Headache

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Headache​

When it comes to headaches, they are like monsters that come and go whenever they like and there is nothing you can do about them.

Headaches are common!

Any type of discomfort in the head is referred to as a headache.
Headaches can be localized, radiate from a single place throughout the head, affect one or both sides of the head, or feel like a vice.
A dull discomfort, throbbing pain, or excruciating agony can all be signs of a headache. Headaches can last anything from an hour to many days, and they can occur gradually or suddenly.
Most people occasionally get headaches. But if headaches happen frequently, it’s an illness. An average headache rarely interferes with daily activity.
However, the person loses his ability to perform his daily duties if these headaches become regular and severe. The impact of frequent headache episodes and anxiety about more attacks can be felt at work, in social situations, and with family members.
It can have serious financial repercussions and lower quality of life.

What causes the headaches??

Your doctor can diagnose and treat your headache based on the symptoms you’re experiencing.
The majority of headaches don’t have a significant cause, but others might be the result of a condition that needs emergency attention and is life-threatening.
In general, headaches are categorized as:
1. Secondary headaches
2. primary headaches

Secondary Headaches:

This kind of headache is a sign of another illness affecting the body or brain.
Painkillers don’t work very well for this kind of headache.
This form of headache needs to be diagnosed as soon as possible.

The following are a few causes of secondary headaches:

  • brain tumour
  • brain clot made with blood
  • stroke in the brain
  • damage to the brain epilepsy
  • meningitis, a viral infection of the brain
  • elevated blood pressure
  • overindulgence in addictive substances

Secondary Headache Symptoms:

  • headaches that are not relieved by medication
  • severe and excruciating headache
  • violent vomiting and headache (pain don’t stop after vomiting)
  • Headache following strenuous exercise, moving large things, or straining moving large things, or straining symptoms include brain shock and pain induced fainting
  • One side of the body experiencing weakness or tingling
  • uncontrolled urination
  • A specialist physician should be sought right once if someone exhibits any of these symptoms.

Sinus Headache

When you have acute sinusitis, the cavities in your nose, called sinuses, enlarge and become inflamed.
You may feel pain, tightness, swelling, or pressure in the area surrounding your eyes, cheeks, nose, or forehead as a result of blocked drainage and the ensuing mucus buildup.
Generally, soreness increases when bending forward.
The person also experiences nasal congestion and runny nose as a result of sinusitis.

Primary Headaches

Cluster Headache:

This type of headache only lasts a short duration; however it causes excruciating pain.

Cluster headaches are more common in men between the ages of 22 and 25. A headache may last anywhere from thirty minutes to three hours. severe throbbing pain on one side near the mouth and eye watering from the affected eye, drooping of the eyelashes, redness on the affected side of the eye, and shrinkage of the eyeball.
nasal swelling and drainage.
vomiting as well as nausea.
sweating on the afflicted side of the face or forehead.
Usually, the pain begins intensely and stops abruptly. But one experiences excruciating agony and exhaustion throughout that time.

Tension Headache:

It is the most common kind of headache that adults experience.
This kind of headache is experienced by almost everyone at some point in their lives.

Head and neck muscles contract (fatigue) as a result of chemical changes in the brain and its nerves, which causes headaches.
Furthermore, tension in a person’s social, familial, or professional life, as well as persistent anxiety, cause the muscles in their head and neck to tense up continuously. They have a persistent headache.

Headache symptoms:

  • A headache may last for two to four days.
  • feels like there is a constant burden or weight on your head.
  • Headache extending to the neck.
  • The degree of pain is modest to severe.
  • Pain on both sides of the head
  • Typically, this kind of headache begins in the evening.
  • This kind of headache can be chronic (lasting more than 15 days in a month) or episodic (appearing as sporadic attacks).
  • In addition, there are other symptoms like fatigue and trouble falling asleep.

Hypertension headache:

People who have high blood pressure may also get headaches.
Headache caused by hypertension usually affects the back of the head and the neck muscles.
This particular sort of headache is more common among the elderly and is not relieved by painkillers.

Trigeminal neuralgia:

One side of the head and face might be affected by a type of pain called trigeminal neuralgia.
A person feels electric shock like discomfort that is acute, sporadic, and sharp. When pain gets too great, a person gets agitated and desperate.
The trigeminal nerve, which gives sensation to our head and face, is the source of this pain.
Most commonly observed in women over 50.

Signs of pain

Pain that is electric and sharp, affecting the face and head muscles on one side.
Several routine tasks, such as brushing, eating, or washing one’s mouth, might cause this pain.
The patient is unable to even touch his mouth due to the extreme intensity of the pain. Redness will appear on the skin. gum and teeth pain.
A few minutes to several hours may pass during these pains.

