What are the main types of headaches. How do symptoms differ between migraine, tension, and cluster headaches. What diagnostic methods do doctors use to identify headache causes. How can you differentiate between primary and secondary headaches.

Types of Headaches: Exploring Migraine, Tension, and Cluster Headaches

Headaches are a common ailment affecting millions of people worldwide. While the pain associated with headaches can vary greatly, understanding the different types is crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment. Let’s delve into the three main types of headaches: migraine, tension, and cluster headaches.

Migraine Headaches: A Complex Neurological Condition

Migraines are more than just severe headaches; they’re complex neurological events that can significantly impact a person’s quality of life. These headaches are characterized by intense, throbbing pain often accompanied by other symptoms.

• Nausea and vomiting
• Sensitivity to light (photophobia)
• Visual disturbances
• Dizziness

One unique aspect of migraines is their distinct phases. Not everyone experiences all phases, but understanding them can help in managing the condition.

1. Prodromal phase: Mood or behavior changes hours or days before the headache
2. Aura phase: Visual, sensory, or motor symptoms preceding the headache
3. Headache phase: The actual pain period, often with throbbing pain and increased sensitivity
4. Resolution phase: Pain lessens but may be replaced with fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating

Tension Headaches: The Most Common Type

Tension headaches are the most prevalent type of headache, often triggered by stress and muscle tension. These headaches typically present with:

• Slow onset of pain
• Dull, band-like pressure around the head
• Pain affecting both sides of the head
• Mild to moderate intensity
• Discomfort in the back of the head or neck

Unlike migraines, tension headaches usually don’t cause nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light. Their impact on daily life is generally less severe than migraines, but they can still be quite disruptive.

Cluster Headaches: Intense and Cyclical Pain

Cluster headaches are less common but can be extremely painful. They’re characterized by:

• Severe pain on one side of the head, often behind the eye
• Recurring headaches in a series or “cluster”
• Eye-related symptoms like redness, tearing, and drooping eyelid
• Nasal congestion or runny nose
• Swelling of the forehead

These headaches typically occur in cycles, with periods of frequent headaches followed by headache-free intervals.

Understanding Headache Causes: Primary vs. Secondary Headaches

Headaches are broadly classified into two categories: primary and secondary. This classification is crucial for determining the appropriate treatment approach.

Primary Headaches: When the Headache Is the Main Problem

Primary headaches occur when the headache itself is the primary medical issue. These include migraines, tension headaches, and cluster headaches. While external factors can trigger or exacerbate primary headaches, there’s no underlying medical condition directly causing them.

Common triggers for primary headaches include:

• Stress
• Certain foods or drinks
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Hormonal fluctuations
• Environmental factors like bright lights or loud noises

Secondary Headaches: Symptoms of an Underlying Condition

Secondary headaches are symptoms of another medical condition. These headaches can be caused by a wide range of issues, including:

• Neck or head injuries
• Eye problems
• Dental or jaw issues
• Sinus infections
• Brain tumors (in rare cases)
• High blood pressure
• Medication side effects

Identifying the underlying cause is crucial for effectively treating secondary headaches.

Headache Symptoms: Recognizing the Signs

Headache symptoms can vary greatly depending on the type and cause of the headache. However, some common symptoms include:

• Pain on one or both sides of the head
• Dull, aching sensation
• Throbbing or pulsating pain
• Sensitivity to light, sound, or smells
• Nausea or vomiting (especially with migraines)
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Neck stiffness

Is the severity of pain always indicative of the seriousness of a headache? Not necessarily. While severe pain can be alarming, the intensity alone doesn’t determine the underlying cause or potential seriousness of a headache. Some benign headaches can be extremely painful, while some serious conditions might cause only mild discomfort.

Diagnosing Headaches: Medical Evaluation and Diagnostic Tests

Proper diagnosis is crucial for effective headache management. Doctors employ various methods to determine the type and cause of headaches.

