Where are different types of headaches located. What are the common symptoms of migraines. How can you treat tension headaches at home. What causes cluster headaches. When should you see a doctor for sinus headaches. How to prevent cervicogenic headaches.

Understanding Migraine Headaches: Causes, Symptoms, and Relief

Migraines are a common yet often debilitating type of headache that affects millions of people worldwide. These intense headaches typically manifest as throbbing pain on one side of the head, accompanied by a range of other symptoms that can significantly impact daily life.

Key Migraine Symptoms

• Moderate to severe pain, often described as pulsating or throbbing
• Unilateral pain (affecting one side of the head)
• Visual disturbances, such as blurred vision or seeing flashing lights
• Heightened sensitivity to light, sounds, and smells
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness or lightheadedness

Are migraines more prevalent than we think? Indeed, they are. The Migraine Trust estimates that 1 in 7 people experience migraines, with chronic migraines affecting approximately 2% of the global population. While the exact causes remain elusive, researchers have identified various triggers and risk factors.

Common Migraine Triggers

• Lack of sleep or changes in sleep patterns
• Certain foods, such as aged cheeses, chocolate, or processed meats
• Hormonal fluctuations, particularly in women
• Stress and anxiety
• Environmental factors like bright lights, loud noises, or strong odors
• Dehydration and skipping meals

How can you manage migraine pain effectively? When a migraine strikes, try these strategies:

1. Retreat to a dark, quiet room and lie down
2. Apply a cold or hot compress to your head or neck
3. Practice relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or meditation
4. Take over-the-counter pain relievers, like paracetamol, at the first sign of symptoms
5. Stay hydrated and eat small, regular meals

Can keeping a migraine diary help identify triggers? Absolutely. Tracking your migraines, including potential triggers, symptoms, and the effectiveness of treatments, can provide valuable insights for both you and your healthcare provider. This information can be instrumental in developing a personalized treatment plan.

Cluster Headaches: The “Suicide Headache” Explained

Cluster headaches, often referred to as “suicide headaches” due to their extreme intensity, are a rare but excruciating type of headache. These headaches typically occur in cyclical patterns or clusters, hence their name. Understanding the unique characteristics of cluster headaches is crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Distinctive Features of Cluster Headaches

• Severe, piercing pain typically centered around one eye
• Headaches occur in cycles, often at the same time each day
• Episodes last between 15 minutes to 3 hours
• Accompanying symptoms like red, watery eyes and nasal congestion
• Restlessness or agitation during an attack

Why are cluster headaches considered one of the most painful conditions? The intensity of pain experienced during a cluster headache is often described as more severe than childbirth or kidney stones. This extreme pain, combined with the regularity of attacks, can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life.

Treatment Approaches for Cluster Headaches

While there is no cure for cluster headaches, several treatment options can help manage symptoms and reduce the frequency of attacks:

1. Oxygen therapy: Breathing pure oxygen through a mask can provide rapid relief
2. Triptans: Medications that constrict blood vessels and block pain pathways
3. Preventive medications: Drugs like verapamil or lithium to reduce attack frequency
4. Nerve blocks: Injections to temporarily numb the nerves associated with pain
5. Lifestyle modifications: Avoiding triggers like alcohol and maintaining a regular sleep schedule

Is it possible to prevent cluster headaches? While complete prevention may not be achievable, identifying and avoiding triggers can help reduce the frequency and severity of attacks. Common triggers include alcohol, strong smells, and irregular sleep patterns.

Tension Headaches: The Most Common Yet Overlooked Headache Type

Tension headaches are the most prevalent type of headache, affecting up to 80% of adults at some point in their lives. Despite their commonality, tension headaches are often underdiagnosed and undertreated. Understanding the characteristics and causes of tension headaches is essential for effective management.

Recognizing Tension Headaches

• Dull, aching pain that affects both sides of the head
• Sensation of pressure or tightness across the forehead
• Tenderness in the scalp, neck, and shoulder muscles
• Pain that ranges from mild to moderate in intensity
• Headaches that can last from 30 minutes to several days

What causes tension headaches? The exact cause remains unknown, but several factors are believed to contribute:

1. Muscle tension in the head, neck, and shoulders
2. Stress and anxiety
3. Poor posture, especially during prolonged computer use
4. Lack of sleep or poor sleep quality
5. Dehydration and skipping meals
6. Eye strain from prolonged screen time

How can you alleviate tension headaches at home? Try these remedies:

• Practice stress-reduction techniques like deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation
• Apply a warm or cold compress to your neck and shoulders
• Engage in gentle stretching exercises for your neck and shoulders
• Take breaks from prolonged screen time and practice good posture
• Stay hydrated and maintain a balanced diet
• Use over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen as directed

Can lifestyle changes prevent tension headaches? Indeed, adopting healthy habits can significantly reduce the frequency and severity of tension headaches. Regular exercise, stress management, and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule are particularly effective preventive measures.

Sinus Headaches: When Your Sinuses Are to Blame

Sinus headaches are often confused with other types of headaches, particularly migraines. These headaches occur when the sinuses become inflamed, usually due to an infection or allergies. Understanding the unique characteristics of sinus headaches is crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Identifying Sinus Headaches

• Pain and pressure around the eyes, cheeks, and forehead
• Worsening pain when bending forward or lying down
• Accompanying symptoms like nasal congestion and discharge
• Fatigue and aching in the upper jaw
• Possible fever in cases of sinus infection

How can you differentiate sinus headaches from migraines? Unlike migraines, sinus headaches are not typically associated with nausea or sensitivity to light and sound. Additionally, sinus headaches are often accompanied by other symptoms of sinus inflammation, such as facial pressure and nasal discharge.

Treatment Options for Sinus Headaches

1. Nasal decongestants to reduce sinus pressure
2. Saline nasal sprays to moisturize nasal passages
3. Pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen
4. Antibiotics if a bacterial sinus infection is present
5. Antihistamines for allergy-related sinus inflammation
6. Steam inhalation to help open nasal passages

When should you see a doctor for sinus headaches? Consult a healthcare provider if:

• Your headaches persist for more than a week
• Over-the-counter medications don’t provide relief
• You have a high fever or severe facial pain
• Your symptoms worsen or new symptoms develop

Can sinus headaches be prevented? While not all sinus headaches are preventable, you can reduce your risk by:

• Practicing good hand hygiene to avoid infections
• Using a humidifier to keep nasal passages moist
• Managing allergies with appropriate medications
• Avoiding known triggers, such as cigarette smoke or strong perfumes

Cervicogenic Headaches: When Neck Pain Leads to Head Pain

Cervicogenic headaches are a unique type of headache that originates from issues in the neck. These headaches are often misdiagnosed as migraines or tension headaches, but understanding their distinct characteristics is crucial for proper treatment.

Key Features of Cervicogenic Headaches

• Pain that starts in the neck and radiates to the head
• Headache typically affects one side of the head
• Pain worsens with certain neck movements
• Reduced range of motion in the neck
• Tenderness in the upper neck or base of the skull

What causes cervicogenic headaches? These headaches can result from various factors affecting the cervical spine, including:

1. Whiplash or other neck injuries
2. Osteoarthritis of the upper cervical joints
3. Herniated discs in the neck
4. Poor posture, especially from prolonged desk work
5. Pinched nerves in the cervical spine

How are cervicogenic headaches treated? Treatment often involves a multidisciplinary approach:

• Physical therapy to improve neck strength and flexibility
• Chiropractic adjustments to address spinal alignment issues
• Massage therapy to relieve muscle tension
• Medications, including pain relievers and muscle relaxants
• Nerve blocks or radiofrequency ablation for severe cases
• Lifestyle modifications to improve posture and ergonomics

Can cervicogenic headaches be prevented? While not all causes are preventable, you can reduce your risk by:

• Maintaining good posture, especially during prolonged sitting
• Taking regular breaks to stretch and move during desk work
• Strengthening neck and upper back muscles through exercise
• Using proper ergonomics in your workspace
• Avoiding activities that strain your neck

When to Seek Medical Attention for Headaches

While most headaches are not life-threatening, certain symptoms warrant immediate medical attention. Understanding when to seek help can be crucial in identifying and treating potentially serious conditions.

Red Flags for Headaches

• Sudden, severe headache often described as the “worst headache of your life”
• Headache accompanied by fever, stiff neck, and confusion
• Headache following a head injury
• Persistent headache in someone with no prior history of headaches
• Headache associated with vision changes, weakness, or speech difficulties
• Headaches that worsen with coughing, exertion, or sudden movements

Why is it important to recognize these warning signs? These symptoms could indicate serious conditions such as meningitis, brain aneurysm, or stroke, which require immediate medical intervention.

