Types, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

Medically Reviewed by Jennifer Robinson, MD on September 14, 2022

• Common Types of Headaches
• Less Common Headaches
• Rare Headaches
• What Causes Headaches?
• Getting a Diagnosis
• How Are Headaches Treated?
• What Happens After I Start Treatment?
• More

Headaches can be more complicated than most people realize. Different kinds can have their own set of symptoms, happen for unique reasons, and need different treatments.

Once you know the type of headache you have, you and your doctor can find the treatment that’s most likely to help and even try to prevent them.

There are over 150 types of headaches, but the most common types include:

Tension Headaches

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache among adults and teens. They cause mild to moderate pain and come and go over time. They usually have no other symptoms.

Migraine Headaches

Migraine headaches are often described as pounding, throbbing pain. They can last from 4 hours to 3 days and usually happen one to four times a month. Along with the pain, people have other symptoms, such as sensitivity to light, noise, or smells; nausea or vomiting; loss of appetite; and upset stomach or belly pain. When a child has a migraine, they may look pale, feel dizzy, and have blurry vision, fever, and an upset stomach. A small number of children’s migraines include digestive symptoms, like vomiting, that happen about once a month.

Cluster Headaches

These headaches are the most severe. You could have intense burning or piercing pain behind or around one eye. It can be throbbing or constant. The pain can be so bad that most people with cluster headaches can’t sit still and will often pace during an attack. On the side of the pain, the eyelid droops, the eye reddens, pupil gets smaller, or the eye makes tears. The nostril on that side runs or stuffs up.

They’re called cluster headaches because they tend to happen in groups. You might get them one to three times per day during a cluster period, which may last 2 weeks to 3 months. Each headache attack lasts 15 minutes to 3 hours. They can wake you up from sleep. The headaches may disappear completely (your doctor will call this remission) for months or years, only to come back later. Men are three to four times more likely to get them than women.

Chronic Daily Headaches

You have this type of headache 15 days or more a month for longer than 3 months. Some are short. Others last more than 4 hours. It’s usually one of the four types of primary headache:

• Chronic migraine
• Chronic tension headache
• New daily persistent headache
• Hemicrania continua

Sinus Headaches

With sinus headaches, you feel a deep and constant pain in your cheekbones, forehead, or on the bridge of your nose. They happen when cavities in your head, called sinuses, get inflamed. The pain usually comes along with other sinus symptoms, like a runny nose, fullness in the ears, fever, and a swollen face. A true sinus headache results from a sinus infection so the gunk that comes out of your nose will be yellow or green, unlike the clear discharge in cluster or migraine headaches.

Posttraumatic Headaches

Posttraumatic stress headaches usually start 2-3 days after a head injury. You’ll feel:

• A dull ache that gets worse from time to time
• Vertigo
• Lightheadedness
• Trouble concentrating
• Memory problems
• Tiring quickly
• Irritability

Headaches may last for a few months. But if it doesn’t get better within a couple of weeks, call your doctor.

Exercise Headaches

When you’re active, the muscles in your head, neck, and scalp need more blood. Your blood vessels swell to supply them. The result is a pulsing pain on both sides of your head that can last anywhere from 5 minutes to 48 hours. It usually hits while you’re active or just afterward, whether the activity is exercise or sex.

Hemicrania Continua

Hemicrania continua is a chronic, ongoing headache almost always affects the same side of your face and head. Other symptoms include:

• Pain that varies in severity
• Red or teary eyes
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Droopy eyelid
• Contracted iris
• Responds to the pain medication indomethacin
• Worse pain with physical activity
• Worse pain with drinking alcohol

Some people also notice migraine symptoms like:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Sensitivity to light and sound

There are two types:

• Chronic: You have daily headaches.
• Remitting: You have headaches for 6 months. They go away for a period of weeks or months and come back.