Comprehensive Medical History

A thorough medical history is often the first step in diagnosing headaches. Doctors typically ask questions about:

• Frequency and duration of headaches
• Location and type of pain
• Associated symptoms
• Potential triggers
• Family history of headaches
• Impact on daily life

Physical and Neurological Examination

A physical exam, including a neurological assessment, helps rule out underlying conditions and evaluate overall health. This may involve checking:

• Blood pressure
• Vision
• Reflexes
• Muscle strength and coordination
• Sensory function

Diagnostic Tests

Depending on the suspected cause and severity of symptoms, doctors may recommend additional tests:

• Blood tests: To check for underlying conditions or infections
• Imaging studies: Such as CT scans or MRIs to visualize brain structures
• Sinus x-rays: To evaluate for sinus-related issues
• Lumbar puncture: In rare cases, to check for conditions affecting cerebrospinal fluid

How do doctors determine which diagnostic tests are necessary? The decision is based on several factors, including the patient’s symptoms, medical history, and the results of the physical examination. If a primary headache like migraine or tension-type headache is suspected and the neurological exam is normal, further testing may not be needed. However, if there are red flags suggesting a secondary headache, more extensive testing will likely be recommended.

The Role of Brain Anatomy in Headaches

Understanding the anatomy of the brain and surrounding structures is crucial in comprehending how headaches occur. Interestingly, the brain tissue itself doesn’t have pain-sensitive nerve fibers and doesn’t feel pain. So, what causes the pain we associate with headaches?

Pain-Sensitive Structures in the Head

Several structures in and around the brain can cause headache pain:

• A network of nerves extending over the scalp
• Nerves in the face, mouth, and throat
• Muscles of the head, neck, and shoulders
• Blood vessels on the surface and at the base of the brain

How do these structures contribute to headache pain? When these pain-sensitive areas are irritated, inflamed, or under pressure, they can trigger the sensation of pain that we recognize as a headache. For example, tension headaches often result from muscle tension in the neck and scalp, while migraines may involve changes in blood flow and nerve signaling in the brain.

Treatment Approaches for Different Types of Headaches

The treatment of headaches varies depending on the type, frequency, and severity of the headaches. Let’s explore some common approaches for managing different types of headaches.

Migraine Treatment

Migraine treatment typically involves a combination of strategies:

• Acute medications: To relieve pain during an attack (e.g., triptans, NSAIDs)
• Preventive medications: To reduce frequency and severity of migraines
• Lifestyle modifications: Such as identifying and avoiding triggers
• Complementary therapies: Like acupuncture or biofeedback

Tension Headache Management

Tension headaches are often managed with:

• Over-the-counter pain relievers
• Stress reduction techniques
• Regular exercise
• Improving sleep habits
• Physical therapy or massage for muscle tension

Cluster Headache Treatment

Cluster headaches often require more aggressive treatment:

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

Can lifestyle changes help prevent headaches? Absolutely. For many people, certain lifestyle modifications can significantly reduce the frequency and severity of headaches. These may include maintaining a regular sleep schedule, staying hydrated, managing stress, and avoiding known triggers like certain foods or environmental factors.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Headaches

While most headaches are not life-threatening, there are situations where immediate medical attention is necessary. It’s important to recognize the warning signs that could indicate a more serious condition.

Red Flags for Serious Headaches

Seek immediate medical care if you experience:

• Sudden, severe headache often described as the “worst headache of your life”
• Headache accompanied by fever, stiff neck, confusion, or rash
• Headache following a head injury
• Headache with neurological symptoms like vision changes, weakness, or speech difficulties
• New onset of headaches after age 50
• Headaches that wake you from sleep
• Progressively worsening headaches

How can you differentiate between a normal headache and one that requires immediate attention? While the severity of pain alone isn’t always indicative of seriousness, any headache that is significantly different from your usual headaches, particularly if it’s accompanied by other symptoms or occurs in certain contexts (like after a head injury), should be evaluated promptly.

The Future of Headache Research and Treatment

As our understanding of headache disorders continues to evolve, so do the treatment options and research directions. Let’s explore some of the exciting developments in headache management.

Emerging Treatments

Several new approaches are showing promise in headache treatment:

• CGRP antagonists: A new class of drugs specifically designed for migraine prevention and treatment
• Neuromodulation devices: Non-invasive devices that use electrical or magnetic stimulation to prevent or treat headaches
• Personalized medicine: Tailoring treatments based on an individual’s genetic profile and specific headache characteristics
• Advanced imaging techniques: To better understand brain activity during headaches

Ongoing Research

Researchers are continually working to deepen our understanding of headaches and develop more effective treatments. Current areas of focus include:

• The role of genetics in headache disorders
• The connection between headaches and other health conditions
• The impact of environmental factors on headache occurrence
• Developing more targeted and effective medications with fewer side effects

What potential breakthroughs might we see in headache treatment in the coming years? While it’s difficult to predict with certainty, advances in areas like neuroscience, genetics, and pharmacology are likely to lead to more personalized and effective headache treatments. We may see improvements in our ability to predict and prevent headaches before they occur, as well as more sophisticated pain management techniques that provide relief without significant side effects.