Chronic Headache Management

When should you consult a doctor for ongoing headaches? Consider seeking medical advice if:

1. You experience headaches more than 15 days per month
2. Your headaches significantly impact your quality of life
3. Over-the-counter medications no longer provide relief
4. You need pain relievers more than two days per week
5. Your headache pattern changes or new symptoms develop

How can a healthcare provider help with chronic headaches? A doctor can:

• Provide a proper diagnosis through physical exams and possibly imaging studies
• Prescribe preventive medications to reduce headache frequency
• Recommend lifestyle modifications to manage triggers
• Refer you to specialists if needed, such as neurologists or pain management experts
• Develop a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to your specific headache type and needs

Innovative Approaches to Headache Management

As our understanding of headaches evolves, so do the treatment options available. From cutting-edge medications to alternative therapies, the field of headache management is constantly expanding. Let’s explore some of the innovative approaches that are changing the way we think about and treat headaches.

Emerging Pharmacological Treatments

• CGRP inhibitors: A new class of drugs specifically designed for migraine prevention
• Neuromodulation devices: Non-invasive devices that use electrical or magnetic stimulation to treat headaches
• Botulinum toxin injections: Increasingly used for chronic migraine prevention
• Gepants: A novel class of medications for both acute and preventive migraine treatment

How are these new treatments changing the landscape of headache management? These innovations offer hope for patients who have not found relief with traditional treatments, potentially reducing the frequency and severity of headaches with fewer side effects.

Alternative and Complementary Therapies

What non-pharmacological approaches show promise in headache management?

1. Acupuncture: Studies suggest it may be effective for tension headaches and migraines
2. Biofeedback: Training patients to control certain bodily processes to reduce pain
3. Cognitive-behavioral therapy: Helping patients manage stress and change pain-related behaviors
4. Mindfulness and meditation: Techniques to reduce stress and improve pain tolerance
5. Herbal supplements: Some, like butterbur and feverfew, show potential in migraine prevention

Can lifestyle modifications play a role in headache management? Absolutely. Emerging research continues to highlight the importance of:

• Regular exercise in reducing headache frequency and severity
• Proper sleep hygiene in preventing headaches
• Dietary changes, including identifying and avoiding trigger foods
• Stress management techniques as a key component of headache prevention

As we continue to unravel the complexities of headaches, it’s clear that a multifaceted approach combining traditional treatments, innovative therapies, and lifestyle modifications offers the best chance for effective headache management. By staying informed about these advancements and working closely with healthcare providers, individuals suffering from headaches can look forward to improved quality of life and better pain control.

5 types of headache and their locations

There are many different types of headache, and each tends to have its own set of triggers, symptoms and treatment options. Different headaches are also associated with specific locations.

Some of the more common types of headache – like tension headaches – can affect the whole head, while others – such as cluster or sinus headaches – typically affect a more specific area.

Identifying the location of your headache can be key to helping you work out why you’re in pain and how to treat it, as well as when you might need to see a doctor.

We’ve mapped out 5 different types of headaches, and provided information about the steps you can take to get rid of them.

If you’re worried about your headache, or find that painkillers are not reducing your pain, see a doctor to rule out any serious medical problems.

Migraine

A migraine is a condition that often causes a headache where the pain is located on the side of the head, along with other common symptoms.

These include:

• throbbing pain on one side of the head
• moderate to severe pain
• blurred vision, or seeing flashing lights or zigzag lines
• increased sensitivity to light, smells or loud noises
• feeling lightheaded
• sickness (nausea) and vomiting

What to do

Migraines are more common than you might think. The Migraine Trust estimates that 1 in 7 people have this type of headache, while ongoing migraines affect around 2% of the world’s population.

The exact causes are unknown, but there are a number of effective treatments that can help manage your pain. Often, people notice triggers for their migraine such as lack of sleep, or eating certain foods such as cheese or chocolate. If you’re unsure what triggers your migraine, you could try keeping a migraine diary.

If you have a migraine, try moving to a dark, quiet room, and lie down until the symptoms pass. Sleep if you can, and try to minimise exposure to anything that makes your headache worse.

Some people find that heat or ice packs help to reduce the symptoms of a migraine.

Painkillers, like paracetamol, are usually more effective if you take them when you first notice migraine symptoms, but make sure you speak to a pharmacist or doctor before you do this.

When to see a doctor

You should seek medical advice immediately if you:

• notice your headache getting gradually worse
• develop muscle weakness or paralysis
• have a high temperature
• notice double vision
• experience seizures
• notice a rash anywhere on your body

These could be symptoms of a more serious condition, including meningitis or a stroke.

If you get migraines often – more than 5 times a month – book an appointment with a doctor. You should also see a doctor if your migraines are starting to affect your quality of life – living with them can be challenging, and you can be given some medication to help manage the symptoms.

Cluster headaches

Cluster headaches often happen at night, and tend to come back at the same time every day.

According to research published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), they generally last between 15 minutes and 3 hours, but they can be more frequent and are known to be one of the most painful headaches that you can have.

Common symptoms include:

• stabbing or burning pain over 1 eye or temple
• very bad pain lasting from a few minutes to a few hours
• a red and watering eye
• a drooping or swollen eyelid
• a blocked or runny nose
• a shrunken or constricted pupil
• sweating

What to do

If you think you’ve had a cluster headache, and it’s the first time it’s happened, see a doctor immediately so they can rule out other causes of your symptoms.

Unfortunately, there’s no known cure for a cluster headache, but you might be able to reduce the number of them by avoiding certain triggers like cigarettes, or strong smelling chemicals in things like perfume and paint.

Your doctor may also be able to put you in touch with support groups, provide medication, or organise oxygen therapy, which has been shown to help reduce the number of cluster headaches.

When to see a doctor

Cluster headaches aren’t life-threatening, but you should see a doctor immediately if you:

• notice a change in their number or how bad they are
• experience new symptoms
• develop weakness or paralysis
• have a fever
• have had a cluster headache for the first time – this is to rule out other causes, including meningitis or a stroke

Tension headaches

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache, but they can still be very painful. Research published by the World Health Organisation suggests that between 1-3% of adults suffer from chronic tension headaches.

Common symptoms include:

• dull, aching pain on both sides of the head
• pressure behind the eyes
• some tightness at the back of the head
• a tender neck or shoulder muscles

What to do

Try to take painkillers, such as paracetamol, as soon as you can and sit down in a quiet space. You can also try relaxing, applying a cold compress to your neck, or trying light exercise, such as yoga.

Your headache should pass relatively quickly, although it can last for several hours.

If you have a lot of tension headaches, you could also try keeping a headache diary. This can help you to work out what’s causing your headaches, and allow you to change your lifestyle to improve your symptoms.

Make sure that you don’t take too many painkillers over a specific time period, which can make your symptoms worse. Always speak to a pharmacist or a doctor before you take them, and get advice if your headaches start to happen more often.

When to worry

Painful tension headaches are usually nothing to worry about and most are caused by muscle contractions in the head and neck, which normally pass with time.

But if your headaches are coming on much faster than normal, or you’re experiencing several tension headaches a week, it’s a good idea to see a doctor.

You should also speak to a doctor as soon as you can if you:

• notice muscle weakness or paralysis
• feel confused
• start slurring your speech
• feel sick (nauseous) or start to vomit
• can’t control your headache with medication

Sinus headaches

Sinus headaches occur when the sinuses become inflamed after an infection or due to allergies. They can be very painful, and are often mistaken for migraines. If you think you have a sinus headache, it’s best to see a doctor so that they can rule out any other causes.

Common symptoms include:

• throbbing pain in the forehead or cheeks
• facial tenderness or swelling
• a blocked or runny nose
• green or yellow discharge from the nose
• ear ache
• fever

What to do

Your doctor may prescribe medications such as nasal decongestants, antihistamines or a steroid nasal spray.

You can also try to improve your symptoms at home. The most effective of these treatments include inhaling moist air from a humidifier or a bowl of heated water (nasal douching with a saline solution), or holding a warm or cold flannel over your face.

When to see a doctor

See a doctor as soon as you can if your:

• pain is severe
• symptoms aren’t improving with painkillers
• headache doesn’t get better after a week
• headaches are happening often

Giant cell arteritis

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is relatively uncommon. A study published in PubMed Central (PMC) suggests it affects around 0.25% of adults over 50, and is virtually unknown in people younger than this. But the condition is serious and can cause permanent vision loss.

GCA occurs when the arteries in your head or neck become inflamed. The symptoms usually come on very quickly, with little to no warning signs.

Common symptoms include:

• tenderness or swelling at the top, sides, front or back of the head
• a sore scalp
• jaw pain, typically when chewing or talking
• visual problems
• a fever
• tiredness (fatigue)
• weight loss
• sudden pain in the temples, the top of the head or behind your ears

When to see a doctor

GCA is a serious problem and can lead to permanent vision loss, so see a doctor right away if you think you have symptoms.