Hormone Headaches

You can get headaches from shifting hormone levels during your periods, pregnancy, and menopause. The hormone changes from birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy can also trigger headaches. When they happen 2 days before your period or in the first 3 days after it starts, they’re called menstrual migraines.

New Daily Persistent Headaches (NDPH)

These may start suddenly and can go on for 3 months or longer. Many people clearly remember the day their pain began.

Doctors aren’t sure why this type of headache starts. Some people find that it strikes after an infection, flu-like illness, surgery, or stressful event.

The pain tends to be moderate, but for some people, it’s severe. And it’s often hard to treat.

Symptoms can vary widely. Some are like tension headaches. Others share symptoms of migraine, such as nausea or sensitivity to light.

Call your doctor if your headache won’t go away or if it’s severe.

Rebound Headaches

You might also hear these called medication overuse headaches. If you use a prescription or over-the-counter pain reliever more than two or three times a week, or more than 10 days a month, you’re setting yourself up for more pain. When the meds wear off, the pain comes back and you have to take more to stop it. This can cause a dull, constant headache that’s often worse in the morning.

Ice Pick Headaches

These short, stabbing, intense headaches usually only last a few seconds. They might happen a few times a day at most. If you have one, see the doctor. Ice pick headaches can be a condition on their own, or they can be a symptom of something else.

Spinal Headaches

Talk to your doctor if you get a headache after you have a spinal tap, a spinal block, or an epidural. Your doctor might call it a puncture headache because these procedures involve piercing the membrane that surrounds your spinal cord. If spinal fluid leaks through the puncture site, it can cause a headache.

Thunderclap Headaches

People often call this the worst headache of your life. It comes suddenly out of nowhere and peaks quickly. Causes of thunderclap headaches include:

• Blood vessel tear, rupture, or blockage
• Head injury
• Hemorrhagic stroke from a ruptured blood vessel in your brain
• Ischemic stroke from a blocked blood vessel in your brain
• Narrowed blood vessels surrounding the brain
• Inflamed blood vessels
• Blood pressure changes in late pregnancy

Take a sudden new headache seriously. It’s often the only warning sign you get of a serious problem.

The pain you feel during a headache comes from a mix of signals between your brain, blood vessels, and nearby nerves. Specific nerves in your blood vessels and head muscles switch on and send pain signals to your brain. But it isn’t clear how these signals get turned on in the first place.

Common causes of headaches include:

• Illness. This can include infections, colds, and fevers. Headaches are also common with conditions like sinusitis (inflammation of the sinuses), a throat infection, or an ear infection. In some cases, headaches can result from a blow to the head or, rarely, a sign of a more serious medical problem.
• Stress. Emotional stress and depression as well as alcohol use, skipping meals, changes in sleep patterns, and taking too much medication. Other causes include neck or back strain due to poor posture.
• Your environment, including secondhand tobacco smoke, strong smells from household chemicals or perfumes, allergens, and certain foods. Stress, pollution, noise, lighting, and weather changes are other possible triggers.
• Genetics. Headaches, especially migraine headaches, tend to run in families. Most children and teens (90%) who have migraines have other family members who get them. When both parents have a history of migraines, there is a 70% chance their child will also have them. If only one parent has a history of these headaches, the risk drops to 25%-50%.

Doctors don’t know exactly what causes migraines. One theory suggest that a problem with the electric charge through nerve cells causes a sequence of changes that cause migraines.

Too much physical activity can also trigger a migraine in adults.

Once you get your headaches diagnosed correctly, you can start the right treatment plan for your symptoms.

The first step is to talk to your doctor about your headaches. They’ll give you a physical exam and ask you about the symptoms you have and how often they happen. It’s important to be as complete as possible with these descriptions. Give your doctor a list of things that cause your headaches, things that make them worse, and what helps you feel better. You can track details in a headache diary to help your doctor diagnose your problem.

Most people don’t need special diagnostic tests. But sometimes, doctors suggest a CT scan or MRI to look for problems inside your brain that might cause your headaches. Skull X-rays won’t help. An EEG (electroencephalogram) is also unnecessary unless you’ve passed out when you had a headache.