As research progresses, the future looks promising for those who suffer from headaches. With increased understanding of the underlying mechanisms and continued development of innovative treatments, we can hope for better management strategies and potentially even cures for various headache disorders.

Headache | Johns Hopkins Medicine

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

• A network of nerves that extends over the scalp

• Certain nerves in the face, mouth, and throat

• Muscles of the head, neck, and shoulders

• Blood vessels found along the surface and at the base of the brain

Different types of headaches include:

Migraine

In this type of headache, symptoms other than pain occur as part of the headache. Nausea and vomiting, lightheadedness, sensitivity to light (photophobia), and other visual symptoms typically occur with migraines. Migraines also have distinct phases. Not all people have each phase, however. The phases of a migraine headache may include:

• Premonition or prodromal phase. A change in mood or behavior may occur hours or days before the headache.

• Aura phase. A group of visual, sensory, or motor symptoms can precede the headache. Examples include vision changes, hallucinations, numbness, changes in speech, and muscle weakness.

• Headache phase. Period during the actual headache with throbbing pain on one or both sides of the head. Sensitivity to light and motion are common, as are depression, fatigue, and anxiety.

• Resolution phase. Pain lessens during this phase, but may be replaced with fatigue, irritability, and trouble concentrating. Some people feel refreshed after an attack, others do not.

Tension headaches

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

• Slow onset of the headache

• Head usually hurts on both sides

• Pain is dull or feels like a band or vice around the head

• Pain may involve the back part of the head or neck

• Pain is mild to moderate, but not severe

• Tension type headaches typically do not cause nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light (photophobia).

Cluster headaches

These are the most common symptoms of a cluster headache:

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

These are the most common symptoms of a cluster headache:

• Severe pain on one side of the head, usually behind one eye

• The eye that is affected may be red and watery with a droopy lid and small pupil

• Swelling of the eyelid

• Runny nose or congestion

• Swelling of the forehead

What causes a headache?

Headaches are classified as primary or secondary.

• A primary headache means the headache itself is the main medical problem, although other factors, such as muscle tension or exposure to certain foods, may be identified. Other contributing factors include medicines, dehydration, or hormone changes.

• A secondary headache is related to an underlying medical condition. An example of this would be a headache due to neck injury, eye problems, jaw, teeth or sinus infection.

What are the symptoms of a headache?

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

• Slow onset of the headache

• Head usually hurts on both sides

• Pain is dull or feels like a band or vice around the head

• Pain may involve the back part of the head or neck

• Pain is mild to moderate, but not severe

Tension type headaches typically do not cause nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light (photophobia).

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

How is a headache diagnosed?

Your doctor will want to do a comprehensive medical evaluation and diagnostic testing. He or she will also ask about your medical history, and do physical exam and certain tests.

Questions commonly asked during the exam may include:

• When do headaches occur?

• What is the location of the headache?

• What do the headaches feel like?

• How long do the headaches last?

• Have there been changes in behavior or personality?

• Do changes in position or sitting up cause the headache?

• Do you have trouble sleeping?

• Do you have a history of stress?

• Is there a history of head injury?

If your doctor suspects migraine or tension-type headaches and the neurological exam is normal, no further testing may be needed. However, if it is not a primary type headache, then other tests may be done to find the cause.

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

• Blood tests. Various blood chemistry and other lab tests may be run to check for underlying conditions.

• Sinus x-rays. An imaging procedure done to evaluate for congestion or other problems that may be corrected.

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A test that uses a combination of large magnets, radiofrequencies, and a computer to produce detailed images of organs and structures within the body.

• Computed tomography scan (also called a CT or CAT scan). An imaging test that uses X-rays and computer technology to produce horizontal, or axial, images (often called slices) of the body. A CT scan shows detailed images of any part of the body, including the bones, muscles, fat, and organs. CT scans are more detailed than general X-rays.

How are headaches treated?

