common, you may wonder why they don’t always occur in the same place. Why is it that you sometimes get them on one side, between your eyes or around your whole head? Could the location of your headache tell you the type of headache you’re experiencing?

Location alone isn’t a clear-cut way to diagnose but paying attention to the location of your pain could help tip you off to its cause and help you get the right treatment.

“There are many aspects to the cause of headaches, and location is certainly one of them,” Dr. Yancy said. “However, it’s a combination of signs and symptoms that allow for a more accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.”

If you’re experiencing a headache, here’s a guide to what the location of your pain might mean and what to do with the information.

Types of Headaches by Location

One side of your head

Common reason: Migraine

Migraines are the second leading cause of disability and affect about 1.04 billion people worldwide.

Migraines are usually one-sided, although many people can experience them on both sides, and can worsen with movement and activity. “Other symptoms may include throbbing or pounding, sensitivity to light and sound, sometimes smells, nausea and vomiting,” Dr. Yancy said. “Many patients also have periods before and after a migraine where they experience symptoms.”

[Here are tips for coping with an unbearable migraine. ]

A band around your head or entire head

Common reason: Tension-type headache

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache—and the most common kind of headache during pregnancy. They can range from mild to moderate and can happen either infrequently or, for some people, several times a week.

You may experience pressure or tightness, often like a band is squeezing around your head, and it may extend to your neck and shoulders. Unlike migraines, tension headaches don’t tend to cause nausea, vomiting or sensitivity to light.

One side of the head and in and around your eye

Common reason: Cluster headache

Cluster headaches are relatively uncommon but are one of the most severe types of headaches. They get their name because they tend to come in clusters, with one to eight headaches a day, and often happen every year or two during the same time of year.

You may experience pain in and around your eye that may also radiate down your neck, cheek, nose, temple or shoulder—usually just on one side. You may also experience tearing and redness in your eye, your nose may run or be blocked on the affected side as well.

Front of your head and face

Common reason: Sinus headache

A sinus headache, called sinusitis, occurs when the sinus passages behind your eyes, nose, cheeks and forehead are congested. It is rare and can often be confused with a tension headache or a migraine. It’s commonly thought that weather changes often cause sinus headaches, but in reality, weather changes are a common trigger for migraines.

Neck and back of the head

Common reason: Cervicogenic headache or occipital neuralgia

If you experience headaches that radiate from the neck to the back of your head, you may have a cervicogenic headache. A cervicogenic headache is a secondary headache, which means that it is caused by another illness or physical issue. You may find your headaches worsens with some neck movements or when pressure is applied to certain spots on your neck.

If you experience pain from the base of your skull that radiated upward, it could be due to a rare type of chronic headache called occipital neuralgia. Occipital neuralgia can be triggered quickly, lasting from a few seconds to a few minutes.

How to diagnose and treat your headaches

There are many aspects to a headache and location is only a piece of the puzzle. To get the right treatment for your headache, you need the right diagnosis. And that starts with an appointment with your health care provider.

“It’s always good to speak with your doctor if your headache starts to interfere with your everyday life, if the headaches you’ve had are suddenly different or if they seem to be progressing in severity or frequency,” Dr. Yancy said.

Your health care provider will want to know the quality of the pain, how often your headaches occur, how long they last, the severity, the patterns to time of onset and whether the pain worsens with changes in body position. “It’s also helpful to determine if the headaches are associated with other symptoms, such as sensitivity to lights and sounds, visual changes, dizziness, weakness and numbness,” Dr. Yancy advised.

When you should seek immediate medical care

Most headaches aren’t dangerous, but some can be. Dr. Yancy shared some red flag warning signs that should trigger a trip to the doctor:

• If your headache escalates to maximum severity over seconds to a few minutes.
• If your headache is associated with other symptoms, such as one-sided weakness or sensory loss, vision loss, trouble speaking or a loss of vision.
• If your headache is accompanied by fever, nausea or vomiting that’s not related to an illness.
• If you have a headache following a head injury.

If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms above, speak with your health care provider or schedule an appointment with one of our Banner Health specialists. You can find a Banner Health specialist by visiting bannerhealth. com.

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Headache | Cedars-Sinai

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What is a headache?

A headache is pain or discomfort in
the head or face. Headaches vary greatly in terms of the location and intensity of
the
pain, and how often they occur. Almost all people have headaches during their life.
The
brain tissue doesn’t have pain-sensitive nerve fibers and doesn’t feel pain. But,
other
parts of the head can be responsible for a headache including:

• A network of nerves that extends over the scalp
• Certain nerves in the face, mouth, and throat
• Muscles of the head, neck, and shoulders
• Blood vessels found along the surface and at the base of the brain

Different types of headaches are
described below.

Migraine

In migraines, symptoms other
than pain occur as part of the headache. These may include nausea and vomiting,
lightheadedness, sensitivity to light (photophobia) and sound (phonophobia), and
other visual symptoms. Migraines also have distinct phases. But, not all people have
each phase. The phases of a migraine headache may include:

• Premonition or prodromal phase. A change in mood or behavior may occur hours or days before the headache.
• Aura phase. A group of visual, sensory, or motor symptoms can precede the headache. Examples
  include vision changes, hallucinations, numbness, changes in speech, and muscle weakness.
• Headache phase. This is the period
  during the actual headache with throbbing pain on one or both sides of the head.
  Sensitivity to light and motion are common, as are depression, tiredness
  (fatigue), and anxiety.
• Resolution phase. Pain lessens
  during this phase, but may be replaced with tiredness, irritability, and trouble
  concentrating. Some people feel refreshed after an attack, others don’t.

Tension headaches

Tension headaches are the most
common type of headache. Stress and tight muscles are often factors in tension-type
headaches. These are common symptoms of a tension-type headache:

• Slow onset of the headache
• Head usually hurts on both
  sides
• Pain is dull or feels like a band
  or vice around the head
• Pain may be in the back part of the
  head or neck
• Pain is mild to moderate, but not
  severe

Tension type headaches typically don’t cause nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to
light.

Cluster headaches

Cluster headaches usually occur in a series that may last weeks or months.

These are the most common symptoms of a cluster headache:

• Severe pain on one side of the head, usually behind one eye
• The eye that is affected may be red and watery with a droopy lid and small pupil
• Swelling of the eyelid
• Runny nose or congestion
• Swelling of the forehead

What causes a headache?

Headaches are classified as primary or secondary.

• A primary headache means the headache
  itself is the main health problem. but other factors such as muscle tension or
  exposure to certain foods may be triggers. Other things that may help cause the
  headache include medicines, dehydration, or hormone changes.
• A secondary headache is related to an
  underlying health condition. An example of this would be a headache caused by a neck
  injury, eye problems, or an infection in the jaw, teeth or sinus .

What are the symptoms of a headache?

Headache symptoms depend on the type of headache. The frequency of headaches and the
intensity of the symptoms may vary, too. Typical headache symptoms include:

• Slow start of the headache
• Head usually hurts on both sides
• Pain is dull or feels like a band or vice around the head
• Pain may be in the back part of the
  head or neck
• Pain is mild to moderate, but not severe

Tension type headaches typically
don’t cause nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light (photophobia).

The symptoms of a headache may look
like other health conditions. Always see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

How is a headache diagnosed?

Your doctor will ask about your
health history. He or she will also do a physical exam and certain tests.

Questions commonly asked during the exam may include:

• When do headaches occur?
• Do you have specific symptoms before the pain starts?
• What is the location of the
  headache?
• What do the headaches feel like?
• How long do the headaches last?
• Have there been changes in behavior or
  personality?
• Do changes in position or sitting up
  cause the headache?
• Do you have trouble sleeping?
• Do you have a history of stress?
• Do you have a history of head
  injury?
• Do you have other symptoms during a headache?

If your doctor suspects migraine or
tension-type headaches and the nervous system exam is normal, you may not need any
further testing. But if it’s not a primary type headache, or if you have uncommon
symptoms, other tests may be done to find the cause.

Tests used to find the cause of a headache may include:

• Blood tests. Various blood and other
  tests may be done to check for underlying conditions.
• Sinus X-rays. An imaging procedure
  done to look for congestion or other problems that may be treated.
• MRI. A test that uses a combination
  of large magnets, radio waves, and a computer to produce detailed images of organs
  and structures within the body.
• CT scan. An imaging test that uses
  X-rays and computer technology to make detailed images  of the body. A CT scan shows
  detailed images of bones, muscles, fat, and organs. CT scans are more detailed than
  general X-rays.
• Spinal tap (lumbar puncture). This may be done to rule
  out inflammation, infection, or high pressure in the spinal fluid

How are headaches treated?