If your headache symptoms get worse or happen more often despite treatment, ask your doctor to refer you to a headache specialist.

Your doctor may recommend different types of treatment to try. They also might suggest more testing or refer you to a headache specialist.

The type of headache treatment you need will depend on a lot of things, including the type of headache you get, how often, and its cause. Some people don’t need medical help at all. But those who do might get medications, electronic medical devices, counseling, stress management, and biofeedback. Your doctor will make a treatment plan to meet your specific needs.

Once you start a treatment program, keep track of how well it’s working. A headache diary can help you note any patterns or changes in how you feel. Know that it may take some time for you and your doctor to find the best treatment plan, so try to be patient. Be honest with them about what is and isn’t working for you.

Even though you’re getting treatment, you should still steer clear of the things you know can trigger your headaches, like foods or smells. And it’s important to stick to healthy habits that will keep you feeling good, like regular exercise, enough sleep, and a healthy diet. Also, make your scheduled follow-up appointments so your doctor can see how you’re doing and make changes in the treatment program if you need them. 

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Headache Pain: When to Worry, What to Do – Harvard Health Publishing

Nearly everyone has had headache pain, and most of us have had it many times. A minor headache is little more than a nuisance that’s relieved by an over-the-counter pain reliever, some food or coffee, or a short rest. But if your headache is severe or unusual, you might worry about stroke, a tumor, or a blood clot. Fortunately, such problems are rare. Still, you should know when a headache needs urgent care and how to control the vast majority of headaches that are not threatening to your health.

What causes headaches?

Doctors don’t fully understand what causes most headaches. They do know that the brain tissue and the skull are never responsible since they don’t have nerves that register pain. But the blood vessels in the head and neck can signal pain, as can the tissues that surround the brain and some major nerves that originate in the brain. The scalp, sinuses, teeth, and muscles and joints of the neck can also cause head pain.

When to worry about a headache

You can take care of many types of headaches by yourself, and your doctor can give you medication to control most of the tougher headaches. But some headaches call for prompt medical care. Here are some warning signs for when you should worry about headaches:

• Headaches that first develop after age 50
• A major change in the pattern of your headaches
• An unusually severe headache
• Head pain that increases with coughing or movement
• Headaches that get steadily worse
• Changes in personality or mental function
• Headaches that are accompanied by fever, stiff neck, confusion, decreased alertness or memory, or neurological symptoms such as visual disturbances, slurred speech, weakness, numbness, or seizures
• Headaches that are accompanied by a painful red eye
• Headaches that are accompanied by pain and tenderness near the temples
• Headaches after a blow to the head
• Headaches that prevent normal daily activities
• Headaches that come on abruptly, especially if they wake you up
• Headaches in patients with cancer or impaired immune systems

Types of headaches

There are more than 300 types of headaches, but only about 10% of headaches have a known cause. The others are called primary headaches. Here is a rundown on some major primary headaches.

Tension headaches

Occurring in about three of every four adults, tension headaches are the most common of all headaches. In most cases, they are mild to moderate in severity and occur infrequently. But a few people get severe tension headaches, and some are troubled by them for three or four times a week.

The typical tension headache produces a dull, squeezing pain on both sides of the head. People with strong tension headaches may feel like their head is in a vise. The shoulders and neck can also ache. Some tension headaches are triggered by fatigue, emotional stress, or problems involving the muscles or joints of the neck or jaw. Most last for 20 minutes to two hours.

If you get occasional tension-type headaches, you can take care of them yourself. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, other brands) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, naproxen (Aleve, other brands), or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, other brands) often do the trick, but follow the directions on the label, and never take more than you should. A heating pad or warm shower may help; some people feel better with a short nap or light snack.

If you get frequent tension-type headaches, try to identify triggers so you can avoid them. Don’t get overtired or skip meals. Learn relaxation techniques; yoga is particularly helpful because it can relax both your mind and your neck muscles. If you clench your jaw or grind your teeth at night, a bite plate may help.