Your healthcare provider will figure out the best treatment based on:

• How old you are

• Your overall health and medical history

• How sick you are

• How well you can handle specific medicines, procedures, or therapies

• How long the condition is expected to last

• Your opinion or preference

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

• Avoiding known triggers, such as certain foods and beverages, lack of sleep, and fasting

• Changing eating habits

• Exercise

• Resting in a quiet, dark environment

• Medicines, as recommended by your healthcare provider

• Stress management

Migraine and cluster headaches may need specific medicine management including:

• Abortive medicines. Medicines prescribed by your healthcare provider act on specific receptors in nerves and blood vessels in the head to stop a headache in progress.

• Rescue medicines. Medicines bought over-the-counter, such as pain relievers, to stop the headache.

• Preventive medicines. Medicines prescribed by your healthcare provider taken daily to reduce the onset of headaches.

Some headaches may need immediate medical attention including hospitalization for observation, diagnostic testing, or even surgery. Treatment is individualized depending on the underlying condition causing the headache. Full recovery depends on the type of headache and other medical problems that may be present.

Can headaches be prevented?

When headache triggers are known, avoiding the triggers can prevent a headache. Reducing stress can minimize or prevent headaches caused by stress. Migraine and cluster headaches may be prevented by taking a daily preventive medicines.

When should I call my healthcare provider?

Most headaches can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers. However, call your healthcare provider right away if a severe headache is accompanied by:

Symptoms that may suggest a more serious headache include:

• Worst headache ever, or new type of headache

• Recurring headaches in children

• Headaches that start early in the morning

• Headache that follows a head injury

• Pain that is worsened by strain, such as a cough or a sneeze

• Vomiting without nausea

• Sudden onset of pain

• Headache that is becoming more severe or continuous

• Personality changes

• Seizures

Key points about headaches

• A headache is pain or discomfort in the head or face area.

• Types of headaches include migraine, tension, and cluster.

• Headaches can be primary or secondary. If it is secondary, it is caused by another condition.

• Avoiding headache triggers is the best prevention.

• Mild to moderate headaches can be managed with over-the-counter medicines, but tell your healthcare provider if your headache is severe and you have other symptoms.

Is It Normal To Get Headaches Everyday?

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May 16, 2022

No, it’s NOT normal to get headaches everyday

Most people have headaches from time to time. But if you have a headache more days than not, you might have chronic daily headaches, which come in many forms – most of them pretty disabling.

You may be suffering from chronic daily headaches if the headaches occur 15 days or more a month and you have experienced them for at least three months.

In general, there are four kinds of chronic daily headaches. They include:

• Chronic migraine headaches. These can affect one side or both sides of your head, have a throbbing sensation, and cause moderate-to-severe pain. They can also cause nausea, vomiting, or both. People tend to be sensitive to light and sound during these headaches.
• Chronic tension headaches. These tend to affect both sides of your head, cause mild-to-moderate pain, and produce a pain that feels like pressing or tightening but not throbbing.
• New daily persistent headaches. These occur suddenly, usually in people without a history of headaches. They often affect both sides of the head, cause pain that feels like pressing or tightening and produce mild-to-moderate pain.
• Hemicrania continua. These affect only one side of the head, are continuous with no pain-free periods, produce spikes of severe pain, respond to the prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug Indocin, and are associated with one or more of the following:
  • Tearing or redness of the eye on the affected side of the head.
  • Nasal congestion or a runny nose.
  • Drooping eyelid or narrowing pupil.
  • The sensation of restlessness.

What Causes Chronic Headaches?

No one really knows why some people suffer from this debilitating condition. Conditions that may cause it include:

• Inflammation or other problems with the blood vessels in and around the brain.
• Strokes, in which blood vessels in the brain a blocked, reducing blood flow to the brain.
• Infections, including meningitis.
• High or low intracranial pressure.
• Brain tumors.
• Traumatic brain injury.
• Overuse of pain medication.

While the cause of these headaches is unclear, research suggests that you can do some things to help prevent them – or at least reduce their intensity:

• Avoid headache triggers. Keep track of things that appear to result in headaches, including foods you eat, activities you are doing, and the environment in which the headaches occur. If you can identify your headache triggers, you can try to avoid them.
• Do not overuse medication. Using headache medications more than twice a week can increase the frequency and severity of headaches. If you have been taking medication for a long time, consult a doctor about weaning yourself off. Some medicines cannot be stopped cold turkey.
• Get a good night’s sleep. Most adults need seven to eight hours of sleep a night. It’s best to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. If you have trouble sleeping, see a doctor.
• Don’t skip meals. Eat healthy meals and avoid food or beverages that seem to trigger headaches. Lose weight if you’re obese.
• Get regular exercise. Physical activity can improve your physical and mental well-being and reduce stress. With your doctor’s OK, choose activities you enjoy, like walking or cycling.
• Reduce stress. Stress is a common trigger of chronic headaches. Try stress-reduction techniques, like yoga, tai chi, or meditation.
• Cut back on caffeine. Some headache medications include caffeine because they can help to reduce headache pain. But it can also aggravate headaches. Try reducing or eliminating caffeine.