The goal of treatment is to stop
headaches from occurring. Good headache management depends on finding what type of
headache you have. Management may include:

• Staying away from your known triggers,
  such as certain foods and beverages, lack of sleep, and fasting
• Changing eating habits
• Exercising
• Resting in a quiet, dark
  environment
• Taking medicines as recommended by
  your healthcare provider
• Controlling stress

Migraine and cluster headaches may
need specific medicines. These include:

• Abortive medicines. These are
  medicines prescribed by your healthcare provider. They act on certain receptors in
  nerves and blood vessels in the head to stop a headache in progress.
• Rescue medicines. These medicines
  include pain relievers bought over the counter, to stop the headache.
• Preventive medicines. These medicines
  are prescribed by your healthcare provider. They are taken daily to stop a headache
  from starting.

Some headaches may need medical
attention right away. This may include a hospital stay for observation, diagnostic
testing, or even surgery. Treatment depends on the condition causing the headache.
Full
recovery depends on the type of headache and other health problems you may have.

Can headaches be prevented?

If you know what triggers your
headache, staying away from the trigger can prevent a headache. Reducing stress can
ease
or prevent headaches caused by stress. Migraine and cluster headaches may be prevented
by taking a daily preventive medicines.

When should I call my healthcare provider?

Most headaches can be managed with
over-the-counter pain relievers. But call your healthcare provider right away if you
have a severe headache plus:

• Stiff neck
• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Convulsion
• Shortness of breath
• Confusion
• Muscle weakness
• Double vision
• Change in level of consciousness.

Symptoms that may suggest a more serious headache include:

• Worst headache ever, or new type of headache
• Recurring headaches in children
• Headaches that start early in the morning
• Headache that follows a head injury
• Pain that gets worse with strain, such
  as a cough or a sneeze
• Vomiting without nausea
• Sudden onset of pain
• Headache that is becoming more severe or continuous
• Personality changes
• Seizures

Key points about headaches

• A headache is pain or discomfort in the head or face area.
• Types of headaches include migraine, tension, and cluster.
• Headaches can be primary or secondary.
  If it’s secondary, it’s caused by another condition.
• Staying away from your headache
  triggers is the best prevention.
• Mild to moderate headaches can be managed with over-the-counter medicines, but tell your
  healthcare provider if your headache is severe and you have other symptoms.

Next steps

Before you agree to the test or the procedure make sure you know:

• The name of the test or procedure
• The reason you are having the test or procedure
• What results to expect and what they mean
• The risks and benefits of the test or procedure
• What the possible side effects or complications are
• When and where you are to have the test or procedure
• Who will do the test or procedure and what that person’s qualifications are
• What would  happen if you did not have the test or procedure
• Any alternative tests or procedures to think about
• When and how will you get the results
• Who to call after the test or procedure if you have questions or problems
• How much will you have to pay for the test or procedure

Medical Reviewer: Joseph Campellone MD

Medical Reviewer: Marianne Fraser MSN RN

Medical Reviewer: Raymond Kent Turley BSN MSN RN

© 2000-2021 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional’s instructions.

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What Type of Migraine Headache Do You Have?

Understanding the Different Types of Migraines and Headaches

When people hear the term ‘migraine,’ they often think of a severe headache. What they don’t always know is that migraine is a neurological disease and that there are a number of different subtypes of migraine. Learn about each different type of migraine, with and without headache, below.

Migraine with Aura (Complicated Migraine)

About a quarter of people who experience migraine also experience aura, a series of sensory and visual changes that can range from seeing black dots and zig zags to tingling numbness on one side of the body, or an inability to speak clearly. Aura sets in shortly before or during a migraine and can last anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes. Aura is the second of migraine’s four stages, and anyone who experiences it will confirm it is an unmistakable warning sign that the severe head pain is on its way.

Migraine without Aura (Common Migraine)

Diagnosing migraine without aura can be difficult because the symptoms are similar to several other types of migraine. Pulsing or throbbing pain on one side of the head, photophobia, phonophobia, pain that is made worse by physical activity, and nausea and vomiting are all classic symptoms of Migraine without Aura. The key differentiator is that Common Migraine lacks the warning phases (prodrome and aura) that other types of migraine have.

Migraine Without Head Pain

Also called a Silent or Acephalgic Migraine, this type of migraine can be very alarming as you experience dizzying aura and other visual disturbances, nausea, and other phases of migraine, but no head pain. It can be triggered by any of a person’s regular triggers, and those who get them are likely to experience other types of migraine, too. The International Headache Society classifies this type as typical aura without headache.

Hemiplegic Migraine

If you have ever had a migraine that felt more like a stroke, it was probably a Hemiplegic Migraine. People who experience this type of migraine develop weakness on one side of the body, often with visual aura symptoms and a “pins and needles” sensation, or loss of sensation, on one side of the body. It can last for as little as a few hours to several days. Similar to typical aura without headache, Hemiplegic Migraine doesn’t always include severe head pain.

Retinal Migraine

When a headache causes you to temporarily lose vision in one eye, it is a Retinal Migraine. Most common in women during their childbearing years, the blindness can last anywhere from a minute to months, but is usually fully reversible. This is a specific type of aura that accompanies a migraine, and it’s a condition we know very little about. What we do know is that Retinal Migraine may be a sign of a more serious issue, and those who experience it should make a point to see a specialist.

Chronic Migraine

If you have a headache more than 15 days a month, you’re probably suffering from chronic migraine. Many of the days often feel like typical migraine, but there may be considerable variability in the severity of the symptoms and head pain on any given day. Some days patients may mistake the pain for a “tension-headache” or “sinus headache” if the pain is less severe. Many patients with chronic migraine also use acute headache pain medications on more than 10-15 days per month, and this can actually lead to even more frequent headache.

Ice Pick Headaches

Ice pick headaches are pretty self-explanatory. They feel like you’re getting stabbed in the head with an ice pick. They often come on suddenly, delivering an intense, sharp pain. They’re short–usually only lasting 5-30 seconds–but incredibly painful. These headaches occur on the orbit, temple, and parietal area of your head. That’s where your trigeminal nerve is, which is the nerve in your face that’s responsible for biting and chewing, as well as face sensation. The nerve is on the side of your head just past your eye and above your ear. If you get sharp pains in this area, chances are you’re getting ice pick headaches.

Cluster Headaches

This is one of the most severe types of pain that a human can experience. With cluster headaches, you’ll feel an almost burning pain around and above your eyes, at your temples, and even moving toward the back of your head. You’ll often also get red or swollen eyes or a runny nose, among other symptoms. Because they occur in such a large area and provoke other symptoms, cluster headaches can be the most irritating headache, and are sometimes referred to as “suicide headaches. ”

Cervicogenic headache

When the pain in your head is actually caused by pain in your neck, you probably have a cervicogenic headache. The pain usually comes from the neck or from a lesion on the spine, which is often confused with pain in the back of your head. It’s common for this type of headache to require physical therapy in addition to medication or other treatment.

Pinpointing the cause of headache is sometimes complicated. There are many types, and many methods of treatment. Focusing on where exactly your head hurts and the accompanying symptoms can help you and your doctor determine what type of migraine or headache you suffer from, resulting in a more effective treatment plan and fewer painful days.

Looking for a doctor? Check out our database to find a doctor in your area.

Approach to the Patient With Headache – Neurologic Disorders

Most patients can be diagnosed without testing. However, some serious disorders may require urgent or immediate testing. Some patients require tests as soon as possible.

MRI (and perhaps magnetic resonance angiography [MRA]) should be done as soon as possible in patients with any of the following findings:

If MRI is not immediately available, CT can be used.