If you need more help, your doctor may prescribe a stronger pain medication or a muscle relaxant to control headache pain. Many people with recurrent tension-type headaches can prevent attacks by taking a tricyclic antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, generic). Fortunately, most people with tension-type headaches will do very well with simpler programs.

Migraine

Migraines occur less often than tension headaches, but they are usually much more severe. They are two to three times more common in women than men, but that’s small consolation if you are among the 6% to 8% of all men who have migraines. And since a Harvard study of 20,084 men age 40 to 84 reported that having migraines boosts the risk of heart attacks by 42%, men with migraines should take their headaches to heart.

Neurologists believe that migraines are caused by changes in the brain’s blood flow and nerve cell activity. Genetics play a role since 70% of migraine victims have at least one close relative with the problem.

Migraine triggers. Although a migraine can come on without warning, it is often set off by a trigger. The things that set off a migraine vary from person to person, but a migraine sufferer usually remains sensitive to the same triggers. The table lists some of the most common ones.

Migraine symptoms.  Migraines often begin in the evening or during sleep. In some people, the attacks are preceded by several hours of fatigue, depression, and sluggishness or by irritability and restlessness. Because migraine symptoms vary widely, at least half of all migraine sufferers think they have sinus or tension headaches, not migraines.

About 20% of migraines begin with one or more neurological symptoms called an aura. Visual complaints are most common. They may include halos, sparkles or flashing lights, wavy lines, and even temporary loss of vision. The aura may also produce numbness or tingling on one side of the body, especially the face or hand. Some patients develop aura symptoms without getting headaches; they often think they are having a stroke, not a migraine.

The majority of migraines develop without an aura. In typical cases, the pain is on one side of the head, often beginning around the eye and temple before spreading to the back of the head. The pain is frequently severe and is described as throbbing or pulsating. Nausea is common, and many migraine patients have a watering eye, a running nose, or congestion. If these symptoms are prominent, they may lead to a misdiagnosis of sinus headaches. One way to remember the features of migraine is to use the word POUND

P is for pulsating pain

O for one-day duration of severe untreated attacks

U for unilateral (one-sided) pain

N for nausea and vomiting

D for disabling intensity.

Without effective treatment, migraine attacks usually last for four to 24 hours. When you’re suffering a migraine, even four hours is far too long — and that’s why early treatment for a migraine is so important.

Migraine treatment. If you spot a migraine in its very earliest stages, you may be able to control it with nonprescription pain relievers. Acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and a combination of pain medications and caffeine are all effective — if you take a full dose very early in the attack.

When prescription drugs are needed, most doctors turn to the triptans, which are available as tablets, nasal sprays, or as injections that patients can learn to give to themselves. Examples include sumatriptan (Imitrex), zolmitriptan (Zomig), and rizatriptan (Maxalt). Triptans provide complete relief within two hours for up to 70% of patients; the response is best if treatment is started early. Some patients require a second dose within 12 to 24 hours. Patients with cardiovascular disease and those who take a high dose of certain antidepressants need to discuss the risks of using them with their doctor.

Work with your doctor to find the migraine treatment that works best for you. Remember, though, that overuse can lead to rebound headaches and a vicious cycle of drugs and headaches. So, if you need treatment more than two or three times a week, consider preventive medications.

Migraine prevention. Some people can prevent migraines simply by avoiding triggers. Others do well with prompt therapy for occasional attacks. But patients who suffer frequent migraine attacks often benefit from preventive medications. Effective prescription drugs include beta blockers (such as propranolol, nadolol and atenolol), certain antidepressants (such as amitriptyline), and certain antiseizure medications (such topiramate and valproate). Difficult cases may benefit from referral to a headache specialist.

Cluster headaches

Cluster headaches are uncommon but very severe headaches, and they occur five times more often in men than women. Although anyone can get cluster headaches, the typical patient is a middle-aged man with a history of smoking.