When Should You See A Doctor?

Occasional headaches usually require no special medical attention. However, you should consult a doctor if you:

• Consistently have two or more headaches a week.
• Take pain reliever for your headaches on most days.
• Need more than the recommended dose of over-the-counter medicines to relieve headache pain.
• Experience changes in the pattern of your headaches, or they get worse.
• Find the headaches are disabling.

Seek immediate medical care if your headache:

• Is sudden and severe.
• Is accompanied by a fever, stiff neck, confusion, seizure, double vision, weakness, numbness, or difficulty speaking.
• Occurs after a head injury.
• Gets worse after you rest and take pain medication.

Get The Care You Need 

If your chronic headache is sudden and severe and associated with one of the symptoms above, you should call 911 and seek immediate medical attention. If you suffer from more common chronic headaches, visit your doctor for advice. If you do not have a doctor, Grady can help. If you need a primary care physician, call us at (404) 616-1000 or make an appointment online. We’ll arrange an appointment at a Primary Care Center near you. Doctors there can treat most conditions and provide access to Grady’s unparalleled medical specialty expertise.

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Headache, what kind of disease, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

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Headache is the most common symptom of a variety of diseases. If you regularly experience headaches, then you should seek medical help, as it can be a signal of a dangerous pathology.

Headache symptoms

Symptoms of a headache depend on its type:

1. Tension headache:

   • non-throbbing, persistent headache;
   • discomfort, which increases slightly in the course of daily life;
   • pressure and tension in the neck and head.

2. Cluster headache:

   • regular unceasing severe pain in the eye area;
   • stuffiness in one nostril;
   • excessive tearing, redness of the eye;
   • edema of the century.

3. Migraine:

   • localization of pain in one part of the head;
   • increasing, throbbing, severe headaches;
   • increased pain due to all kinds of activities;
   • nausea and vomiting;
   • increased headache after exposure to light.

In most cases, severe headaches require careful diagnosis and treatment. If you prefer to relieve discomfort with painkillers, then the pain will increase, and your body will require an increasing dosage. This will not only lead to the development of a dangerous disease, but also cause problems with the liver and kidneys.

In the absence of qualified help, you may experience the following symptoms:

• increase in body temperature;
• weakness of the legs and arms;
• speech problems;
• blurred vision;
• deterioration in coordination.

Similar symptoms indicate the development of a brain disease. In this case, you need to urgently consult a doctor to avoid death.

Causes of headache

The causes of headaches can be very diverse.

Only the most common ones can be identified:

• vascular problems;
• brain tumors and injuries;
• inflammation;
• neuralgia;
• heat and sunstroke;
• intoxication;
• lack of a daily routine and a balanced diet;
• bad habits;
• and much more.

Most of us prefer to just take a headache pill and forget about the discomfort. However, they can signal problems with blood vessels and the brain. Ignoring diseases of this kind leads to serious complications. Contact a specialist – he will conduct a thorough diagnosis and detect the disease at an early stage. Then your treatment will be quick and will not cause dangerous consequences.

Headache treatment

Diagnosis and treatment of headache is individual and depends on the causes of its occurrence. Assistance is often needed from doctors in related fields – psychoneurologists, psychologists, etc.

Only a timely visit to a doctor and careful observance of all his prescriptions can make your treatment effective and prevent dangerous consequences.

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• Ophthalmologist for a fee
• Endoscopic surgery in St. Petersburg
• Paid proctologist
• Phlebologist center

Headache.

Types, causes, diagnosis and treatment of headaches.!

contents

1. What are the types of headaches?
2. Causes of disease
3. Diagnosis of headaches
4. Treatment of disease

1. What are the types of headaches?

Headaches are very common. Millions of people suffer from chronic headaches, including migraines . Severe headache interferes with normal life and causes anxiety. Let’s try to figure out what a headache is, why it occurs and how to treat a headache.

What are the types of headaches?