Also, neuroimaging, usually MRI, should be done if patients have any of the following:

• Focal neurologic deficit of subacute or uncertain onset

• Change in an established headache pattern

In addition, if meningitis Overview of Meningitis Meningitis is inflammation of the meninges and subarachnoid space. It may result from infections, other disorders, or reactions to drugs. Severity and acuity vary. Findings typically include… read more , subarachnoid hemorrhage Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (SAH) Subarachnoid hemorrhage is sudden bleeding into the subarachnoid space. The most common cause of spontaneous bleeding is a ruptured aneurysm. Symptoms include sudden, severe headache, usually… read more , encephalitis, or any cause of meningismus Encephalitis Encephalitis is inflammation of the parenchyma of the brain, resulting from direct viral invasion. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis is brain and spinal cord inflammation caused by a hypersensitivity… read more is being considered, lumbar puncture Lumbar Puncture (Spinal Tap) Lumbar puncture is used to do the following: Evaluate intracranial pressure and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) composition (see table Cerebrospinal Fluid Abnormalities in Various Disorders) Therapeutically… read more and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis should be done, if not contraindicated by imaging results. Patients with a thunderclap headache require CSF analysis even if imaging and examination findings are normal as long as lumbar puncture is not contraindicated by imaging results. CSF analysis is also indicated if patients with headache are immunosuppressed.

Other testing should be done within hours or days, depending on the acuity and seriousness of findings and suspected causes.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) should be determined if patients have visual symptoms, jaw or tongue claudication, temporal artery signs, or other findings suggesting giant cell arteritis.

Lumbar puncture and CSF analysis are done if headache is progressive and findings suggest idiopathic intracranial hypertension Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Idiopathic intracranial hypertension causes increased intracranial pressure without a mass lesion or hydrocephalus, probably by obstructing venous drainage; cerebrospinal fluid composition is… read more (eg, transient obscuration of vision, diplopia, pulsatile intracranial tinnitus) or chronic meningitis Subacute and Chronic Meningitis Subacute meningitis develops over days to a few weeks. Chronic meningitis lasts ≥ 4 weeks. Possible causes include fungi, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, rickettsiae, spirochetes, Toxoplasma gondii. .. read more (eg, persistent low-grade fever, cranial neuropathies, cognitive impairment, lethargy, vomiting).

Concussion Headaches or “Post-Traumatic Headaches”

“I feel like there’s a tight band around my head.” “My head feels like it’s blowing up like a balloon.” “I have a constant pressure headache.” “I feel like my head is being pulled apart between the eyes.”

These are comments we hear every day from patients with post-traumatic headaches (synonymous with headaches resulting from concussion or other brain injury, for our purposes). Many patients report that their post-traumatic headaches “just feel different” from a normal headache. This is because the cause and presentation of post-traumatic headaches are noticeably different from other headaches. 

At CognitiveFX, we treat post-traumatic headaches every day, and our patients have many of the same questions you may be asking. We’ve put together this guide to help you understand: 

Post-traumatic headaches are complicated, and there’s still much work to be done in understanding why and how they happen. In the meantime, we hope you’ll find this guide useful for understanding and overcoming them. 

Note: If you’re experiencing symptoms (such as headaches) that won’t resolve after a concussion, you’re not alone. 95% of our patients experience statistically verified restoration of brain function. To see if you are eligible for treatment, sign up for a free consultation.

Post-Concussion Headache Locations and Causes

Post-traumatic headaches can be pretty distinct from “normal” headaches (think dehydration-type headaches, sinus pressure headaches, etc.) and can present in various forms. In some instances, patients will report experiencing more than one type of post-traumatic headache, but they are complex in their presentation, their cause, and their treatment. We’ll explore more about their causes and presentation in the sections below. In this section of the guide, we’ve outlined some of the more common post-traumatic headache types: 

Cervicogenic and Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) Headaches

Cervicogenic and Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) headaches are some of the most distinctly reported headaches after a head injury. While they can sometimes be separate in cause (aka, someone with isolated issues in their cervical spine may experience headaches as a result), they can cause similar headache “types” after concussion or brain injury. Many of the patients we see in our clinic experience both.

Cervicogenic headaches are often associated with neck tension, neck pain, and a pulling feeling along the neck. They are related to the cervical spine (the neck bones and discs) and the musculature in the neck and shoulders. These can commonly be related to whiplash-associated injuries, but may also be subsequent to ANS dysfunction.

How are the cervical spine and ANS related with regard to headaches? We will explain, starting with ANS headaches. 

Headaches related to autonomic nervous system dysfunction caused by a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) are complex due to the control the ANS has over our entire bodies (heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, temperature, the list goes on…). ANS headaches, as we will call them, are caused by vascular (i.e., blood vessel) or cerebral blood flow (i.e., occurring in your head) problems and can often be associated with feelings of pressure, as though there were a clamp or a band on your head. Cervicogenic and ANS headaches are closely connected, and many patients have both, so we assess and treat each patient’s headaches on a case-by-case basis. 

ANS Headache Cause

The autonomic nervous system controls heart rate, respiration rate, vascular constriction and dilation, and many of the other bodily functions we don’t think about that keep us alive. After a concussion, the autonomic nervous system may become dysregulated, leading to a variety of common symptoms.

What is the autonomic nervous system (ANS)? It is a bodily nervous system that conducts “automatic” body processes. It has two parts, the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). These regulate your “fight or flight” and “rest and digest” processes, respectively. Normally, these two are balanced like a set of scales so that we can respond to our environment appropriately. After head injury, however, the fight or flight system (SNS) may tend to dominate.

For example, you may initially be startled when you hear a loud sound, but you recover and rebalance when you realize it was a dish dropped on the floor. When the autonomic nervous system is dysregulated due to a concussion, the SNS can more easily dominate the PNS and prevent your body from returning to a “normal” resting state as quickly as it should. In other words, the sound of a dish falling may cause your “fight or flight” reaction to linger.

Why does this matter? It has lasting effects on your stress levels, your blood pressure, and other functions regulated by the ANS — including post-traumatic headaches.

How does this specifically come into play for post-traumatic headaches? There can be many physiological sources. Autonomic nervous system dysregulation leads to increased muscle tone and tension in the neck (along with many other places, but for headaches, we will focus on the neck). In addition, concussions can lead to disruption in the regulation of the head’s blood flow as a result of your ANS being out of balance. As a result, patients experience tension and pressure in the head.

For example, you may feel like your head is blowing up like a balloon. This tension generally starts in the back of the neck and moves up around the eyes. An important factor is how the ANS and neurovascular coupling are related through cerebral blood flow.

Neurovascular coupling (NVC) is the connection between neurons and the blood vessels that supply them with oxygen, and it is often not working correctly as a result of a concussion or brain injury. We explain more about neurovascular coupling and its connection to concussion symptoms later in the post.

Headaches from post-concussion syndrome may improve with time, but most do not resolve unless treated. Want our help in understanding your headaches? Sign up for a free consultation.

Headaches can come in many forms. Above are some examples of the patient “experience” of a headache and their potential ‘type’ or location. Patients may experience one, several, or all of these types — depending on the situation. 

Autonomic nervous system headaches can present in a few different ways. They often are described as starting in the back of the neck and spreading up around the back of the head to the temples like a crown. This sensation is caused by the gradual blood flow buildup and the muscle tension from the neck muscles.  

Jaw tension-type headaches can also be related to autonomic nervous system dysregulation. It often begins around the back of the jaw and can move across the face and over the top of the head. You, your family, or even friends may note increased jaw musculature or teeth grinding associated with jaw-related head pain. 

ANS headaches can also feel like sinus pressure headaches, with pressure or pain present around the nose and near the bridge of your nose and cheekbones (where the sinuses are located), then spreading through the head. Unlike allergy sinus headaches, the pain is almost constant; it does not change based on the time of day or exposure to allergens. Congestion may or may not be present. 

In some less common occasions, they can also be accompanied by soft spots bump(s) on the head due to excess fluid pooling in a single location — also called “edema.”

Finally, post-traumatic headaches are usually not the sole cause for the “headache” experience. Vision issues, genetic and environmental risk factors, and a multitude of other variables can make every person’s experience very different. After a concussion, people may have one, several, or all of these factors influencing their headaches.

Often, people will describe a “moving headache,” which can incorporate many of the locations and profiles of the headaches mentioned above. This can make the cause of the headache difficult to identify; however, it doesn’t mean your headache is untreatable! It just means that treatment will need to approach every aspect of your specific headache profile.

Exacerbating Factors

Autonomic nervous system headaches usually get worse with rigorous cognitive or physical activity. However, it is important to note that although exercise may make ANS headaches feel worse, it is extremely important to keep exercising regularly. The headaches themselves do not cause injury (that said, pay attention to your body — ANS dysregulation can cause other problems including dizziness, nausea, or vomiting, and you should be aware of your limits). Exercise is important for recovery, even if it causes your headaches to worsen temporarily. 

Stress also has a significant impact on headaches. The sympathetic nervous system becomes even more over-activated during periods of stress, further exacerbating autonomic nervous system dysregulation. 