The problem gets its name because the headaches tend to come in clusters, with one to eight headaches a day during a one- to three-month period every year or two, often at the same time of year. The pain always strikes one side of the head and is very severe. The eye on the painful side is red and watery, the eyelid may droop, and the nose runs or is blocked. The attack starts abruptly and lasts for 30 to 60 minutes. Most sufferers become restless and agitated during the attack; unable to sit still, they pace, jog in place, or beat their head against a wall. Nausea and sensitivity to light and sound may accompany the pain.

Inhaling high flow oxygen soon after the onset of the headache can often stop the attack. Sumatriptan is often effective for cluster headaches, particularly when given by injection. Other triptans may also help. Some patients favor lidocaine nose drops, dihydroergotamine injections, or other treatments. The most effective medication for preventing cluster headache attacks is verapamil, a calcium-channel blocker. Other drugs that may help include divalproex, topiramate, and lithium.

Other types of headaches

Doctors have diagnosed hundreds of conditions associated with headaches. Here are just a few:

Medication headaches. Many drugs number headaches among their side effects. And although it seems paradoxical, many medications used to treat headaches can also cause medication overuse headaches or rebound headaches. Migraine sufferers are particularly vulnerable to a vicious cycle of pain leading to more medication, which triggers more pain. If you have frequent headaches and use medication, OTC or prescription, or both, for more than 10 to 15 days a month, you may have medication overuse headaches. The way to find out is to discontinue or taper your medication — but always consult your doctor first. A corticosteroid such as prednisone may help control pain during the withdrawal period.

Sinus headaches. Acute sinusitis causes pain over the forehead, around the nose and eyes, over the cheeks, or in the upper teeth. Stooping forward increases the pain. Thick nasal discharge, congestion, and fever pinpoint the problem to the sinuses. When the acute infection resolves, the pain disappears. Sinusitis is not a common cause of chronic or recurrent headaches.

Ice cream headaches. Some people develop sharp, sudden headache pain when they eat anything cold. The pain is over in less than a minute, even if you keep eating. If you are bothered by ice cream headaches, try eating slowly and warming the cold food at the front of your mouth before you swallow it.

Headache from high blood pressure. Except in cases of very high blood pressure, hypertension does not cause headaches. In fact, most people with high blood pressure don’t have any symptoms at all, and a study of 51,234 people reported that hypertension was associated with a reduced incidence of headaches. But that’s no reason to neglect your blood pressure. Hypertension leads to strokes, heart attacks, heart failure, and kidney disease, so all men should have their pressure checked, and then take steps to correct abnormalities.

Headache from exercise and sex. Sudden, strenuous exercise can bring on a headache. Gradual warm-ups or treatment with an anti-inflammatory medication before exercise can help. Sexual intercourse may also trigger headaches; some men note only dull pain, but others suffer from severe attacks called orgasmic headaches. Some people can prevent orgasmic headaches by taking an NSAID 30 to 60 minutes before intercourse.

Headache testing

Modern medicine depends on tests to diagnose many problems. For most headaches, though, a good old-fashioned history and physical will do the job. In fact, CT scans, MRIs, and EEGs (brain wave tests) look normal in tension-type headaches, migraines, and cluster headaches. Still, these tests can be vital in patients with warning signs or other worrisome headaches.

Living with constant headaches

For most of us, an occasional headache is nothing more than a temporary speed bump in the course of a busy day. Even so, most men can ease the problem with simple lifestyle measures and nonprescription medications. Relaxation techniques, biofeedback, yoga, and acupuncture may also help. But for some of us, headaches are a big problem. Learn to recognize warning signs that call for prompt medical care. Work with your doctor to develop a program to prevent and treat migraines and other serious headaches. And don’t fall into the trap of overusing medications; for some gents, rebound headaches are the biggest pain of all.

