Headache - what is the cause of torment?

Headache - what is the cause of torment?
Kinds

headache Headaches include pain that occur in the head or upper neck. The sources of pain and tissue structures are located around the brain; in the brain have nerves which could be cause of pain. Inflammation or irritation, causes headache, may occur in the periosteum, located within the muscle tissue of the skull, sinuses, eyes, ears, meninges, arteries, veins and nerves. Headache may be dull, sharp, throbbing, mild, moderate, or very strong.

Secondary headaches

The secondary headaches include pain caused by various problems in the structures of the head and neck. The causes of such pain can be, for example, infections of the teeth, sinuses and dangerous diseases such as encephalitis and meningitis. Headaches that are the result of head injuries, taking certain medications, alcohol or drugs, also belong to the secondary headaches. To cure a headache, you must eliminate its root causes.

Primary headaches

In most cases, headaches are of this type. They are not due to any illness or injury, and often establish their cause is not possible.

Tension headaches are the type - is the most common type of primary headaches. According to WHO, 80% of women and 67% of men from time to time suffer from tension headaches type. The most likely cause of their appearance is a contraction of the muscles that cover the inner surface of the skull. So far, not enough research has been conducted to ascertain the reasons for the pain, but it is known that they often appear after physical or emotional stress.

Tension headache type usually occurs on both sides of the head; uncommon so-called girdle pain when a person feels the pressure from all sides of the head, but it is the most powerful, as a rule, in the temples and above the eyebrows. The intensity of pain can vary, but usually it does not happen so strong that people could not cope with their daily duties.

For most people, the appearance of such pain is unpredictable - the head can hurt a few times in one month, and then the pain may disappear for a year or more. Only a small proportion of people who suffer from this type of pain, they appear several times a day, or even every day.

Tension headaches such as never accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light (such features may be characteristic of a migraine).

Most people cope with such pain using non-prescription pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen or naproxen. Some people do not take analgesics and just wait until the pain will pass by itself.

Those with headaches occur frequently, it is advisable to consult a doctor. To reduce the frequency of episodes of headache can be used techniques such as biofeedback, massage, and a variety of techniques to control stress.

OTC analgesics, though are generally very safe, long-term use can cause various health problems. For example, paracetamol in large quantities and over a long time can lead to liver damage. Special care must be taken paracetamol to patients who regularly consume alcohol. Abuse of aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen can lead to kidney damage.

Cluster headache

Cluster headaches are so called because they appear on a daily basis for several weeks (sometimes longer), and then disappear for months or years. The pain appears in the same time, often the patient wakes up because of it during the night. Causes Cluster headaches are unknown, but perhaps they are caused by the sudden release of large amounts of histamine or serotonin in the brain. Scanning the human brain during an attack of cluster headaches shows abnormal activity of the hypothalamus. This form of headache is also known as follows:

They often occur in families, which suggests that they are related to genetics;
They can become a trigger changes in sleep patterns;
These triggers can also be certain medications (such as nitroglycerin).

Smoking, alcohol and certain foods (such as chocolate and smoked meat) may contribute to the emergence of cluster headaches during periods when the probability of occurrence of pain is greatest.

During cluster headache pain in most patients occurs once or twice a day, in rare cases - frequently. Each attack lasts 30 to 90 minutes. The source of pain is located behind one eye. Pain itself is a very strong - so that patients can roll on the floor, bang your head into the wall, and even tried to commit suicide. People who have had attacks of cluster pain describe it as the most severe pain, which they have ever experienced.

During cluster pain need to alleviate the symptoms of the first attack, and try to prevent further attacks. To facilitate already appeared pain may be used inhalation concentrated oxygen triptanovyh injection preparations, for example, sumatriptan or rizatriptan, which are commonly used for the treatment of migraine Treatment of migraine - a difficult task, but doable , Injections of lidocaine in the nostril, dihydroergotamine - drug constricts blood vessels, or caffeine Caffeine - enemy or friend? . To prevent these attacks using calcium channel blockers, prednisone, antidepressant, lithium or an anticonvulsant.

To prevent the onset of a new period of cluster headaches is not possible, because you can not even tell when will this period, and whether it will at all. It is assumed that no smoking and limited alcohol consumption may reduce the likelihood that a patient ever again arise cluster headaches.