Finally, although stimulants and depressants (like coffee and alcohol) may provide temporary relief from a headache, they can actually make your headaches worse over time. Use discretion when consuming them.

Migrainous Headaches or “Migraines”

Another commonly reported type of post-traumatic headache is a migrainous headache. These typically present as an extreme, stabbing pain on one side of the head (or the other), generally near the top of the head. However, the term migraine can be thrown around and used to describe the feeling of any extreme headache. Just know that migrainous, severe, unilateral (i.e., on one side) headaches caused by a concussion often occur in individuals who have a predisposition to, or a family history of, migraines. That said, they can also occur in individuals who do not have any history of migraines.

If you’ve ever experienced an “aura” before your headache, it’s probably migrainous. About 30% of people who suffer from migraines experience an aura (a sensory change or disturbance) right before the migraine manifests.

For example, an aura could show up as black or white spots in your vision, a strange smell, or tingling hands. An aura can be a good warning for some people to take their migraine pills or move to a safe area. These sensory disturbances may make a person extremely sensitive to light, touch, or smell.

Although the exact cause of migraines is unknown, the neurovascular components of a migraine and a concussion are quite similar. For this reason, it is understandable that the physiological effects of a concussion can increase the frequency or intensity of migraines, especially for someone who is already predisposed to them.

In addition, the similarities between migraine and ANS headaches make it VERY difficult to discern what a patient has. In some cases, it takes years of testing and experimentation with medication to determine what a patient has. And it is very possible a patient has both chronic migraines and ANS headaches.

But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth working with your doctor to determine if your headaches are migrainous or not. Family history of migraines, the effectiveness of migraine medication on your severe headaches, initiating factors, and aura will help your doctor understand what you might have. 

Other Concussion Headache Causes: Vision and the Eyes

In addition to ANS headaches and migraine headaches, patients can experience a few other types of post-traumatic headaches.

One main type is related to vision. These headaches are common if you experience vision problems after a concussion (things like light sensitivity, peripheral vision problems, or difficulty focusing). The strain created by trying to overcompensate for any new vision issues leads to tough, pulsing headaches. These headaches generally involve the area around the eyes, and your eyes may feel like they are inflamed or pained. Often, we’ve found vision therapy after concussion may make vision-associated symptoms worse — or simply not solve vision issues and vision-related headaches after brain injury. The reason for this can be related to the changes in neurovascular coupling (NVC), which we discuss later in the post.

What Do Post-Concussion Headaches Feel Like?

Many concussion patients will say that post-traumatic headaches “just feel different,” or they “just know when they have one.” The exact feeling of a post-traumatic headache can vary from person to person and from headache to headache. Often, patients can experience a few of the post-traumatic headaches outlined above. Let’s just summarize here:

Concussion headaches can have a feeling of tension, tightness, and/or pressure. The feeling of increasing pressure in the head is often indicative of an autonomic nervous system headache. Patients will describe these headaches as though there is a clamp tightening around their head or as though their head is a balloon that is being blown up. If a patient is suffering from an ANS headache, the tension might start in the neck and spread up to the top of the head.

With headaches caused by eye strain, the pressure might start behind the eyes and spread to the back of the head.

A sharp, stabbing pain might be indicative of a migrainous headache. These often feel similar to a normal migraine, but increase in frequency and intensity after a concussion. 

Since there isn’t just one type of post-traumatic headache and the headaches vary from person to person, it is difficult to fully describe what a post-traumatic headache feels like. If you’re wondering if your headaches are post-traumatic headaches, start tracking them. Keep a daily journal and notate the details of your headaches, including location, cause, sensation, remedies, pain rating, and length. The visual illustration we introduced earlier will be helpful here:

These are the most common headaches our concussion patients experience.

In identifying the type of headache you’re experiencing, it’s important to note the causes and any remedies. For example, a “normal” headache could be caused by not drinking enough water (and thus be remedied by drinking more water). But an autonomic nervous system headache may not respond to normal remedies, including medication, may persist longer than a normal headache (sometimes lasting weeks), and may worsen with exercise or cognitive activity. Writing down differences in what helps to alleviate headaches can help you understand the cause of the headache. 

How Long Does a Post-Concussion Headache Last?

Sadly, there isn’t just one answer. The length of a post-traumatic headache is highly dependant upon a number of risk factors, including genetic predisposition, how your body specifically reacted to the injury, and what types of post-traumatic headaches you’re getting. Contrary to popular belief, loss of consciousness or memory loss at the time of head trauma does not indicate the severity or longevity of post-concussive symptoms.

If you are still experiencing what you think are post-traumatic headaches and it has been some time since your injury, then it is unlikely your headaches will resolve on their own. There are ways to alleviate headache pain in some situations, but with post-traumatic headaches, even if the headaches start to decrease in frequency and severity, it is not likely they will fully resolve without treatment. Some patients go through “good” periods when their chronic headaches aren’t as bad, but any event that taxes the brain and autonomic nervous system can almost immediately bring back the headaches.

The length of a post-traumatic headache can vary greatly from patient to patient, but if you are experiencing post-traumatic headaches, you should seek treatment from a professional to ensure the source of the headache is being treated, not just the pain. Concussion headaches are unlikely to fully resolve without concussion treatment. 

If you’re suffering from post-traumatic headaches, we can help. Sign up for a free consultation with our team.

Treatment for Concussion Headaches

The best treatment for post-traumatic headaches is to treat the concussion itself rather than medicate the pain. For example, ANS headaches won’t completely resolve until the autonomic nervous system is re-regulated, but this doesn’t just happen with time. Many people will speak with their healthcare professionals about medication options, and these may help with symptoms (potentially effective in the case of migraine medication) but may also not effectively reduce all headache pain. Or, the medications used may come with concerning side effects. 

Below, we’ve provided a brief explanation of potential post-traumatic headache treatment options. 

Medications

Medications are often prescribed as a first-pass treatment for post-traumatic headaches, but most of them do not treat the source of the issue. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen sodium can help with decreasing swelling and therefore improve blood flow and reduce muscle tension. Acetaminophen is another over-the-counter pain relief medicine that can help alleviate the pain. However, pain medication is only treating the symptom, not the cause. 

Amitriptyline is also commonly prescribed for treating migraines or other headache symptoms. Amitriptyline can help with migraines, depression, and sleep — all areas that may be impacted by a concussion — but many patients find the drug to be ineffective. Beta blockers can affect blood flow and are sometimes prescribed for post-post-traumatic headache treatment. But again, these do not resolve the source of the issues (dysregulated autonomic nervous system and neurovascular coupling), may come with undesirable side effects, and can leave the patient susceptible to medication overuse and dependence. Make sure to discuss with your doctor EVERY aspect of a medication you may take, and also consider the following: Is there a way to treat the source of the headache, not just the pain?

Post-Traumatic Headache Treatment: The ANS & Neurovascular Coupling

With post-traumatic headaches, it’s important to address the source of the issues, not just the symptoms. We provide our patients with therapy designed to promote neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to change and to heal itself and the body) in the affected regions of the brain. 

At Cognitive FX, patients go through a week-long, intense therapy regimen designed to kick-start neuroplasticity. Therapy begins with cardiovascular exercise to improve blood flow and oxygen to the brain and prepare the brain for cognitive exercises. After cognitive exercise, the brain needs to have recovery time before returning to exercise and cognitive activity. This continual exposure to various exercises, tailored for each individual, helps disrupted pathways recover and improve neurovascular coupling. 

As we mentioned earlier in the post, neurovascular coupling (NVC) is the connection between neurons and the blood vessels that supply them with oxygen, which is often damaged as a result of concussion. Improving NVC is important for recovering from a concussion since vascular issues are so connected to ANS dysfunction and post-traumatic headaches.  

At our concussion treatment center, we work with patients whose symptoms didn’t go away with rest and time. Neuroplasticity is at the center of their recovery journeys. The brain’s ability to heal with physical therapy and cognitive therapy brings hope to our patients and to anyone else who has sustained a brain injury. Even those without injury or trauma can find improved quality of life through neuroplasticity. 

Note: If you’re experiencing post-concussion symptoms six weeks after injury, it is highly unlikely the headaches will resolve without treatment. On average, our patients improve by 75% after treatment. To see if you are eligible for treatment, sign up for a free consultation. 

Tips and Tricks for Immediate Concussion Headache Symptom Relief

There are some simple things you can do to help alleviate or reduce the pain of headaches after a mild TBI. 