Image: wavebreakmedia LLC/Getty Images

Constant headache – what to do?

01.09

2020

26.05

2023

10 minutes

Headache (cephalgia) is an extremely common condition, familiar to almost 90% of the population. It is important to know that headache is not an independent disease, but a serious symptom indicating internal, including quite serious, disorders. If the pain is temporary, rarely manifests itself, passes quickly and is easily stopped with the help of an analgesic, do not worry. However, persistent, frequent and intense headaches can be a sign of a serious illness and a reason to see a doctor. A comprehensive examination, consultation with a specialist will help identify the cause, prescribe the appropriate treatment, and receive valuable recommendations on lifestyle.

CONTENT OF ARTICLE

• 1. Types of disease
• 2. Major causes of headache
• 3. First aid
• 4. Methods of treatment

Types of the disease

Periodic or persistent headaches can manifest as a reaction of the body to physiological or psychophysiological changes in the structures of the brain, vascular disorders, violations of the tone of the muscles of the neck or skull. In neurology, several types of cephalalgia are distinguished, each of which has its own characteristics, character, localization and intensity:

• Migraine is a sharp and severe headache, often of a throbbing nature. Accompanied by nausea, intolerance to light and strong odors. Pain sensations are more often unilateral in nature, spread to the lower jaw, cervical muscles. The attack can last from several minutes to several hours, appears in the evening. Migraine mostly affects women between the ages of 25 and 35.
• Tension pain is the most common, occurs with the same frequency in women and men. Pressing or squeezing in nature, it can cover the entire head or only the back of the head, forehead, and crown. Often appears after physical or mental overstrain, stress, lack of sleep, prolonged work at the computer. It is well stopped with the help of analgesics or goes away on its own after rest or sleep.
• Cluster (Horton’s) is one of the most severe types of headache that can disturb a person with prolonged attacks of a pulsating nature. Mostly unilateral, radiates to the eye area, temple. Attacks last from 20 minutes to several hours, then subside and repeat again.
• Post-traumatic – develops with a bruise or concussion. The intensity depends on the nature of the injury and the degree of damage to the structures of the skull.

There are many reasons for frequent headaches, you should not look for the source of pain on your own, you should consult a neurologist. According to medical observations, vascular diseases are the main cause of persistent headaches. These include vegetovascular dystonia, hypertension, ischemia, subarachnoid hemorrhage, stroke and other life-threatening conditions. A pulsating character may indicate an impending stroke, supplemented by dizziness, impaired consciousness, palpitations and other pronounced symptoms. It is localized in the back of the head, frontal part, accompanied by tinnitus, “goosebumps”, nausea, discomfort behind the sternum. Disappears after stabilization of arterial pressure. Dangerous headache, usually “pressing” or “bursting”, which develops against the background of increased intracranial pressure. It can be caused by malignant or benign brain tumors, craniocerebral trauma. In addition to severe pain, patients feel nausea, urge to vomit, dizziness.

The main causes of headache

The etiology of headache depends on the underlying cause. This symptom is characteristic of many pathologies, but mainly develops against the background of the following diseases and conditions:

• hypertension;
• migraine;
• increased intracranial pressure;
• osteochondrosis of the cervical spine;
• chronic stress, psychosomatic disorders;
• infectious diseases;
• poisoning with toxic or poisonous substances;
• trauma to the brain or spine;
• any intoxication of the body;
• neuralgia of the occipital nerve;
• tumors;
• hormonal imbalance.

Persistent headaches can appear not only on the background of diseases, but also be the result of an unhealthy lifestyle. Provoking factors include:

• meteorological dependence;
• stress, depression;
• disturbed diet;
• fasting, dieting;
• overwork;
• physical and mental stress;
• smoking;
• diseases of the teeth;
• alcohol abuse.
• taking strong drugs.

Any changes in the body can cause an attack of cephalalgia, but if it is poorly controlled by analgesics, you should not hesitate to visit a doctor who, after taking an anamnesis and examination results, will make the correct diagnosis and prescribe the necessary treatment.