A doctor will normally diagnose you with blood tests and a biopsy, and treatment usually involves steroids, low doses of aspirin or immunosuppressants to reduce inflammation.

Conclusion

The location of your headache can tell you a lot about its possible causes and how to treat it.

If your headache is particularly severe, won’t respond to painkillers, or is accompanied by muscle weakness, vomiting or confusion, speak to a doctor immediately.

Got a symptom you’re concerned about?

Find out if you need to see a doctor with our Self-Assessment Tool

When You Have a Headache in One Place

Gargoyle has a headache.

ClatieK

BI Answers: What does the location of the pain tell you about your headache?

The National Headache Foundation estimates that 45 million Americans suffer from chronic, recurring headaches. But not all headaches are the same, and where you’re feeling pain says something about how you should go about seeking treatment.

There are actually many different symptoms and disorders that fall under the umbrella of headaches. Specific diagnoses vary depending on the type, location, and cause of pain as well as the age group that generally suffers. Although the causes for some types of headaches, like migraines and cluster headaches, are not entirely known, you can learn different strategies to reduce the pain depending on where you’re hurting.

Pain from headaches can occur everywhere from the back of the neck to the top of the head. Headaches are not directly caused by your brain. Rather, the most common type of headache — tension headache — can come from the muscles and tissue in your face, neck, and around your brain. This tissue has nerve cells that, when irritated or inflamed, send messages to your brain that then signal to you that you’re feeling pain.

Illustration of the face and neck muscles.

Keenan Pepper

Your face and neck are made up of nearly 30 different muscles. When these muscles become irritated, the tension headache that could result will generally feel like a band of dull pain across the forehead accompanied by a sensation of pressure. The areas where tension headaches often occur are:

• Top of the head
• Back of the head and the forehead
• In and around the ears and temples
• Eyes and eyebrows
• Cheeks
• Jaw
• Throat and front and back of the neck
• In and around the teeth and mouth

The pain can arise from infections like a cold or flu, inflammation of the facial and neck muscles, or in more severe cases, cancer. Some muscles, like those in your neck, can radiate pain to other parts of the head like your head and face, so you feel pain in the neck and elsewhere. Most facial muscles, on the other hand, localize the pain so you only feel it in the particularly irritated spot.

There are four types of sinus pain.

NIAID

If you’re feeling pain in your face or jaw, that could be due to your sinuses acting up. It could also result from dental or eye problems or an ear infection. Headaches that come from issues with your neck, called a cervicogenic headache, are often caused by simply over-stressing your neck due to poor posture, fatigue, disc problems, and more.

Another rare form of headache is what is called a trigeminal neuralgia , which affects about one in every 15 to 20 thousand people. Trigeminal neuralgia is a nerve disorder that leads to sharp, stabbing pains in specific spots on the face.

The cause and pain sensation varies widely between tension headaches, migraines, hangover headaches, stress headaches, sinus headaches and more.

That’s why when seeking treatment it’s important to know what kind of headache you’re suffering. Good questions to ask yourself is:

• How long has this headache been going on?
• How frequent are the headaches?
• Is the pain localized or all over?
• Where is the pain located?
• Am I sick or do I have any infection that might be the cause?

Using your answers, a doctor may be able to help you determine the root cause of your headache and how to best treat it, although there’s still much to be learned about headaches. Still, don’t just assume that there is no treatment for your suffering.

What does the location of the pain tell you about the nature of a headache?appeared as a question on Quora where we got the idea for this post.

This post is part of a continuing series that answers all of your “why” questions related to science. Have your own question? Email [email protected] with the subject line “Q&A”; tweet your question to @BI_Science; or post to our Facebook page.

Headache Pain | NIH News in Health

March 2014

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What To Do When Your Head Hurts

Most of us get headaches from time to time. Some are mild. Others cause throbbing pain. They can last for minutes or days. There are many different types of headaches. How you treat yours depends on which kind you have.

Headaches might arise because of another medical condition, such as swollen sinuses or head injury. In these cases, treating the underlying problem usually relieves headache pain as well. But most headaches—including tension headaches and migraines—aren’t caused by a separate illness. 

A headache may feel like a pain inside your brain, but it’s not. Most headaches begin in the many nerves of the muscles and blood vessels that surround your head, neck, and face. These pain-sensing nerves can be set off by stress, muscle tension, enlarged blood vessels, and other triggers. Once activated, the nerves send messages to the brain, and it can feel like the pain is coming from deep within your head.

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. They can cause a feeling of painful pressure on the head and neck. Tension headaches occur when the muscles in your head and neck tighten, often because of stress or anxiety. Intense work, missed meals, jaw clenching, or too little sleep can bring on tension headaches.

Over-the-counter medicines such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen can help reduce the pain. “Lifestyle changes to relax and reduce stress might help, such as yoga, stretching, massage, and other tension relievers,” says Dr. Linda Porter, an NIH expert on pain research.

Migraines are the second-most common type of headache. They affect more than 1 in 10 people. Migraines tend to run in families and most often affect women. The pain can be severe, with pulsing and throbbing, and can last for several days. Migraine symptoms can also include blurry vision and nausea.

“Migraines are complex and can be disabling,” Porter says. Certain smells, noises, or bright flashing lights can bring on a migraine. Other triggers include lack of sleep, certain foods, skipped meals, smoking, stress, or even an approaching thunderstorm. Keeping a headache diary can help to identify the specific causes of your migraines. Avoiding those triggers or using prescription medications could help prevent or lessen the severity of future migraines.

Be careful not to overuse headache medications. Overuse can cause “rebound” headaches, making headaches more frequent and painful. People with repeating headaches, such as migraines or tension headaches, are especially at risk. Experts advise not taking certain pain-relief medicines for headaches more than 3 times a week.

A less common but more severe type of headache comes on suddenly in “clusters” at the same time of day or night for weeks. Cluster headaches may strike one side of the head, often near one eye, with a sharp or burning pain. These headaches are more common in men and in smokers.

In rare cases, a headache may warn of a serious illness. Get medical help right away if you have a headache after a blow to your head, or if you have a headache along with fever, confusion, loss of consciousness, or pain in the eye or ear.

“Know what kind of headache you have and, if you can’t manage it yourself, seek help,” Porter says. “Remember there are preventive behavioral steps and medicines that can help manage headaches. But if the pain is severe or lasting, get medical care.”

Triggers of Headaches | Mount Sinai

Headaches occur for a variety of reasons. Here are several examples of headache triggers and how they affect people. 

Stress and Headaches

The most common headache trigger is stress, which releases certain chemicals in the brain that cause vascular changes. Anxiety, worry, shock, depression, excitement, and mental fatigue can cause stress-induced headaches. Stress-related headaches, typically in a “hat-band” distribution, can accompany sleep disturbances.

Lowering stress through relaxation, psychotherapy, behavior modification, and antidepressant drugs (under the watch of a physician) can provide relief for stress headaches. 

Alcohol and Headaches

Alcohol can trigger headaches immediately or following prolonged periods of drinking. Ethanol, the key ingredient of alcohol, is a natural diuretic and causes the body to lose vital salt, vitamins, and minerals. Over-consumption of alcohol can cause dehydration and chemical imbalances in the body and brain, leading to headaches that last for hours to days. Migraine and cluster headache sufferers can be especially sensitive to alcohol, even in small amounts.

If you suffer from headaches, you should avoid alcohol because it can worsen headache symptoms.

Allergies and Headaches

If you have an allergy, your nasal or respiratory tissues will react by becoming inflamed, which can increase pressure on your sinuses. If you have frequent migraines, you may also have a sensitive nervous system that triggers attacks provoked by specific smells or lighting situations. You may get a migraine or other headache not because of something you are allergic to, but because that allergen places stress on your body, which can then cause a headache. Migraines can come from nasal congestion or sinus symptoms. If this happens, it is more helpful to treat the condition as a migraine, rather than as a sinus headache or sinus infection.

Caffeine and Headaches 

Caffeine can both help and hurt a headache. Sometimes a cup of coffee offers relief from a headache, but you should limit your daily use of caffeine. Caffeine is a very common ingredient in prescription and over-the-counter headache medicines because it helps the body absorb headache drugs more quickly, bringing faster relief. But overstimulation from caffeine can trigger headaches, as can the “rebound effect” when you “come down” from the energy boost of caffeine. 

Eyestrain and Headaches

Long hours looking at television, computers, tablets, cell phones, and video games can lead to exhaustion, lack of circulation, and eyestrain, which can cause headaches. Rarely is eyestrain the sole cause of headaches. If we suspect that eyestrain is a problem, we may recommend an ophthalmological exam.

To lessen the risk of headaches, take frequent short breaks, walk for a bit, and stretch your neck, arms, and back while watching TV or using the computer to aid circulation. If you feel headache or migraine symptoms developing, try closing your eyes and breathing deeply to relax.