One of the first things we recommend is to try not to rely on stimulants or depressants, such as alcohol and caffeine. Although these may provide temporary relief, they can also exacerbate the underlying cause of your headaches. 

For autonomic nervous system headaches, reducing stress is a very important part of any post-traumatic headache treatment plan. For example, you can practice mindful breathing daily, breathing in and out with a focus on your breath. Breathing in this manner helps to decrease the sympathetic nervous system and improve blood flow, along with many other benefits. Other stress reducers, including using essential oils, practicing self-care, and practicing mindfulness on a daily basis can all help alleviate post-traumatic headaches. 

For persistent sinus pain and pressure, using a hot pad on the sinuses can help to open up the blood vessels and reduce the pressure. Adding in peppermint oil may also help to relieve congestion and help with relaxation. 

With spine-related cervicogenic headaches, simply stretching the neck can help to alleviate some of the muscle tension and pain. For vision headaches, completing vision therapy and practicing good screen hygiene may reduce post-traumatic headaches. 

For post-traumatic headache treatment, it is important to stay healthy overall. Eat healthy, take supplements and vitamins as needed, and stay active. Although exercise may immediately make your headache worse, consistent exercise can help to alleviate your headaches over time by improving your cardiovascular health and ANS balance. 

Finally, flavonoids have been shown to improve cardiovascular health and reduce headaches. Other supplements that help with overall health and decreasing stress can help as well. 

What to Do If Your Concussion Headaches Are Getting Worse

Any time your symptoms are consistently worsening, seek medical attention from your healthcare provider. Your headaches may oscillate a bit in intensity day-to-day, but if your symptoms are progressively getting worse, this is a red flag. 

Progressively worsening symptoms often means there are multiple unresolved issues that you need to pay attention to. Sometimes, a head injury is accompanied by a neck injury. Cervical spine abnormalities are one such cause for worsening pain in the head or neck. 

For example, if your headaches are getting worse, it could be caused by muscle tension and a disc issue, which, if untreated, could cause spine damage. Contact a healthcare professional about your worsening symptoms.

If you are experiencing post-traumatic headaches and want to resolve their underlying cause, schedule a free consultation to see if our treatment can help you. On average, our patients see a 75% improvement after treatment at our center specializing in neuroplasticity-driven therapy.

7 Types of Common Headaches and How to Tell Them Apart

Varying levels of caffeine may bring on headaches for different people, but the Mayo Clinic advises that it’s usually fine to drink up to 400 milligrams of caffeine per day (that’s about four 8-ounce cups of coffee) for healthy adults. But coffee lovers who suffer from migraine might want to exercise caution; the caffeine withdrawal could trigger an attack.

“Caffeine can change the size of blood vessels, and caffeine itself will cause blood vessels to constrict and it slows blood flow in those areas,” Starling explains. When caffeine levels in the body drop, the blood vessels widen, causing head pain. Consuming more caffeine can relieve the headache, but the cycle of withdrawal will continue. According to the American Migraine Foundation, doctors recommend that migraine sufferers limit their coffee intake to one or two cups a day — but even then, they recommend tracking the relationship between headaches and caffeine to see if patterns arise.

Decreasing caffeine intake is one way to relieve this type of headache, according to the National Headache Foundation. Otherwise, using pain relievers such as ibuprofen, drinking plenty of water, and massaging painful spots on the head can help as well, according to Healthline, a mental and physical health outlet.

Some Headaches Are Resultant From Injuries

Injuries to the head can cause a lot of pain and a number of issues, one of them being headaches. It is common for people who are suffering from a concussion to have headaches, and sometimes the headaches can last a long time after. According to the Mayo Clinic, post-concussion syndrome consists of dizziness and headaches that may feel like tension headaches or migraine headaches. These symptoms will usually manifest between a week and 10 days after a concussion and will go away within a few months. However, in some cases, the syndrome can last for longer than a year.

Beyond concussions that are caused by a mild head injury, traumatic brain injuries are also likely to cause headaches. Brain injury and surgeries related to a brain injury will cause head pain, but sometimes headaches last long after the initial injury. “These headaches can be caused by a variety of conditions, including a change in the brain caused by the injury, neck and skull injuries that have not yet fully healed, tension and stress, or side effects from medication,” according to BrainLine, an online resource for information about traumatic brain injury and PTSD.

Here’s When You Should See a Doctor

VanderPluym and Starling both say that it’s important for patients to see a doctor right away if they have new headache symptoms or ongoing headache symptoms. “A primary headache disorder, where a headache itself is the problem, can cause someone quite a bit of disability,” says VanderPluym. “There’s no point having to live with or suffer through a headache.”

Migraine, in particular, has “been under-recognized for decades. It is highly stigmatized and under-diagnosed,” according to Starling, who herself has migraine headaches. She says that migraine headaches can get worse over time if they are not treated early on, making it all the more vital for patients to get an accurate diagnosis as soon as possible. Because patients with migraine are not always taken seriously by primary care doctors, Starling says, patients may have to self-educate and should arm themselves with information about migraine headaches and their own symptoms.

Not all headaches are indicative of a serious problem, but if headaches get in the way of normal life, are a new problem, or come with other symptoms like impaired vision and nausea, going to the doctor is the right call.

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When Is a Headache a Symptom of a Brain Tumor?

Summary

The vast majority of the time, a bad headache is not an indication of a brain tumor. MSK neurologist and supportive care specialist Alan Carver discusses the more common causes of headaches and when to see a doctor if you have a serious one.

A bad headache can be a frightening experience. But sometimes, even scarier than the pounding in your head can be the tricks your mind plays on you as it’s happening.

When that throbbing pain gets unbearable, it’s easy to worry that your headache might be something more serious, like a brain tumor. But Alan Carver, a neurologist and supportive care specialist at Memorial Sloan Kettering, says that the vast majority of the time, a headache is not something to worry about.

“Primary brain tumors are distinctly uncommon,” says Dr. Carver, adding that only five per 100,000 people are diagnosed each year. “The honest truth is that most of the time headaches are not associated with brain tumors, though they can produce severe pain and other unpleasant symptoms.”

Vision problems and other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and being sensitive to sound and light are much more likely indicators of a migraine headache than a mass in the brain, he says.

In fact, only about half of the time will a headache be what brings a person in to see a neurologist, he adds. The symptoms that more commonly suggest a mass in the brain are neurologic: difficulty speaking, weakness on one side of the body, and changes in vision, for example. A seizure is another tip-off, and it can take different forms. Some seizures can include convulsing and a loss of consciousness. Others can be a shorter period of prolonged involuntary movements.

When someone visits a neurologist, a further look at the brain with an MRI is only sometimes necessary. Dr. Carver can usually determine if a person’s headache warrants a closer look by considering a series of questions he abbreviates with the acronym SNOOP.

S: Systemic

“Systemic” refers to what is happening in someone’s body at the time of the headache. A person with a brain tumor likely has other symptoms, and sometimes a preexisting health condition.

“I want to know what else is going on,” Dr. Carver says. “Do they have a fever? Do they have some other illness like cancer or HIV? Is this person sick in some other way? If the person is a young adult and in good health other than the headache, I can often reassure him or her of the extreme unlikelihood of an underlying brain tumor.”

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N: Neurologic Exam

A neurologic exam is the gold-standard test given by neurologists and emergency room doctors when someone comes in with a headache. A person with a brain tumor often has a specific neurologic issue that is visible to the naked eye. The person might drag a leg when walking, have trouble speaking, or be unable to raise their arms to equal height. Every time a person has an annual check-up, their doctor is expected to perform a short neurologic exam.

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O: Onset

Many headaches that are not dangerous tend to gradually build over hours or even days. A more concerning headache comes on fast and strong, Dr. Carver says.

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O: Older

A brain tumor is much more common in older adults than in young people, Dr. Carver says. “If a 22-year-old comes to see me and meets criteria for migraine, and has a normal neurological exam, is there a reason to order an MRI? Absolutely not,” he says.

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P: Prior Headache History

When Dr. Carver meets with someone for an appointment, he asks if headaches have been an issue for that person in the past. That can help him determine if the headache is something out of the ordinary or if it is consistent with the person’s medical history.

“People with a prior history of headaches who are unlucky enough later in life to develop a brain tumor are more likely to complain of a headache than people without a history,” Dr. Carver says. “It is therefore especially important to examine people comprehensively to be certain that symptoms or signs aren’t missed.”