Diagnosis

To determine why your head constantly hurts, you should contact a neurologist . After collecting an anamnesis, visual examination and studying the patient’s medical history, the specialist will prescribe a number of examinations:

• Electroencephalography (EEG) – evaluates the work of the brain, detects vascular pathologies, hematomas, tumors.
• X-ray – determines injuries, sinusitis, sinusitis and other changes in the cranium.
• MRI is an informative examination method that allows you to assess the work of the brain with an accuracy of 98%, to identify the slightest changes in its work. It is prescribed for vascular diseases, suspected brain tumors.
• CT – detects changes in brain structures, determines tumors, cysts, injuries, thrombosis and other pathologies.
• Ultrasound – diagnoses pathologies and anomalies of blood vessels, impaired blood flow.
• Laboratory methods – detect infectious processes in the body, autoimmune disorders, determine the level of cholesterol in the blood plasma and other important indicators.

The results of the examination allow the doctor to get a complete clinical picture, make the correct diagnosis, and prescribe the necessary treatment. Constant headaches should not be ignored, early diagnosis and properly conducted therapy will help eliminate serious consequences.

First Aid

Headache can appear at the most inopportune moment. How to help a person, especially if there are no painkillers at hand.

• Provide complete peace of mind. Eliminate all kinds of irritating factors, muffle sounds, lie down, close your eyes and try to relax.
• Gentle head massage.
• Do not overload the body – exclude smoking and drinking alcohol, physical and mental stress.
• Place a flat pillow under the head.
• Take moderate painkillers. It is not recommended to take potent drugs or those drugs that have not been taken before.
• Measure pressure. With elevated rates, take an antihypertensive drug.
• A cold compress can be applied to the forehead for 10-15 minutes.

In more severe cases, call an ambulance or take the person to a hospital. If, with constant headaches, the examination does not reveal the disease, you should pay attention to the lifestyle. This symptom often affects people who experience chronic fatigue, lack of sleep, sit on “hungry” diets, smoke a lot, abuse alcohol, or have a tendency to depressive states. In this case, doctors recommend changing the daily routine, paying more attention to your health, rest and nutrition.

Methods of treatment

If you have persistent headaches, a competent consultation with a neurologist is indispensable. Treatment will directly depend on the underlying cause. To relieve pain, a wide range of medications is recommended, including analgesics, anti-inflammatory, vasodilators, antispasmodics, anticonvulsants. It is extremely important, at the same time, not to self-medicate, only a doctor can prescribe the correct therapy, the time and frequency of taking medications. Constant headaches are a sign of internal diseases, so the doctor will prescribe other medications in accordance with the diagnosis when making a diagnosis. Adjuvant therapy may include:

• acupuncture;
• osteopathy;
• physiotherapy;
• physiotherapy exercises;
• methods of extracorporeal hemocorrection.

An integrated approach to treatment will help speed up recovery, eliminate unpleasant symptoms, and improve a person’s quality of life.

Prevention

The following tips can help reduce the risk of persistent headaches:

• Proper and healthy nutrition.
• Full sleep and rest, at least 8 hours.
• Airing the room before going to bed.
• Elimination of stress, depression.
• Elimination of physical and mental overwork.
• Regular BP measurement.
• Combating dehydration.
• Outdoor walks.
• Stop smoking and drinking alcohol.

Compliance with elementary rules will help not only reduce the likelihood of headaches, but also minimize the development of other diseases. It is important to understand that a similar symptom can disturb almost every adult, but if your head hurts constantly, you should not self-medicate. A timely appeal to a neurologist will help solve the problem, eliminate serious consequences.

Article checked by a doctor

Shestakov Alexey Leonidovich

Head physician of the clinic “MedAstrum”.
Work experience 38 years.