Hormones and Headaches

Headaches related to hormonal imbalance typically affect women, due to fluctuations in estrogen levels. Few women experience headaches only with menses; often, hormones are just one of many migraine triggers. Estrogen levels drop around menstruation, causing migraine attacks in up to 60 percent of women who tend to have migraines. After menopause, most women experience fewer migraines. However, women taking hormone replacement therapy may not see a decrease in migraines.

Typically, migraine symptoms improve during pregnancy, though some women experience the onset of frequent migraines while pregnant. If you start having headaches, or experience a change in your headaches patterns during pregnancy, you should discuss this with your obstetrician to make sure there is not a more serious underlying cause. If you use any medications for migraine, including over-the-counter medication, during pregnancy, check with your obstetrician to make sure it is safe.

Hypertension and Headaches

High blood pressure can cause many health problems, like headaches, by increasing stress levels. Blood pressure usually has to be quite elevated, above 200/110, to cause headaches. Discuss your blood pressure and the issues surrounding it with a doctor to see if it could be contributing to your headaches.

Light Sensitivity and Headaches

During a headache or migraine, you may be very sensitive to light, especially bright and flashing ones. Research shows that slow, flickering lights are more irritating than rapid ones. To avoid headaches caused by flickering light, try using anti-glare screens on computer monitors and daylight spectrum florescent bulbs.

Smoking and Headaches

Smoking contributes to headaches for both smokers and nonsmokers. Nicotine, a substance found in tobacco, can trigger a migraine. Exposure to second-hand smoke can be a trigger for those with sensitivity and history of migraine. Smoking increases the risk of stroke in those with migraine. Smoking appears to affect cluster headaches, and quitting can help control attacks. If you experience migraines, you should quit smoking and avoid places with second-hand smoke.

External compression headaches – Symptoms and causes

Overview

External compression headaches can occur when something worn on your head puts continuous pressure on your forehead or scalp. They often occur in people required to wear certain headwear, such as helmets or goggles, for their work or sports activities.

Sometimes an external compression headache is called “swim-goggle headache” or “football-helmet headache” or another name that refers to the equipment causing the headache.

People likely to get external compression headaches include construction workers, people in the military, police officers and athletes. People who wear tight hats and headbands also might get this type of headache.

The solution to an external compression headache is as obvious as the cause. Simply remove the headwear causing the pressure.

Symptoms

The pain of external compression headaches is often described as moderate, constant pressure. It hurts most in the area where the object is pressing on your head. The pain might worsen the longer the headwear is worn.

When to see a doctor

It’s usually not necessary to see a doctor for a compression headache because it goes away, usually within an hour of removing whatever is causing the pressure.

Seek medical attention only if your headache continues after you remove the object.

Causes

External compression headaches are caused by headwear that places pressure on the head — including tight hats, helmets, headbands and goggles.

The headaches are believed to result from pressure on pain receptors or pain fibers that transmit sensation from the face to the brain (trigeminal nerve) or on nerves in the back of the head (occipital nerves).

Risk factors

External compression headaches can affect anyone who uses headwear.

Complications

With prolonged pressure, an external compression headache might trigger a migraine in people who tend to have them.

Prevention

To prevent external compression headaches, avoid unnecessary headwear.

If protective headwear, such as a sports or construction helmet, is necessary, make sure it fits properly and is positioned correctly. Try various styles and sizes to find the most comfortable options.

Also, if possible, remove headwear frequently to give yourself a break from the pressure.

Dec. 28, 2019

Tension headache – Symptoms and causes

Overview

A tension-type headache (TTH) is generally a mild to moderate pain that’s often described as feeling like a tight band around the head. A tension-type headache is the most common type of headache, yet its causes aren’t well understood.

Treatments for tension-type headaches are available. Managing a tension-type headache is often a balance between practicing healthy habits, finding effective nondrug treatments and using medications appropriately.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of a tension-type headache include:

• Dull, aching head pain
• Sensation of tightness or pressure across the forehead or on the sides and back of the head
• Tenderness in the scalp, neck and shoulder muscles

Tension-type headaches are divided into two main categories — episodic and chronic.

Episodic tension-type headaches

Episodic tension-type headaches can last from 30 minutes to a week. Frequent episodic tension-type headaches occur less than 15 days a month for at least three months. Frequent episodic tension-type headaches may become chronic.

Chronic tension-type headaches

This type of tension-type headache lasts hours and may be continuous. If your headaches occur 15 or more days a month for at least three months, they’re considered chronic.

Tension-type headaches versus migraines

Tension-type headaches can be difficult to distinguish from migraines. Plus, if you have frequent episodic tension-type headaches, you can also have migraines.

Unlike some forms of migraine, tension-type headaches usually aren’t associated with visual disturbances, nausea or vomiting. Although physical activity typically aggravates migraine pain, it doesn’t make tension-type headache pain worse. An increased sensitivity to either light or sound can occur with a tension-type headache, but this symptom isn’t common.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with your doctor

If tension-type headaches disrupt your life or you need to take medication for your headaches more than twice a week, see your doctor.

Even if you have a history of headaches, see your doctor if the pattern changes or your headaches suddenly feel different. Occasionally, headaches may indicate a serious medical condition, such as a brain tumor or rupture of a weakened blood vessel (aneurysm).

When to seek emergency help

If you have any of these signs or symptoms, seek emergency care:

• Abrupt, severe headache
• Headache with a fever, stiff neck, mental confusion, seizures, double vision, weakness, numbness or speaking difficulties
• Headache after a head injury, especially if the headache gets worse

Causes

The cause of tension-type headaches is not known. Experts used to think tension-type headaches stemmed from muscle contractions in the face, neck and scalp, perhaps as a result of heightened emotions, tension or stress. But research suggests that muscle contraction isn’t the cause.

The most common theory supports a heightened sensitivity to pain in people who have tension-type headaches. Increased muscle tenderness, a common symptom of tension-type headaches, may result from a sensitized pain system.

Triggers

Stress is the most commonly reported trigger for tension-type headaches.

Complications

Because tension-type headaches are so common, their effect on job productivity and overall quality of life is considerable, particularly if they’re chronic. The frequent pain may render you unable to attend activities. You might need to stay home from work, or if you do go to your job, your ability to function may be impaired.

Prevention

In addition to regular exercise, techniques such as biofeedback training and relaxation therapy can help reduce stress.

• Biofeedback training. This technique teaches you to control certain body responses that help reduce pain. During a biofeedback session, you’re connected to devices that monitor and give you feedback on body functions such as muscle tension, heart rate and blood pressure. You then learn how to reduce muscle tension and slow your heart rate and breathing yourself.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy. This type of talk therapy may help you learn to manage stress and may help reduce the frequency and severity of your headaches.
• Other relaxation techniques. Anything that helps you relax, including deep breathing, yoga, meditation and progressive muscle relaxation, may help your headaches. You can learn relaxation techniques in classes or at home using books, videos or apps.

Using medications in conjunction with stress management techniques may be more effective than either treatment alone in reducing your tension-type headaches.

Additionally, living a healthy lifestyle may help prevent headaches:

• Get enough, but not too much, sleep.
• Don’t smoke.
• Exercise regularly.
• Eat regular, balanced meals.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Limit alcohol, caffeine and sugar.

Sept. 01, 2021

Headaches in Children | Michigan Medicine

Topic Overview

What types of headaches can children have?

Migraines and tension headaches are common types of headaches in children. These headaches have different symptoms, but they can sometimes be hard to tell apart.

It’s important to find out what kind of headache your child has, since the medicines and other treatments may be different. Different things can trigger each kind of headache in different people. Talk to your child’s doctor about any headaches your child has.

What causes headaches in children?

It isn’t clear why some people get migraine headaches and others do not. Migraines often run in families. Experts aren’t sure what causes migraines.

The cause of tension headaches also isn’t clear. Experts believe there may be more than one cause. In the past, doctors believed that tension or spasms of the muscles of the neck, face, jaw, head, or scalp played a role. Now they think a change in brain chemistry may also cause a tension headache.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of migraine headaches include:

• Throbbing that can be felt on one side or both sides of the head. The pain also can move from one side of the head to the other.
• Nausea, vomiting, or both.
• Sensitivity to light, noise, and sometimes smells.
• Changes in vision, such as flashing lights or dark spots, before the headache starts. This symptom, called aura, is more common in adults than in children.

Symptoms of tension headaches include:

• A constant ache that does not throb or pulse. Your child will probably feel pain or pressure on both sides of the head.
• Tightness around the head or forehead.
• Aching pain at the temples or the back of the head and neck.

What other signs of headaches should you watch for?