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Help at MSK

In the very unlikely event that a headache does lead to a brain tumor diagnosis, MSK is one of the top places in the world to come for care. People who have been diagnosed with brain tumors can receive comprehensive care through MSK’s brain tumor service, led by medical oncologist Ingo Mellinghoff. Together with Lisa DeAngelis, Chair of MSK’s Department of Neurology, Dr. Melinghoff and his team are able to offer many more brain tumor treatment options than previously existed and numerous opportunities for people to participate in clinical trials.

And there’s help even if the underlying problem isn’t a tumor. Dr. Carver says that we now know many underlying mechanics of migraines, which has led to successful treatment for most people with this debilitating disorder. He advises anyone with frequent and severe headaches to undergo a comprehensive exam to both assure that nothing is missed and to receive the benefits of successful treatment.

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90,000 9 types of headaches behind which health problems are hidden / AdMe

The World Health Organization claims that from 50 to 75% of the adult population of the world suffers from headaches. Many do not pay attention to her. The pain is different: more or less intense, pulsating, pressing, acute or dull, and its focus can be localized in different parts of the head. It can be an independent disease or one of the symptoms – then it is called secondary.

AdMe.Common crawl en found out what a secondary headache can talk about and in what cases it is worth immediately contacting a specialist.

1. Encephalitis

With encephalitis, inflammatory processes develop in the brain. We are used to thinking that this disease occurs only due to a tick bite, which means that it is enough just to follow safety rules in the warm season: to be vaccinated and be careful in the forest. However, this is not entirely true.

The causative agent of encephalitis can be, for example, herpes viruses, some types of microbes and even vaccination (in rare cases).The disease has a whole group of symptoms: general inflammatory reactions of the body, focal (depending on the affected area of ​​the brain) and cerebral. You should be wary if you have noticed signs from each group, for example, along with a headache, you have a fever, an upset gastrointestinal tract, a violation of muscle tone and sensitivity.

2. Effects of tyramine

Tyramine is a toxin that can cause migraines. It is found in foods such as bananas, bacon, ham, avocados, and odorous cheeses.Do you like to feast on gorgonzola, gruyere or roquefort and still often suffer from migraines? These foods may be making your pain worse. Try to reduce the amount in your diet and watch the changes.

3. Meningitis

The head hurts with varying degrees of intensity in a person with almost all infectious diseases. But with meningitis, this is one of the main indicators. It develops quickly, the temperature rises to 40 degrees and above, practically does not go astray.It can appear 2-3 days before the onset of other symptoms, at which time the disease resembles a common cold.

Another symptom is vomiting, which does not give relief, and it is not preceded by nausea. A stiff neck also indicates meningitis: the patient cannot reach the chest with the chin. In addition, he experiences dizziness, drowsiness and fear of light. Meningitis is treated with intravenous antibiotics, so early diagnosis is critical.

4.Temporal or giant cell arteritis

With this inflammation, granulomas form in the medium and large arteries, which spread to the vessel wall, as a result of which they become edematous. The lumen of the artery narrows, blood flow is impaired, and oxygen and nutrients are delivered more slowly. Arteries in the temporal region are often affected, and the headache is felt on one side. Typically, temporal arteritis occurs after 50 years of age, while women predominate in the risk group.

In order to recognize temporal arteritis in time and seek help from a doctor, remember a few of its symptoms.While chewing, pain appears in the area of ​​the lower jaw, in the morning there is a strong tension in the arms, hips or neck, the weight goes away for no apparent reason. The headache is localized in the scalp – discomfort occurs even with a light touch or when trying to lie on a pillow.

5. Glaucoma

In glaucoma, intraocular pressure is increased (constantly or intermittently), and the optic nerve atrophies. If left untreated, it can even lead to blindness.The disease is often accompanied by a headache, which is localized in the area of ​​the eyeballs, in the temples, and photophobia appears. Other symptoms include nausea, fever, and double vision.

Don’t panic: your eyeballs can hurt when you get a cold, an infection in your eyes, or when you get tired as usual – perhaps you just worked at the computer for too long. To allay suspicions, see your doctor and have your eyesight checked.

6. Heredity

The cause of headaches can be bad heredity.If one of the parents had migraines, there is a considerable risk that this unpleasant disease will be passed on to the child. Did both parents suffer from migraines? Then the probability of inheriting it is twice as high. Find out if you have a predisposition for migraines by talking to your older family members.

7. Intracranial hypertension

This rare disease is sometimes called cerebellar pseudotumor. It is indicated by an increase in intracranial pressure in combination with a headache and blurred vision.Nausea may appear at times. Most often, hypertension affects women of childbearing age who are overweight or even obese.

Treatment is aimed at reducing intracranial pressure and preventing vision loss, including medication and sometimes brain surgery. Doctors recommend that a woman think about if she is overweight, while she feels a headache every day.

8. Effect of benzyl alcohol

This substance is found, for example, in perfumes and air fresheners, along with other synthetic compounds.Benzyl alcohol provokes headaches. If you are sensitive to odors, try to scent a little less than usual. The pain is likely to occur less frequently.

9. Drug overdose

The pain is chronic and daily. To this symptom are added vomiting, palpitations, anxiety and nervousness. This condition can cause uncontrolled use of painkillers: the effect of the drug stops, the pain returns, the patient takes a larger dose of the drug.

Medicines containing codeine and caffeine are especially dangerous in this case: in many countries they are dispensed without a prescription. The result is this: the medicine no longer works, and the side effects are making themselves felt.

Headache does not always indicate a serious illness. However, if you have noted several symptoms at the same time, do not self-medicate, but see a specialist as soon as possible.

90,000 What are the rare types of primary headaches?

This group includes primary headaches characterized by a benign course, but in their manifestations they may resemble certain types of secondary headaches, which are a symptom of various, including serious, neurological or somatic diseases.In this regard, with such forms of headaches, patients often need examination and additional consultations from various specialists to exclude the symptomatic nature of the headache. For example, primary thunderclap headache is characterized by a rapid onset of extremely intense severe headache, and therefore patients often end up in emergency departments and undergo detailed additional examination. Meanwhile, with a primary thunder-like headache, no organic changes are found during examination and, in general, this is a benign disease.The true prevalence of these forms of primary headaches is unknown, the pathogenesis of these diseases is not fully understood, and treatment approaches are based on empirical experience.

What types of rare primary headaches are there?

• Primary stabbing headache.

• Primary cough headache.

• Primary headache on exertion.

• Primary headache associated with sexual activity:

✧ preorgasmic headache;

✧ orgasmic headache.

• Hypnic headache.

• Primary thunderclap headache.

• Hemicrania continua.

• New daily persistent headache (NDPH).

How does the primary stitching headache proceed?

Primary stabbing headache is characterized by transient episodes of clearly localized painful punctures in the head region, which appear suddenly in the absence of organic pathology of the brain and skull.This headache is also called ice-pick headache, jabs and jolts syndrome, and periodic ophthalmodynia. In the case of primary stitching headache, sensations are localized exclusively in the region of the eye, temple or crown, i. E. in the zone that is innervated by the first branch of the trigeminal nerve. The pain occurs as a sensation of one prick (puncture) or a series of pricks in the head area

. It lasts for a few seconds and is repeated throughout the day with an irregular frequency from one shot to several series of shots.At the same time, the pain is not accompanied by concomitant symptoms characteristic, for example, of migraine and TVC. The painful episode of primary stabbing headache has a very short duration: approximately 80% of the “stabs” last 3 seconds or less. The pain comes on suddenly and is of moderate to high intensity. The frequency of attacks varies widely from 1 attack per year to 50 attacks per day. In most cases, attacks are evenly distributed throughout the day. They usually arise spontaneously for no apparent reason.

How is primary stitching headache treated?

Treatment of primary stitching headache is mainly symptomatic. Several studies have noted the beneficial effect of indomethacin; other studies have not confirmed its effectiveness for this form of headache. Some researchers in some cases noticed the preventive effect of melatonin, nifedipine and some NSAIDs.

How does the primary cough headache proceed?