In fact, medical theory distinguishes about 150 types of headaches. Headache in the back of the head, headache in the temples, frequent headaches, severe headaches, headaches during pregnancy, persistent headaches – all these are household characteristics of a variety of medical diagnoses. From a scientific point of view, the following types of headaches are considered the most common :

• Tension headaches , which are also called chronic daily headaches or tension headaches. This is the most common type of headache in adults and teenagers. Headache resulting from muscle contraction has varying degrees of intensity – from mild to moderate. Tension headache occurs infrequently, over long periods of time, and gradually disappears.
• Migraines . The exact causes of migraine are currently unknown. A popular theory is that various factors (triggers) cause abnormal brain activity, which in turn causes changes in the brain’s blood vessels. Some forms of migraines are associated with hereditary genetic abnormalities in certain parts of the brain. Migraine pain can range from moderate to severe headache and is often characterized as a pounding, throbbing pain. Migraines can last anywhere from four hours to three days, and attacks typically occur one to four times a month. Migraines are accompanied by symptoms such as increased sensitivity to light, noise, or smells, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, indigestion, or abdominal pain. In children during a migraine, pallor, dizziness, blurred vision, and a feverish state may be observed.
• Mixed type of headache . It is also called a modified migraine. Mixed headache is a combination of migraine and tension headache. Both adults and children suffer from it.
• Cluster headaches . Cluster headaches are rare, but they are the most severe. Pain in a cluster headache is very strong and intense, and can be described as burning and stabbing. The pain may be constant or throbbing. As a rule, it is localized in the region of one or both eyes. Cluster headaches have characteristic periods of attacks. The pains begin one to three times a day over a cluster period that can last anywhere from two weeks to three months. Over a period of time, headaches may disappear completely (go into remission) and recur only after a few months or years.
• Sinus headaches that occur with sinus disease. Sinus headaches are accompanied by constant pain in the cheekbones, forehead, or bridge of the nose. The pain usually worsens with sudden movement of the head or exertion. As a rule, the headache is accompanied by other symptoms of sinusitis – nasal congestion, fever, swelling of the face.
• Acute headaches . Most often they occur in children and adolescents, and are characterized as headaches that occur suddenly and for the first time, and also pass quickly enough. If there are no neurological problems, the most common cause of acute headaches is a respiratory disease or sinusitis.
• Hormonal headaches . They most often affect women. The cause of hormonal headaches in women is a change in hormone levels, which is what causes headaches during pregnancy , menstruation and menopause. Taking hormonal birth control pills can also cause headaches in some women.
• Chronic progressive headaches . This is a less common type of headache and is also called inflammatory headaches. The peculiarity of the disease is that the pain intensifies, and attacks occur more often over time. Chronic progressive headaches can be the result of a disease or pathology of the brain.

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2. Causes of disease

Headache is the result of an interaction between the brain, blood vessels and surrounding nerves. With a headache, specific nerves in the blood vessels and muscles in the head become activated and send pain signals to the brain.

Headaches that come on suddenly, usually associated with illness or infection. It is not uncommon for an acute headache to begin with sinusitis (inflammation of the paranasal sinuses), pharyngitis (inflammation of the throat), or otitis media (inflammation of the ear).

In some cases, headaches may be the result of a blow to the head, an injury or, more rarely, a sign of a serious illness .

Causes of tension headaches and chronic headaches include emotional stress, alcohol use, malnutrition, sleep patterns, drug overuse, depression. Headaches can also appear due to eye strain, as well as neck or back due to poor posture.

Headaches can start due to some household factors – for example, passive smoking, strong odors from perfumes and household chemicals, exposure to certain allergens, foods, as well as stress, air pollution, noise, lighting, weather changes. Sometimes the head starts to hurt after excessive physical activity.

In order to find out the causes of headache in each case, it is necessary to consult a good doctor.

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3.

Diagnosis of headaches

If you suffer from headaches, don’t put off a visit to the doctor! In practice, the correct diagnosis of a headache helps to prescribe effective treatment and, in most cases, get rid of unpleasant sensations, including severe headaches.

In most cases, no special tests are needed to diagnose headaches. The doctor will draw conclusions based on information about the symptoms and nature of the pain, information about when the headache appears, what factors cause it and then intensify. However, in some cases, computed tomography or MRI may be required to evaluate headache if there is reason to suspect a disease of the central nervous system. Both of these tests provide a cross-sectional image of the brain that can help identify abnormal areas and possible problems.

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4.