Some children, especially younger ones, may not always tell you when they feel a headache. So watch for other signs. A headache may cause your child to:

• Act cranky or upset.
• Fall asleep at an unusual time or act sleepy.
• Be less active than usual or not watch TV.
• Rub his or her eyes or head.
• Avoid noise or bright light.

If you notice any signs, find out how your child is feeling. Talk with your child about letting you and other caregivers know as soon as a headache starts.

How are children’s headaches diagnosed?

Your child’s doctor will do a physical exam and ask questions, such as how often the headaches occur and what the symptoms are. The doctor will also ask about your child’s overall health.

The doctor can rule out other health problems that may be related to the headaches. Other exams and tests are usually recommended only if the doctor finds signs of other health problems.

Headaches aren’t usually a sign of something serious. But they can be painful and hard for your child to live with.

How are they treated?

Migraines and tension headaches can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers, such as children’s acetaminophen or ibuprofen. If this doesn’t help stop your child’s headaches, or if the headaches happen often, your doctor may prescribe other medicines.

Home treatment, such as managing stress, can also help your child feel better. Your child can help prevent headaches by avoiding things that trigger them.

Causes

Migraine headaches

It isn’t clear why some people get migraines and others do not. Migraines often run in families. Experts aren’t sure what causes migraines.

Tension headaches

The cause of tension headaches also is not clear. Experts believe there may be more than one cause of tension headaches. In the past, doctors believed that tension or spasms of the muscles of the neck, face, jaw, head, or scalp played a role in causing these headaches. Now they think a change in brain chemistry may also cause a tension headache.

What experts know about the causes of headaches is based on research in adults.

Symptoms

Migraine headaches

Migraines are intense, throbbing headaches that can be felt on one side or both sides of the head. The pain also can move from one side of the head to the other. Migraines can make it hard for your child to move around or do daily activities.

Other symptoms of migraines include:

• Nausea, vomiting, or both.
• Sensitivity to light, noise, and sometimes smells.
• Paleness.
• Changes in mood.
• Changes in vision, such as flashing lights or dark spots, before the headache starts. This symptom, called aura, is more common in adults than in children.
• Feeling lightheaded or dizzy.

Without treatment, your child’s migraine headache can last as long as 72 hours.

Tension headaches

Tension headaches can last from 30 minutes to as long as several days. For children, these headaches often happen during school or around the time of a stressful event. And they can build up during the day. Symptoms of tension headaches include:

• A constant ache that does not throb or pulse. Your child will probably feel pain or pressure on both sides of the head.
• Tightness around the head or forehead.
• Aching pain at the temples or the back of the head and neck.

Being sensitive to light or noise (but not both) can sometimes be a symptom of tension headaches. But sensitivity to light and noise is more common with migraines.

When to Call the Doctor

Call
911
or other emergency services anytime you think your child may need emergency care. For example, call if your child has:

• A very painful, sudden headache that’s different than any he or she has had before.
• A fever with a stiff neck.
• A headache with sudden weakness, numbness, trouble moving parts of the body, vision problems, slurred speech, confusion, or behavior changes.

Call the doctor or seek medical care right away if your child has:

• Headaches after a recent fall or blow to the head.
• New nausea or vomiting, or if your child can’t keep food or liquids down.

Watch closely for changes in your child’s health. Call the doctor if your child’s headaches:

• Last longer than 1 or 2 days.
• Wake him or her from sleep.
• Get worse or happen more often.
• Cause your child to take pain medicines often.
• Do not go away as expected.
• Occur along with a change in personality.

Exams and Tests

Your child’s doctor will do a physical exam and ask questions, such as how often the headaches occur and what the symptoms are. The doctor will ask about your child’s overall health.

Migraines and tension headaches can be similar to other kinds of headaches, which may have different treatments. So it’s important for your child’s doctor to find out what kind of headache your child has. The doctor also can make sure your child doesn’t have other health problems that may be related to the headaches.

It’s common for parents to feel very concerned about their child’s headaches. You may feel that more testing is needed to rule out serious causes. But doctors often can find out the type and the cause of the headaches without using other tests.

In some cases, imaging and other tests may be recommended to rule out other health problems, but this isn’t common. These tests include:

• An MRI or CT scan, which can show pictures of the brain to rule out problems like tumors or bleeding.
• An electroencephalogram (EEG), which measures the electrical activity in the brain.
• A lumbar puncture, in which a needle is used to remove a small amount of fluid from the spinal canal. The fluid is then looked at for signs of infection.

Medicines

Medicines for migraine headaches

Migraines can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers, such as children’s acetaminophen or ibuprofen. If this doesn’t help stop your child’s headaches, or if the headaches occur often, your doctor may prescribe medicines.

Medicines for children’s migraines are being researched. Sumatriptan is a medicine doctors sometimes prescribe to treat children’s migraines. This medicine has been shown to work well in adults with migraines. More research is being done on the safety of migraine medicines for children.

Have your child take his or her medicines at the first sign of a migraine. This helps stop the headache before it gets worse.

Your doctor also may prescribe medicines to help with nausea.

If your child’s migraines are severe, happen often, or interfere with school or other activities, your doctor may prescribe a daily medicine to help prevent them. Have your child take that medicine every day, even if he or she does not have a headache.

Medicines for tension headaches

Tension headaches can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers, such as children’s acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

If your child’s headaches are severe, happen often, or interfere with school or other activities, your doctor may prescribe a daily medicine to help prevent them. Have your child take the medicine every day, even if he or she does not have a headache.

Giving medicines to children safely

Be careful about giving over-the-counter pain relievers often. Over time, this can make your child’s headaches happen more often or get worse. Ask your doctor how often your child should take these medicines.

Here are some other important safety tips:

• Give medicines to your child exactly as your doctor says.
• Read and follow all the instructions on the medicine label. Even medicines labeled for children can harm your child if they’re not taken the right way.
• Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than 20. It has been linked to Reye syndrome, a serious illness.

Learn more about giving over-the-counter medicines to children.

Home Treatment

Home treatment can help relieve your child’s headaches. It also can help reduce how often the headaches occur.

When your child has a headache, be sure to give comfort and support. Headaches can be painful and upsetting. Easing stress or anxiety about the headaches is important for helping your child feel better.

Your child may feel stress about missing school or having less time with friends because of the headaches. Talk about any fears or concerns he or she might have.

Work with your child’s doctor

Tell your child’s doctor about any headaches your child has. The doctor can help you know what type of headache it is so you can choose the best treatment. It may help to find a doctor who has experience treating headaches in children.

Keep a headache diary . A headache diary can help you find a link between your child’s headaches and the things that trigger them. Help your child write down when each headache starts, how long it lasts, where it hurts, and what the pain is like (throbbing, aching, stabbing, or dull).

The doctor can help make a treatment plan that your child can follow at home and at school. Tell your child’s teachers and other caregivers about the treatment plan. Be sure to discuss any headache medicines your child takes. Encourage your child to always let caregivers know when a headache starts.

To treat migraines or tension headaches at home:

• Give medicines for your child’s headache exactly as your doctor says. If your doctor has not prescribed any medicines for headaches, give your child a pain reliever, such as children’s acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
• Have your child go to a quiet, dark room to rest. Most headaches will go away with rest or sleep. Watching TV, using the computer, talking on the phone and sending text messages, or reading can often make the headache worse.
• Put a cold, moist cloth or ice pack on the part of the head that hurts. If you use ice, put a thin cloth between the ice and your child’s skin. Do not use heat, since it can make the pain worse.
• Gently massage your child’s neck and shoulders.
• Give your child water, juice, and other drinks that do not contain caffeine. This may help the headache go away faster. Water is the best choice.

Tell your child’s doctor about any new symptoms that occur with a headache, such as a fever, weakness or numbness, vision changes, or confusion. These may be signs of a more serious problem.

Ask your doctor about other treatments that may help your child’s headaches, such as biofeedback, counseling, or relaxation exercises. For more information about relaxation exercises, see:

Prevention

Triggers are things that can cause your child to have headaches. Your child may be able to prevent headaches by avoiding the triggers.

Some things may trigger migraines or tension headaches, including:

• Emotional stress or anxiety.
• Fatigue or lack of sleep.
• Strenuous activity.
• Being hungry or skipping meals.
• Bright lights or sun.

Children may feel stress from schoolwork, sports, social events, a poor self-image, or problems with friends. These pressures can lead to headaches in some children. Talk to your child about what might be causing stress. You can help find ways to cope with the stress, which may help prevent the headaches.

Talk to the doctor if you think your child may be depressed or anxious. Treating these problems may reduce the number of headaches your child has.

Other migraine triggers include:

• Certain foods, such as chocolate, caffeine drinks, and MSG (often used in Chinese food).
• Strong odors or cigarette smoke.
• Changes in the weather.
• Menstruation or other changes in hormones.
• Being dehydrated.