Primary cough headache is also called benign cough headache.It is triggered by coughing or exertion (straining). Primary cough headache refers to a rare form of pathology: according to some reports, its prevalence in the population is 1%. A cough headache can be not only primary, but also symptomatic, i.e. manifestation of another, including serious, pathology. Studies show that in general, about 50% of cases of cough headache are symptomatic, i.e. are a manifestation of the structural pathology of the brain. Primary cough headaches have very characteristic clinical manifestations.They first appear after 40 years and about 80% of patients suffering from this form are men. In general, it is an episodic illness that lasts from 2 months to 2 years. In an attack, pain occurs suddenly and quickly reaches its peak within a few seconds immediately after coughing, laughing, blowing your nose, sneezing, crying, singing, lifting weights, etc. Primary cough pain is high intensity, stabbing, explosive. Primary cough headache is usually bilateral and is most pronounced in the occipital region, but is also strongly felt in the temples.It lasts from a few seconds to several minutes.

How is primary cough headache treated?

Indomethacin is generally beneficial, but there have been few responses to indomethacin and symptomatic cough headaches. There is a significant relief of cough headaches from taking diacarb or after a lumbar puncture. Patients with suspected symptomatic cough headaches should undergo additional examination.Neuroimaging research methods are of great importance for the differential diagnosis of symptomatic cough headaches with primary cough pain.

What is the course of a primary headache during physical exertion?

In contrast to primary cough headache, primary headache with physical exertion occurs, as a rule, in young people and more often in men. It is provoked by any physical stress. Subtypes such as, for example, headaches of movers have been noted.It can occur in both untrained and trained people and people engaged in physical labor.

Primary exertional headache often occurs in hot weather or at altitude, as well as with the use of alcohol and caffeine. Headache usually occurs at the peak of physical activity. Its duration ranges from 5 minutes to 48 hours. More often it has a pulsating character.

How to treat primary stress headache?

Despite the benign nature of primary headache during physical exertion, each such case requires the exclusion of symptomatic headaches, especially serious brain pathology.At the first appearance of a headache associated with physical exertion, it is necessary to exclude subarachnoid hemorrhage or dissection of cerebral arteries. This is especially true when this type of headache first occurs in older or old age. Patients suffering from this type of headache are advised to limit physical activity. Cases of relief of this pain after oral administration of ergotamine tartrate have been described. In most cases, taking indomethacin is also effective.In some patients, early anti-migraine drugs (triptans) may provide relief. A course of treatment with beta-blockers has a prophylactic effect for headaches caused by physical activity.

What is the course of the primary headache associated with sexual activity?

Primary headache associated with sexual activity (coital headache) occurs in about 1% of people in the population. However, its true prevalence appears to be much higher, since most patients do not go to doctors with these complaints.This type of headache is characterized by pain that is triggered by sexual activity. In this case, the examination of the patient does not reveal signs of intracranial pathology. The duration of a headache associated with sexual activity can vary from 1 minute to 3 hours. Postural headache may occur, ie. arising from the transition from a horizontal position to a vertical one after intercourse. In this case, the headache resembles pain with low cerebrospinal fluid pressure.

What are the forms of primary headache associated with sexual activity?

There are 2 forms of coital headache: preorgasmic and orgasmic. Preorgasmic headache is a dull pain in the head or neck, combined with a feeling of tension in the cervical and / or masticatory muscles; occurs during sexual activity and increases with sexual arousal. An orgasmic headache is a sudden, intense (“explosive”) headache that occurs during orgasm.At the first appearance of orgasmic pain, subarachnoid hemorrhage or arterial dissection must be ruled out. In most cases, due to the short-term nature, treatment is not carried out. If the headache associated with sexual activity lasts more than 3 hours, it is necessary to examine the patient to clarify the nature of the pain.

How does hypnic headache proceed?

Hypnic headache refers to a benign primary disease that first occurs in people over 50 years of age.It is called hypnic because the attacks occur during a night’s sleep and wake the patient up. Its synonym is the term “alarm” headache. Clinically, hypnic headache is characterized by bouts of dull headache that occurs more than 15 times a month and continues for 15 minutes or more after the patient wakes up. This pain is not accompanied by vegetative symptoms; there may be mild nausea or intolerance to bright light. Hypnic pain is often bilateral, usually mild to moderate intensity; severe pain occurs in only 20% of patients.The attacks last for 15 minutes – 3 hours, sometimes a little longer. The pain often occurs in the front of the head, sometimes it is felt as diffuse and spreads to the neck. Usually after 1–2 hours the pain disappears completely on its own. At the first appearance of a hypnic headache, it is necessary to exclude intracranial pathology, as well as to carry out differential diagnostics with TVC.

How is hypnic headache treated?

Treatment of hypnic headache includes the use of lithium carbonate, and in case of intolerance to the use of caffeine, flunarizine, indomethacin.Some researchers note the effectiveness of the use of melatonin, verapamil and prednisolone.

How does the primary thunderclap headache proceed?

Thunderous headache is an intense, acute pain that resembles a blow to the head. It is characterized by a sudden onset with the achievement of maximum intensity in less than 1 minute and the duration of pain from 1 hour to 10 days. There is still insufficient evidence that thunderclap headache is a primary disorder.The diagnosis of primary thunderclap headache can be made only with normal results of neuroimaging studies and lumbar puncture. That is why, in every case of a thundering headache, a thorough examination aimed at excluding other causes of pain is mandatory. Thunderous headache is often associated with intracranial vascular disorders, in particular with subarachnoid hemorrhage.

How does hemicrania continua proceed?

Hemicrania continua (prolonged pain in half of the head) is a benign form characterized by prolonged episodes of severely unilateral headache, which is relieved by taking indomethacin.The headache is daily in nature without light gaps for more than 3 months. It is moderate in intensity with episodes of increased pain. During an exacerbation (intensification) of pain, vegetative symptoms appear on its side: redness of the eye, watery eyes, nasal congestion and discharge of fluid from the nose, drooping of the eyelid and constriction of the pupil.

Hemicrania of the continua, as a rule, proceeds without remission, however, rare cases of a wave-like course of the disease have been described. Differential diagnosis has to be carried out with chronic tension headache, chronic migraine and chronic cluster headache.A distinctive feature of continua hemicrania is the high efficiency of indomethacin, therefore, the appointment of indomethacin is a priority method of its treatment.

What is a new daily persistent headache?

New daily persistent headache, as the name suggests, proceeds from the very beginning without remission and painless periods. Chronization of the disease occurs no later than 3 days from the onset of pain. Headache, usually bilateral, pressing or constricting, mild to moderate intensity; there may be intolerance to light, sounds, or mild nausea.The headache lasts more than 3 months and occurs daily. The pain has bilateral localization, is pressing / constricting (non-pulsating) in nature, its intensity is mild or moderate. Headache in this form is not aggravated by normal physical activity (for example, walking, climbing stairs). In some cases, mild accompanying symptoms (intolerance to light, sounds, or mild nausea) may occur. A new daily persistent headache may from the very beginning proceed without remission or very quickly (within 3 days or less) become continuous.This onset of pain is well remembered and is usually clearly described by patients. The patient’s ability to accurately remember the onset of his pain, its initially chronic nature, is the most important factor for the diagnosis of this type of headache. A new daily persistent headache can have two outcomes. In the first case, the headache can spontaneously end after several weeks without treatment, in the second case (refractory type of course), even intensive treatment (traditional for chronic primary headaches) may be useless, and the pain remains chronic for a long time.

What is indicated by pain in different parts of the head – Rambler / doctor

Headache can appear for various reasons, ranging from meteorological dependence and ending with cranial injuries. It cannot be tolerated, and pain relievers do not always help. It all depends on the nature of the pain and the place in which the person feels pain. By identifying the cause of the discomfort, you can quickly eliminate it. Rambler tells how to determine why the head hurts.

Whiskey

If you have a headache and discomfort manifests itself in the temporal region, then there are several explanations.In this case, the pain is most likely throbbing or pressing. In this area, pain is most often manifested due to the classic migraine, in which case a simple pain reliever will help. However, there are other reasons: impaired cerebral circulation, osteochondrosis, scoliosis, kyphosis, as well as a hernia in the cervical spine. In order to relieve pain from these diseases, you need to see a specialist.

Around the head

Typically, this pain is called “girdle” pain. It always comes from a lot of stress, regardless of whether it is associated with good or bad events.In such cases, you should not stuff yourself with painkillers, just drink a sedative and rest. Perhaps, if you are tormented by a problem, you will need to distract yourself.

Back of the head

Dull pain in the back of the head indicates problems with blood vessels: hypertension and hypotension. It can be influenced by a variety of factors, from changes in the weather to your meals. Check your blood pressure and make sure it is unstable, then increase or decrease it with food.If this does not help, see your doctor for prescribing pills for you.