More about the doctor

Doctor of Medical Sciences, doctor of the highest qualification category. Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation. General Secretary of the Society of Herniologists

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6 types of headache: diagnosis and treatment

We are often asked what research is best done for headaches. It all depends on what is causing the problem. Even the most experienced doctor without a diagnosis (and in the case of a headache it is always an MRI) will not tell you the cause with 100% accuracy. However, he can understand from your symptoms exactly where to look for the root of all troubles.

There are 6 main types of pain:

1. Sinus.

This is a sharp severe pain in the region of the brow ridges, nose and cheekbones. Often appears in conjunction with a cold, flu, or seasonal allergies.

Cause in the sinuses – they are irritated, inflamed, swollen and/or filled with mucus, hence the discomfort. The pain will disappear after recovery.

People with similar symptoms are usually referred to an ENT. He will prescribe an MRI of the sinuses, according to the results, he will prescribe a course of antibiotics, antihistamines and decongestants. And if the disease has already progressed greatly, and pus has accumulated in the sinuses, then it can make a puncture and remove all the “trash” manually.

2. Cluster.

Rare, affecting only 1 in 1,000 people, and more common in men than women. This is an attack of very severe pain or burning in the eye area that lasts from 30 minutes to 3 hours. It repeats every day at the same time.

Torment may pass in a week, may linger for 3 months, and sometimes last for years. Fortunately, there are medications that can help. Special breathing and relaxation techniques can also relieve pain and have been shown to increase the time between attacks and make them less frequent.

The source of problems is hidden deep in the brain. This is a pair of symmetrical trigeminal nerves that are responsible for sensations of heat or pain in the face. The root of the nerve is located on the side of the eye, and branches run along the forehead, cheek, and from the chin to the area above the ear on one side of the face. To diagnose problems with the trigeminal nerves, your doctor will refer you to an MRI scan called “neurovascular conflict.”

3-4. Headache from stress and tension.

As the name implies, this pain is caused by stress or tension (usually in the neck and shoulders). It is associated with strong psychological stress, poor posture, the habit of clenching your jaw and grinding your teeth, bright lights and, which is completely unfair, sitting at a computer for a long time.

You can recognize this headache by the following signs:

1. It is symmetrical, that is, it is felt on both sides of the head or neck.
2. It is dull and obsessive, but not very strong, rather medium or even weak in intensity.
3. As if something is pressing or squeezing the hoop on the head, especially in the region of the forehead and the back of the head.
4. Normal movement of the head prevents pain and discomfort in the muscles.
5. Sensitivity to light and noise.
6. Insomnia and distraction.
7. Often occurs against the background of depression and feelings of longing.

This pain is relatively easy to manage. Rest, physical and mental, massages, posture correction will help to correct the situation. However, first you need to exclude some serious diseases with similar symptoms and understand whether it is stress or a problem with the cervical spine. As a rule, in this case, neurologists refer patients to the “Head and Neck” complex, which includes as many as 5 studies: the brain, arteries and veins of the brain, cervical region and arteries of the neck.

5. Migraine.

Severe throbbing pain – usually in one side of the head. Often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and noise.

Migraine lasts for hours or even days and is so unbearable that the person cannot even get out of bed.

The aura often becomes a harbinger of seizures. These are flashes of light, blind spots or tingling/numbness in the face, arm or leg, loss of smell.

Migraine is now treated with medication and lifestyle changes. To make a diagnosis and prescribe medication, the doctor will ask you to bring the results of the MRI complex “brain + brain arteries + brain veins”.

6. TMJ syndrome.

Headaches are a side effect of problems with the temporomandibular joint, which connects the lower jaw to the skull. Thanks to this joint, we can move the jaw up and down and left and right, speak, chew and yawn.

TMJ syndrome can be identified by the following signs:

1. Pain or discomfort in the jaw, around the ear, in the neck and shoulders when you eat, talk or open your mouth wide.
2. It is difficult to open or close the mouth, when chewing there is a feeling as if the lower and upper jaw do not match.
3. Clicks or grinding when moving the jaw.