Other tension headache triggers include:

• Muscle strain in the neck or shoulders, sometimes from poor posture.
• Grinding or clenching teeth.

Keep a headache diary

Keeping a headache diary helps you find a link between your child’s headaches and the things that trigger them. Help your child write down when each headache starts, how long it lasts, where it hurts, and what the pain is like (throbbing, aching, stabbing, or dull).

Write down any other symptoms your child has with the headache, such as nausea or being sensitive to bright light or noise. List anything you think might have triggered the headache.

Remember that it might take up to 24 hours for some triggers to cause a headache. Other triggers can lead to a headache right away.

Show the headache diary to your child’s doctor at each visit. The doctor can help you and your child figure out what the triggers are. When you know your child’s triggers, you can help your child avoid those things.

Migraines and tension headaches

To prevent migraines and tension headaches:

• Find healthy ways to help your child manage stress. Don’t let your child’s schedule get too busy or filled with stressful events.
• Make sure that your child drinks 4 to 8 glasses of fluid a day. Avoid drinks that have caffeine. Many popular soda drinks contain caffeine.
• Make sure that your child gets plenty of sleep and keeps a regular sleep schedule. Most children need to sleep 8 to 10 hours each night.
• Encourage your child to get plenty of exercise, without overdoing it.
• Limit TV, video games, and computer time.
• Make sure that your child does not skip meals. Provide regular, healthy meals.
• Keep your child away from smoke. Do not smoke or let anyone else smoke around your child or in your house.
• Talk to your child’s teachers if your child is having problems with schoolwork. Make sure that the level and amount of schoolwork is appropriate for your child.

References

Other Works Consulted

• Hershey AD (2011). Headaches. In RM Kliegman et al., eds., Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 19th ed., pp. 2039–2046. Philadelphia: Saunders.
• Kedia S, et al. (2014). Neurologic and muscular disorders. In WW Hay Jr et al., eds., Current Diagnosis and Treatment: Pediatrics, 21st ed., pp. 776–861. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Credits

Current as of:
August 4, 2020

Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Kathleen Romito MD – Family Medicine
John Pope MD – Pediatrics
Adam Husney MD – Family Medicine
Martin J. Gabica MD – Family Medicine

90,000 Headache Treatment in St. Petersburg

Diagnostics and treatment of headache in St. Petersburg Clinic of the Institute of Medical Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences

If you are worried about a headache several times a year or more, and on these days you cannot perform your usual activities, your ability to work is reduced or you are forced to stay in bed, then you need:

• 1. Mark the dates of the headaches you remember in the calendar.
• 2. After that, make an appointment with a cephalgologist at the Headache Treatment Office of the Human Brain Institute.
• 3. In no case should you self-medicate: uncontrolled intake of analgesics leads to increased frequency of headaches (abusal pain) and possible complications in migraine: sleep disorders, depression, loss of vital energy (apathy).

A formidable complication is also possible – the status of migraine attacks, when the headache lasts more than 72 hours and can lead to strokes.

Unfortunately, patients with chronic headaches get an appointment with a cephalgologist 10-30 years after the onset of the disease, when other symptoms predominate in the clinical picture, for example, such as decreased mood, apathy, memory loss, anxiety or sleep disturbance, gastroenterological diseases, and in some cases fainting, strokes, panic attacks, allergies and encephalopathy, masking a headache.Attempts to treat with doctors of other specialties without a cephalgologist lead to therapy not of the underlying disease, but of concomitant complications, which leads to a more severe course of the disease and the appearance of new symptoms.

Areas of therapeutic and diagnostic activities:

• 1. Diagnosis and treatment of all forms of headaches with confirmation or exclusion of the diagnosis of migraine.
• 2. Complex diagnostics and treatment of chronic headache in cooperation with neurologists-cephalgologists, ophthalmologists, neurosurgeons, radiologists and orthopedists, exercise therapy doctors, manual therapy doctors, somnologists, psychotherapists.
• 3. Diagnostics and treatment of secondary headaches associated with vascular diseases, brain tumors, neck injuries, brain and other disorders.
• 4. Diagnosis and treatment of headaches in epilepsy.
• 5. Innovative therapy of migraine with monoclonal antibodies.
• 6. Botulinum therapy for migraine.
• 7. Diagnostics of bioelectrical activity in patients with headaches (Video-EEG monitoring while awake and asleep).
• 8. Application of stimulation forms of treatment of headaches.
• 9. Drug blockade of trigger points.
• 10. Hardware techniques.

Individual Therapy

Treatment is based on an analysis of the individual characteristics of patients.

Special Conditions

The clinic has created conditions for people with disabilities.

90,000 reasons, varieties – medical center “Elegy”

Almost every one of us knows very well what a headache is.It is the complaints of this malaise that neurologists hear most often when conducting an appointment. It is believed that chronic headaches plague a significant proportion of the adult population – about 13% of the total.

Varieties of headaches

There are many types of headaches (the common name for this medical problem is cephalalgia). Distinguish tension pains; pain arising from changes in intracranial pressure; pain caused by the need to take certain drugs for a long time; pain due to infections; migraine; post-traumatic pain syndrome, etc.

• Vascular headache is a form of cephalalgia caused by problems with blood vessels: arterial spasms, insufficient vascular tone, varicose veins, slow blood flow.
• Cephalalgia of muscle tension – a form of headaches caused by muscle overexertion. It occurs, as a rule, when a person is in a non-physiological position for a long period (a typical example is an incorrect landing at the desk of an office worker or a schoolchild, a driver behind the wheel, etc.).n.)
• Neurological pain arising with the involvement of nerve inflammation.
• Psychological pains are caused by disruptions in the exchange of CNS neurotransmitters.
• Finally, there are often mixed headaches caused by a complex of the above reasons, acting on the body simultaneously or alternately.

We must not forget about the existence of rare forms of headaches. These include such specific problems as temporal arteritis, hemicrania, the so-called cluster cephalalgia, etc.

What problems can a headache indicate?

The occurrence of headaches should definitely be a reason for visiting a neurologist. It is important to come to a neurologist in a timely manner to find out if the headache is a sign of serious developing pathologies of internal organs or the nervous system. Headaches may indicate the development of hypertension, serious diseases of the kidneys, gastrointestinal tract or ENT organs, dental problems, etc.

How are headaches diagnosed

As a rule, for the diagnosis it is necessary to carry out a comprehensive neurological examination of the person who consulted a doctor. It includes the removal of an electroencephalogram and an ECHO-encephalogram, Doppler studies of ultrasound of the vessels of the neck and head, examination of the fundus, p-graph of the skull. It may be necessary to conduct computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. In some cases, laboratory tests and consultations of narrow specialists will be required.

Recommended treatments for cephalalgia

Self-medication or indiscriminate long-term use of self-prescribed pain medications is equally undesirable. Taking painkillers, a person simply masks the existing medical problem, and in the meantime, it can seriously worsen. Excessive enthusiasm for analgesics can have a paradoxical effect – the so-called develops. abusal pain – that is, caused by these drugs. This problem is very serious, in developed countries it occurs in a significant part of the population – up to 20%.

After the examination, a complex treatment is usually prescribed, which will depend on the detected pathogenetic mechanisms of the onset of headache. Treatment will always be individual, and will include methods of relieving the actual attacks of cephalalgia, as well as therapeutic measures that should be carried out in the absence of pain. Doctors actively use not only drug treatment, but also psychotherapy and autogenous techniques. Manual therapy, acupuncture, physiotherapy exercises and massages, various types of physiotherapy, the use of laser therapy and resonance magnetotherapy have a therapeutic effect.The use of homeopathic approaches is not excluded.

Modern methods of using drug therapy are based on the use of vascular drugs and nootropics. Muscle relaxants and antidepressants are actively used. Along with drug treatment, non-drug methods are used (only non-drug treatment is prescribed if it is impossible to use certain drugs due to intolerance or allergic reactions). Non-drug treatment is also indicated for abusal cephalalgia, which occurs due to prolonged uncontrolled intake of analgesics.

So, individual access to headache treatment is explained primarily by the fact that the causes of its occurrence are very individual (they are revealed during a comprehensive examination of the patient). In modern clinics there is a whole set of complex diagnostic equipment, which makes it possible to prescribe effective treatment and achieve excellent treatment results in each case.

Headache

Headache is one of the most common complaints of patients.There are a great many reasons for headache: changes in blood pressure; inflammation, trauma and brain tumors; neuralgia; autonomic dysfunction; solar and thermal shock; intoxication and much more. In some diseases, for example, migraine , intense headache is the main manifestation of the disease. The headache can be long-lasting and aching or sharp and unbearable, it can cover the entire head or be felt only in the temples.