The forehead and upper part of the nose

This part of the head hurts with ARVI and colds. This is due to nasal congestion. If, in addition to the headache, you have only a runny nose from the symptoms, then it is worth treating the cold. However, if you have a fever, sore throat, and shortness of breath, the illness can be more serious. For example meningitis, pneumonia, malaria and typhoid.

Manifestations of psychosomatics: when the body asks for help

There are many reasons why we are sick, but what to do when pills do not help and doctors cannot diagnose? The examination shows that everything is in order in the body, and the body gives a signal of discomfort and pain.Perhaps the cause of such pain is a connection with suppressed negative experiences – psychosomatics. The body tries to draw attention to the problem through pain. Svetlana Ryabova, a social work specialist at the Pechatniki family center, tells how to unravel the signals that come from our body, what to do with them.

Understand the reasons

Natalya and her teenage daughter turned to the family center “Pechatniki”. Their relationship did not go well, my mother was constantly on her nerves, in a conversation with a psychologist, the woman complained of frequent headaches after quarrels with her daughter, a broken state.

Specialists helped Natalya figure out what her body signals were talking about, gave a number of recommendations for developing self-regulation and relaxation skills. The woman felt much lighter. Oddly enough, family conflicts also stopped, as Natalya stopped nagging her daughter, and her physical condition improved.

What diseases of different parts of the body want to say

It happens that a person has painful sensations in certain situations: for example, a head or heart begins to hurt after a quarrel with loved ones.Examination by doctors does not show any abnormalities. In this case, we are talking about the psychological causes of pain. If a person pays attention to these signals, analyzes and changes the situation, they pass. If not, then over time they develop into real diseases.

Vision – a vision of the world. Any diseases associated with vision, realize the desire to close our eyes to the world around us. 90% of cases arise from regular conflicts in the family or at work.

With our ears we hear the world. Hearing problems express a reluctance to hear from others. Often “ideal” daughters are ill, who every day listen to instructions from their mother and do not dare to contradict her. Or wives who are constantly humiliated by their husbands.

Throat is responsible for speech. If we have problems with the throat and nose, it means that we cannot express something in our life or did not protest.

Respiratory organs are responsible for the ability to live life to the fullest, breathe deeply.If you often limit yourself to what you want, expect bronchitis or his comrades.

Heart. Heart problems most often occur in emotional people who tend to take things too personally. Also, problems in the heart area indicate a lack of joy and love, confidence in the need for constant tension and stress.

Digestive tract (stomach and intestines) reacts to the “digestion of thoughts”, expresses the inability to digest something, to cope with something and come to terms.The digestive tract is also responsible for fear.

The spine is the support of the body. If you do not feel the support of loved ones, then problems with the spine will not keep you waiting long. Do not drag everything on yourself, seek help from loved ones, and life will become easier.

Feet carry us through life . Accordingly, problems with legs mean uncertainty about the future, lack of goals in life, unstable financial situation and unwillingness to move somewhere.This includes problems with varicose veins, joint pain, knee pain.

Leather – what we show to the world. It protects your personality. Accordingly, the faces of insecure girls are often strewn with purulent acne. Thus, the protection mechanism is triggered. But in a situation with the skin, a variant of internal suppressed aggression and dissatisfaction with life is also possible.

Diseases of the female genital organs (uterus, ovaries, breasts) are always associated with the relationship with the father, acceptance of their femininity and relationship with her husband.

Practice “Me and my pain”

This is a simple practice that will allow you to work with pain, no matter which part of the body is asking for help. It will not replace a visit to the doctor, but it will help you understand what is the reason. This in turn will promote recovery and recovery. The practice of working with pain or a painful condition is carried out according to the following plan:

1. At the first stage, you need to clearly understand, identify the symptoms. How does your pain manifest itself, in what situations does it arise?
2. You need to identify yourself and the symptom.The symptom is me. This is the idea of ​​integrity. That is: “The cough is me. The pain in my leg is me. ”
3. Now we begin to analyze the symptom as a message: what needs and experiences are frozen in your symptom, in your illness? To whom is the message addressed? For example: “I cough because I want to express my negative attitude towards my mother, husband”.
4. Consider, are there better ways to satisfy your need than illness? What can you do in this situation?

This technique can be used using the empty chair method, when we mentally sit the diseased part of the body on an empty chair, ask it questions, then sit down on this empty chair and answer our question from the role of a diseased organ.Thus, you can establish a connection with this part of the body and understand the causes of pain. Then think about what you can do to get rid of the psychosomatic symptom or pain, how you can improve the situation. Sometimes, awareness and inner working out of negative feelings that have been suppressed lead to a significant improvement in the condition.

Help here

The help of a psychologist is not a substitute for a visit to the doctor if you are sick, however, analyzing the psychological causes of illness helps to relieve symptoms.Thus, together with drug treatment, you can achieve faster and more effective results, which will avoid the transition of the disease into a protracted and chronic form.

If parents do not know how to cope with psychosomatic symptoms, you can always consult by contacting the portal “My Family Center”. Specialists will sign up for a remote consultation with psychologists in the capital’s family centers. Each site visitor can use the map of family and child support organizations.When you select the required area on the map, the nearest organizations are displayed with detailed contact information.

Source

Headaches in different parts of the head – Question to a neurologist

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What does the pain in different parts of the head say?

Everyone must have a headache from time to time. Sometimes we ourselves are the culprit of the headache. A good party, as you know, can easily spoil the whole next day, writes kakzachem.

But what about when pain appears out of nowhere? Headache, like other types of headache, seems to be trying to tell us, “Hey, stop.I am missing something … ”. So what is this “something”?
1. Sudden and rapidly increasing pain in the temples or vertex

This pain is most frightening of all, because it appears suddenly and intensifies very quickly. It seems to fall on you from above. It is important to pay attention to such a headache and consult a doctor, as it can be an indicator of many health problems, including subarachnoid hemorrhage, which is fraught with human life.

2.Pain after trauma

If you have a head injury, remember to see your doctor from time to time. Often, head injuries do not go away without leaving a trace and over time can manifest themselves in the form of frequent headaches.
3. Headache in the morning

If you wake up and feel a terrible headache, this is a clear sign to see a doctor immediately. According to the National Institute of Neurology, pain like this is a sure sign of serious health problems. It can be high blood pressure, sleep apnea and even a brain tumor.

4. Pain in or around one eye (cluster pain)

Cluster headache, also known as “suicidal headache,” is so severe that many scientists believe it is the worst pain a person can experience.

5. Headache accompanied by nausea, vision problems

Be sure to see a doctor if the headache is accompanied by changes in vision, nausea, irritation, neck pain, or a bad mood.

Quick Memo
– If you feel pain in your cheekbones or over your eyes, sinusitis may be the cause.
– If you feel pain in the back of the head and upper part of the neck, then the problem may lie in the neck (curvature, osteochondrosis).
– Migraines are characterized by throbbing pain, nausea, changes in vision.
– With increased pressure, the pain often seems to squeeze the head around the entire circumference.

90,000 What does the pain in different parts of the head say?

The head probably hurts everybody from time to time.Sometimes we ourselves are the culprit of the headache. A good party, as you know, can easily spoil the whole next day, Day.Az reports with reference to Golbis. But what about when pain appears out of nowhere? Headache, like other types of it, seems to be trying to tell us “Hey, stop. I’m missing something …”. So what is “something”?

1. Sudden and rapidly increasing pain in the temples or vertex

This pain is most frightening because it appears suddenly and intensifies very quickly.It seems to fall on you from above. It is important to pay attention to such a headache and consult a doctor, as it can be an indicator of many health problems, including subarachnoid hemorrhage, which is fraught with human life.

2. Pain after trauma

If you have a head injury, remember to see your doctor from time to time. Often, head injuries do not go away without leaving a trace and over time can manifest themselves in the form of frequent headaches.

3.Headache in the morning

If you wake up and feel a terrible headache, this is a clear sign to see a doctor immediately. According to the National Institute of Neurology, pain like this is a sure sign of serious health problems. It can be high blood pressure, sleep apnea and even a brain tumor.

4. Pain in or around one eye (cluster pain)

Cluster headache, also known as “suicidal headache”, is so severe that many scientists believe it is the worst pain a person can experience.

5. Headache accompanied by nausea, vision problems

Be sure to see a doctor if the headache is accompanied by changes in vision, nausea, irritation, neck pain, bad mood.

Brief information

– If you feel pain in the cheekbones or over the eyes, then, perhaps, the cause is sinusitis.