Migraine

MIGRAINE one of the most common cause of headache in adults

A person of any age, caste, religion, or social status may experience a migraine.
One in ten people will at some point in their lives suffer from a migraine headache.
In women, migraines are more prevalent.
Children are equally susceptible to the symptoms of migraine.
A migraine is a type of headache that often affects one side of the head and can cause excruciating throbbing pain or a pulsating sensation. Severe light and sound sensitivity, nausea, and vomiting are frequently present.
The pain from migraine attacks can be so bad that it interferes with everyday tasks and can persist for hours or even days.

Migraine patterns have 4 phases.

Prodrome Phase

This stage starts 24 to 48 hours before to the onset of migraine episodes.
It is characterized by symptoms such as extreme thirst and hunger, tightness in the neck, unusual tiredness, yawning, exhaustion, and restlessness.

Aura Phase

This stage starts one to two hours before the headache starts and is characterized by symptoms including bloating, dizziness, disorientation, heaviness, and blurred vision. It’s similar to early warning indicators of a migraine episode.

 Headache Phase

During this stage, the patient primarily has a moderate to severe throbbing headache over one side of the head (feels like the head is going to burst or like they are hitting a wall). radiating in the direction of the eye.
There is a 4–72-hour duration to this headache.
A person has nausea, vomiting, light, sound, and smell intolerance, as well as vertigo and anxiety, in addition to their headache.
agitation, inability to focus while working, and irritation or rage
Some people have low-grade fevers.

Post Drome Phase

The headache progressively becomes better throughout this stage.
However, the patient is fatigued and lethargic.

 

Migraine Triggers

Migraine headaches are made worse by certain conditions. Those who have experienced migraines in the past should stay away from these triggers.
Scientific studies have shown that migraineurs’ brains are more sensitive than those of healthy individuals.
Thus, the causes or triggers that would not bother a healthy individual cause headaches to start in migraineurs.
These kinds of triggers alter the molecules in the brain. Migraine headaches are caused by these chemical changes in the brain, which cause the blood arteries supplying the brain to widen and constrict.
Each person with migraines has unique triggers, and these triggers evolve over time.
prolonged exposure to sunlight, loud noises, and strong Odors.
climate change and air pollution.
Excessive physical exhaustion or mental tension, stress, or anxiety.
Menstruation and hormonal fluctuations.
certain medications
eating irregularities and fasting practices.
irregular sleep patterns.
Addiction to (alcohol, cigarettes, gutkha, highly caffeinated cold drinks)
Migraine pain can be caused by triggers such as eating (cheese, chocolate, fermented foods like idli dosa, idda, and khaman, Chinese food with MSG, fast food with artificial colors), etc.

Treatment of Headaches

The majority of headaches are only treatable with medication.

The type of headache you have will determine the course of treatment.
There are specific treatments for each type of headache, and these medications are frequently unsuccessful for treating other forms of headaches.

Numerous medications have been created to treat headaches. There are two main categories of headache drugs.

Painkillers

These prescription medications, which are also known as acute or abortive treatments, are given to patients to try and stop their headache symptoms.
These include caffeine, PCM, aceclofenac, triptans, ergotamine, aspirin or ibuprofen, and over-the-counter or prescription pain medications.
You should not use these medications for an extended period of time without consulting your doctor.

Preventive meds

These medications are taken regularly to prevent headache episodes, thereby reducing the intensity or frequency of migraines and cluster headaches.
Among them are valproate, topiramate, antidepressants, and propranolol.
It is not advisable to take these drugs without consulting a physician.

How to Prevents Headaches

A headache is a normal part of existence. It is not possible to completely avoid headaches.
Even so, you surely lessen their occurrence.
Avoids doing things that aggravate headaches. such as malnourishment, thirst, heavy lifting, etc.
Utilizing ice packs: You can reduce headache pain by placing an ice pack on your forehead and back of your head once a day.
Avoid anything that could exacerbate your headaches. like extended periods of time spent in the sun, loud music, wearing a lot of perfume, and traveling frequently.
Lack of sleep is one of the primary causes of headaches. It is recommended to have 8 hours of good sleep. Refrain from staying up late or using your phone or TV excessively.
You can reduce the frequency of headaches and manage everyday tension and anxiety by practicing relaxation techniques like meditation.
Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Give up drinking and smoking. These chemicals worsen your headache problem.
Consume a diet that is balanced.

WE ARE HERE TO HELP​

NEURON hosts a unique headache clinic every Friday from 5 to 8 p.m.

We help you determine the causes of your headaches and how to avoid them.

Contact Us