Reasons .
Aching bilateral headache often accompanies arterial hypotension . Typically, this headache appears after sleep in the morning and is felt in the temporal regions. The headache with physical exertion, the use of drinks containing caffeine, such as tea or coffee, disappears.

Contrary to popular belief, hypertension rarely causes a headache if the pressure is constantly increased. But if it rises sharply, most people feel a headache and tinnitus, combined with the flickering of flies in front of their eyes, a feeling of tightness in the back of the head, pounding in the temples and dizziness.This condition must be taken seriously, it can become a sign of a developing hypertensive crisis . A crisis, in turn, can lead to complications: stroke and myocardial infarction. Psychogenic headache . Under this name, headaches from mental or physical stress are combined, as well as pain in anxiety and depression. In such conditions, it can be difficult to describe the nature of the pain – it can turn out to be aching, then pressing, then concentrated in the occipital, temporal or frontal regions, or spread throughout the head.Diagnosis and treatment of headaches is individual for each patient and often requires the involvement of specialists in medical psychology and neuropsychiatry. Headache is the main and often the only manifestation of migraine – a disease associated with impaired cerebral vascular tone. Women are more likely to suffer from migraine: the first attacks begin between the ages of 10 and 30. With classical migraine , an aura first appears in the form of blurred vision, clouding of objects, etc.n. Then a one-sided pulsating headache develops, which can be given to the eye and be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sound and photophobia.

There are many other forms of migraine . With them, pain can begin without an aura, be accompanied by neurological disorders, appear in the face, be sudden, short-term and intense. Sometimes attacks can follow one another for several days, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. This condition is called migraine status . Hortonian (histamine) headache is manifested by periodic short (15 min – 2 h) attacks. Typically, these headaches occur late at night or early in the morning. The pain is extremely strong, burning, boring, piercing; appears suddenly and is usually concentrated on one side in the orbit. During an attack, the patient can neither lie nor sit, but walks around the room (unlike patients with migraines who try to find a dark, quiet place and fall asleep). As a rule, seizures occur daily for several weeks or even months, after which they disappear for years.Most often, Hortonian headache affects men over 20 years old. If a severe headache occurs simultaneously with a fever, this may signal the onset of meningitis – an inflammation of the meninges. With meningitis, the headache is severe, may be pressing on the eyes, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. At the same time, other manifestations of meningitis occur – for example, it is impossible to touch the chest with the chin, and disturbances of consciousness may occur. On the other hand, a high fever itself causes a headache, which, however, disappears after taking aspirin or paracetamol.Sudden severe headache (often with loss of consciousness or sensory disturbance in some area of ​​the body) occurs with a brain hemorrhage (hemorrhagic stroke). As a rule, it occurs with an increase in blood pressure and cerebral atherosclerosis. If headaches started out of the blue and quickly became regular and intense, do not postpone a visit to a neurologist – such pain is often the first manifestation of a brain tumor .Often the pain is accompanied by nausea, dizziness, double vision. Similar pain can also be observed with hematoma (accumulation of blood) under the meninges or with abscess (suppuration) of the brain. The cause of the headache can be cervical osteochondrosis , spondyloarthritis , sciatica and other diseases of this spine are often accompanied by headaches. The cause of pain in the frontal and temporal regions can be inflammation of the paranasal sinuses – for example, sinusitis or frontal sinusitis.At otitis media headaches seize the parotid space, can be very strong and sharp (“shoots in the ear”). An increase in headache against the background of otitis media or its spread to other parts of the head, simultaneously with the occurrence of nausea and vomiting, may be a sign of the spread of the infection and requires immediate medical attention. Headache and facial sensation become a manifestation of neuralgia of the trigeminal or facial nerves . Headache can also be “masked” by diseases of the joints of the lower jaw .

Another type of headache – toxic . It occurs when poisoning with various chemicals or as a side effect of taking medications. For example, headaches are often caused by drugs that lower blood pressure, nitrates, psychotropic drugs, and many other substances. A particular case of toxic headache is the popular hangover ; with it, the head hurts due to the effects of acetaldehyde, a toxic decay product of ethyl alcohol.A spilled headache can occur in a completely healthy person in a stuffy room (due to a banal lack of oxygen for the brain). It can be caused by carbon monoxide, car exhausts, fumes from drying paint, and simply harsh odors, even pleasant ones. Severe headache accompanies solar and heat stroke.

90,000 Doctors named the causes of persistent headaches – RT in Russian

General practitioner Irina Yartseva and general practitioner, therapist Larisa Alekseeva told RT what persistent headaches can be associated with and how to determine when to seek help from specialist.

As Irina Yartseva emphasized, headache is one of the most common symptoms in any disease.

“It all depends on the frequency, duration and concurrent symptoms. In any case, in the first place, headache is provoked by stress, overexertion, lack of sleep. Therefore, it is very important to always, regardless of the nature of the disease, monitor these factors, monitor your sleep patterns, compliance with the work and rest regimen and, in general, the level of stress. That is, to take a break in time, be distracted, go in for sports, ”said the expert.

She added that headaches can be associated with high blood pressure, as well as with the development of glaucoma, for example, in the elderly.

In addition, as noted by the specialist, headaches often occur in those who work at the computer for a long time, since the cervical spine suffers, which causes muscle tension.

As a preventive measure, such people need regular gymnastics and massages, the specialist explained.

At the same time, Yartseva said that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs help with headaches.

“But if the number of pills per day begins to exceed the permissible rate or it lasts more than five days and a person is forced to use the daily rate of these pills, then, of course, you need to consult a doctor and find out what is the reason,” she concluded.

In turn, general practitioner, therapist Larisa Alekseeva told RT that now the likely cause of headaches is the change in the weather and sudden changes in temperature.

In addition, hypothermia can cause headaches, the therapist explained.

“We need to be very careful about this. Inflammation of the trigeminal (facial) nerve causes very severe headaches that are difficult to control. Now the climate is changing, the calendar spring has come, but winter continues, and people like to walk without a hat … Of course, this leads to cerebral vasospasm and various manifestations of neuralgia, ”added Alekseeva.

In addition, in her opinion, changes in the rhythm of people’s lives, frequent consumption of fast food, energy drinks and alcohol, as well as smoking lead to headaches.

She added that it is worth highlighting migraine, which is considered a special disease and is treated by a neurologist.

Earlier, orthodontist Maria Balakireva told RT how often you can eat sweets and how its use affects dental health.

Headache

Today, medicine knows about 50 diseases in which headaches occur. Some pains are associated with metabolic disorders, others with vascular diseases, and still others occur against the background of a cold or viral infection.However, there are also headaches that arise from problems in the spine or muscles and require manual treatment. Therefore, we will dwell only on them in detail, and give the rest only a brief description.

Causes of headaches

According to the 1988 classification, headaches are divided into primary and secondary (see table “Types of headaches” below). Headache is considered primary, which is the main or only symptom of the disease.And secondary – such pain that occurs as a concomitant symptom in a variety of diseases and conditions (for example, with hypertension, flu, hangover, etc.). It is curious: the treatment of headache with the help of manual therapy is used most often in two cases: with headache of muscle tension and with post-traumatic pain (they are highlighted in the table). However, these two types are responsible for about 60% of all headaches. In other words, sixty out of a hundred people with headaches are chiropractor patients.

Muscle tension headache

Muscle tension headache (synonyms: tension pain, tension pain, psychogenic pain) occurs due to spasms and disorders in the muscles of the head and neck.These violations are described in detail in the article “Myofascial Syndrome”. In short, the cause of the disorders is the appearance of spasmodic muscle nodules in different parts of our body, including the muscles of the head or neck.

Quite often, patients ask in surprise: “Are there muscles on the head?” Oddly enough, we often overlook the obvious! For example, we forget that the face is also part of the head, and there are many facial muscles on it.They close their eyes, squint, smile, feel sad, and so on. In addition, there are powerful chewing muscles that can open and close the mouth, chew and move the jaw left-right, forward or backward.

Painful spasms can occur in any muscle. These are called myofascial trigger points. The muscles of the head or neck are no exception – such points also appear in them. An important feature of trigger points is reflected pain. These are cases when pain is felt not in the zone of muscle spasm itself, but at a distance from it.For example, a spasm in the anterior muscles of the neck manifests itself as pain in the eye area, and a spasm in the masticatory muscles will result in pain in the temple.

Irritation of pain trigger points in the muscles of the head or neck leads to muscle tension headaches. Moreover, the provoking factor of pain is mainly a mechanical effect on the muscle: pressure, compression or stretching.

What do you think can put pressure on the trigger points and provoke a headache? Most often this is done by a pillow – yes, the most ordinary pillow.After all, when a person lies, he presses his soft tissues against the bed with all his weight. In particular, the soft tissues of the face and neck are trapped between the pillow and the harder bone tissues. Therefore, in order to reduce the discomfort that occurs during sleep, we change the position of the body. This happens 1–2 times per hour. But if pain points appear in soft tissues, this forces a person to toss and turn endlessly, turning sleep from rest into torment. Such a person gets up in the morning tired, and even with a headache.

However, a pillow is just a special case, because stress, hypothermia, an uncomfortable posture and much more can become an irritant of a pain point.You will also learn about all these reasons from the article on myofascial syndrome.

What do you think is characteristic of a muscle tension headache? In fact, almost all patients describe it the same way. Squeezing, heaviness in the eyes, temples, or crown. The head is as if squeezed by a hoop or helmet. Numbness, “chills”, “lump in the throat”, nausea and shortness of breath appear. Mood and appetite decrease, sleep is disturbed, general weakness and fatigue appear.A person wakes up with pain, but never wakes up because of it. And this is its difference from cluster pain, but more on that below. Tension headache is episodic and chronic. These two types differ in the frequency and duration of attacks.

Tension headache is also called psychogenic. This emphasizes the influence of emotions on the onset of tension headaches. After all, emotional stress always leads to painful muscle contraction. But, fortunately for patients, manual therapy for tension headaches is an effective treatment method and gives results even without the use of drugs.

Post-traumatic headache occurs after traumatic brain injury. It is subdivided into acute and chronic. Acute appears in the first seven days after injury and lasts no more than three months. Chronic also appears in the first seven days, but lasts more than three months. Post-traumatic pain is caused by several mechanisms: most often – tension pain and increased intracranial pressure. With mild manual therapy for post-traumatic headache, we must take into account all these points and do not forget about the effect of stress that a person received during an injury.

Migraine – severe paroxysmal pain in half of the head. More often women suffer from it. In most cases, the headache is preceded by an aura, that is, visual sensations in the form of flashes of light or fog. In the mechanism of development, a hereditary factor is traced. In the complex treatment of migraine, mild manual therapy finds its place during the preventive course.

Cluster headaches – the name comes from the English word “cluster”, meaning “bunch”.Their other name is bundle pains. This type of headache is more common in men. The pain proceeds in a series of attacks, as if the individual attacks are bundled together. The intensity of the pain is very strong. It is sharp, painful, often on one side around the eye or temple, sometimes radiating to the neck, shoulder and arm. But unlike migraine, there is no aura, and unlike tension pain, with cluster pain, a person wakes up from sleep. Therefore, it is sometimes called “wake-up” pain. Cluster pain is characterized by lacrimation, runny nose, redness, and swelling around the eyes.

Abuse headache – comes from another English word – “abuse”. It develops as a result of inadequate use of pain medications. It should be emphasized here that this type of headache does not develop from scratch, but only in those cases when people have already suffered from some other headache, but at the same time self-medicated. As a result, there is a dependence on certain drugs, without which the headache comes back again and again.This, of course, is not a drug addiction, but the treatment of such patients is a complex and long-term business. First, it is necessary to wean the body from the pills that have become habitual. Secondly, it is imperative to deal with the initial headache that the person tried to treat on their own. So, for example, if the basis was tension headache or traumatic brain injury, then the use of manual therapy for headache in a medical complex will be very appropriate.

The remaining types of headaches are caused by diseases of the eyes, teeth, ENT organs, trigeminal neuralgia, meningitis, colds, strokes, various tumors, etc.They all have their own causes and symptoms, but have nothing to do with manual therapy. Therefore, in order not to overload you with excessive information, we will finish the story about manual therapy for headache. And at the end of the article, please take some good advice. Do not self-medicate headaches, especially if they tend to recur. Do not lead yourself into the jungle of illness, from which it will then be long, difficult and very expensive to get out.

Headache treatment and manual therapy

If the cause of pain in the head area is spasms of the occipital muscles or muscles of the cervical spine, as well as craniocerebral injuries of varying severity, manual therapy helps such patients well.Since in 2/3 of cases headache develops as a result of myofascial syndrome, timely and correct diagnosis is necessary. According to medical statistics, a good chiropractor can permanently save a patient from this insidious ailment. Why is headache treatment especially effective when using manual therapy? The fact is that with muscle spasms in the neck-collar zone, blood vessels are squeezed and blood circulation is disturbed, which provokes an increase in intracranial pressure.Therapeutic massage relieves muscle tension, restores blood circulation and improves blood flow to the brain tissue. After just one procedure, the patient feels relief, since the brain is finally receiving adequate nutrition, and thanks to the powerful influx of energy, the cells begin to function correctly. Chiropractors often use myofascial release in the treatment of headaches – a special massage technique that combines elements of stretching, pressure and twisting of tissues. This technology is unique in that there is a deep relaxation of the muscles, and if they were displaced for some reason, then during the massage the muscles take their natural physiological position.As already mentioned, as a result of the normalization of blood flow, metabolism in cells improves, toxins are actively removed from them, and nerve endings are also released. In other words, all possible causes of the headache are eliminated, while the myofascial release techniques do not cause any discomfort in the patient. This technique also contains osteopathic techniques that help relax the muscles and return them to the correct position. You should not deal with the treatment of headaches on your own, because if its cause is not eliminated, serious complications may appear.Make an appointment with us for a diagnosis and do not postpone treatment. Headache significantly impairs the quality of life, so it should not be tolerated. The specialists of our clinic will help in solving this problem and give the necessary recommendations for headache prevention. The services of manual therapy in our clinic are affordable and very effective, since only high-class professionals work for us!

Seek advice and help from doctors.

And if your choice rests with us, you can be sure that we will use all our knowledge and experience to help you.

Frequent headaches

Many visitors to the Da Vinci Medical Center undergo MRI of the brain in order to find out the cause of headaches. After doing an MRI and receiving the result of the study, they are surprised: “Why is the conclusion good? What then is the cause of the headaches?”

1. The cause is in the cervical spine
The thing is that the cause of the headache can be hidden outside the brain: for example, cervical osteochondrosis, degenerative changes in the cervical spine, sciatica, etc.changes in the spinal column. In this case, MRI of the brain will be an uninformative research method, it is more expedient in this case to undergo MRI of the cervical spine and / or MRI of the vessels of the neck.

2. The reason is in concomitant diseases
In addition, the causes of headaches can be: sinusitis, otitis media, diseases of the joints of the lower jaw, etc. The main feature of pain in the above diseases is its diffuse nature.That is, the head, the ears, the teeth, and the area under the eyes hurt at the same time.

3. Vascular changes
Do not forget about vascular pathologies. Arterial hypertension, hypotension, autonomic dysfunction, etc. If you, for example, suffer from frequent surges in blood pressure, while experiencing a headache, you should definitely do an MRI of the cerebral vessels , because hypertension can cause asymptomatic diseases such as cerebral aneurysm , which, in turn, can be a harbinger of stroke.

4. Brain tumors
A headache that starts suddenly and becomes permanent is often the first manifestation of a brain tumor. Sometimes the pain is accompanied by nausea, dizziness, double vision. In this case, just MRI of the brain will be able to reveal the presence of a tumor and its localization.

5. Migraine
Among the causes of headaches, migraine occupies one of the leading places (almost 20% in adults).A migraine headache is usually one-sided, throbbing, aggravated by movement or exertion. Diagnosis is based on history. MRI in this case will be a poorly informative method.

Our advice – contact a specialist in the advisory department of the Da Vinci MC, who will help you identify the cause of your pain, determine the area of ​​the MRI examination, thereby saving you time, nerves and money. Be healthy!

Phone in Syktyvkar : (8212) 21-81-95
Phone in Ukhta : (8216) 76-79-20

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90,000 Science: Science and Technology: Lenta.Common crawl en

A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids reduces the incidence of headaches compared to a diet rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. A new way to overcome debilitating migraines is described in an article published in The BMJ magazine.

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Omega-3 fatty acids are precursors of oxylipins, molecules involved in the regulation of inflammation and having an analgesic effect.However, oxylipins from omega-6 fatty acids, on the other hand, increase pain and can trigger migraines. To show that omega-3s can be used to combat headaches, scientists tested whether a diet rich in healthy fatty acids could raise levels of the pain relieving 17-hydroxydocosahexaenoic acid (17-HDHA).

The study involved 182 people (including 88 women) with migraine headaches that last from 5 to 20 days a month. The volunteers were randomly divided into three groups, each of which followed a different diet for 16 weeks.The control diet consisted of typical amounts of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids consumed. The other two diets (interventional) were characterized by increased levels of omega-3, but in one of them the level of consumed omega-6 fatty acids remained the same, and in the other it was reduced. Volunteers also completed a questionnaire assessing the impact of headache on quality of life (HIT-6).

Ultimately, at 16 weeks, both intervention diets increased 17-HDHA levels compared to the control diet, and although HIT-6 scores improved in both intervention groups, they were not statistically significantly different from the control group.