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HEADACHE

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HEADACHE

Headache can be referred to as a pain arising from anywhere in the region of the head and the upper neck.

  • The tissues and structures that surround the skull or the brain is where such pain originates from.
  • Headaches can affect anyone irrespective of age, gender, and race.
  • Headaches may result from stress or emotional distress, or it can be a sign of a medical disorder, such as anxiety, depression, or high blood pressure.
  • Frequent headaches can affect your everyday life.
  • Headaches are classified into 3 based on the source of pain.
  • They are Primary headaches, Secondary headaches, and cranial neuralgias.

    PRIMARY HEADACHES

  • Primary headaches are autonomous illnesses that occur from overactivity of, or problems with pain-sensitive structures in the head. They may also result from changes in the brain chemical activity.
  • Common examples of primary headaches are tension headaches and migraine headaches.
  • Tension headaches are the most commonly occurring type of headache affecting about 21.8% of the world population
  • Migraine headaches are the second most common, affecting about 11.7% of the world population.

    SECONDARY HEADACHES

  • Secondary headaches are due to an underlying structural or infectious condition in the head or neck.
  • The medical condition ranges from pain from an infected sinus, bleeding in the brain or infections such as meningitis.
  • Some types of secondary headaches include a Rebound headache, sinus headaches, thunderclap headaches, ice cream headaches (brain freeze).

    CRANIAL NEURALGIAS

  • Cranial neuralgias are associated with an inflammation of one of the 12 cranial nerves that control the muscles and send sensory signals (such as pain) to and from the neck and pain.
  • The most commonly known type is the trigeminal neuralgia.

CAUSES

Each classification has its own causes.

Some factors that trigger and cause primary headaches are:

  • Stress
  • Changes in sleep or complete lack of it
  • Skipped meals
  • Poor posture
  • Loud noises
  • Fatigue
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Alcohol

Possible causes of secondary headaches include:

  • Sinus infection
  • Brain tumor
  • Concussion
  • Dehydration
  • Carbon monoxide poisoning
  • Ear infection
  • Hangovers
  • Pressure from a tight headgear
  • Stroke
  • Substance abuse
  • High blood pressure
  • Glaucoma
  • Dental problems
  • Malaria
  • Overuse of pain medications (rebound headaches)

Trigeminal neuralgia, the most common type of cranial neuralgia which affects the cranial nerve V is triggered when the sensory nerve that supplies the face is inflamed or irritated causing an intense facial pain.

SIGN & SYMPTOMS

The sign and symptoms of primary headaches may include:

Throbbing pain usually on one side of the head (a migraine) and can be accompanied by:

  • Blurred vision
  • Lightheadedness
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting

Pain affecting both sides of the head (tension headaches)

  • The pain is not associated with nausea or vomiting.
  • It is more intense at the temples or over the eyebrows.
  • A feeling of tightness around the head
  • Pain that spreads to or from the neck

For secondary headaches, symptoms may include:

  • Vomiting without nausea
  • Sudden onset of pain
  • Seizure
  • Stiff neck
  • Muscular weakness
  • Double vision
  • Shortness of breath
  • Fever
  • Change in the level of consciousness
  • Pain that is worsened by coughing, sneezing, or bending over.
  • Pain that follows a head injury.

For cranial neuralgia, the headache is mostly accompanied by a facial pain

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

DIAGNOSIS

A description of the condition, timing, type of pain, pattern of attacks can help the doctor in diagnosing the particular type of headache. However, if the nature of a headache appears complex, tests may be carried out to understand the underlying causes.

Further testing includes:

  • X-rays
  • Brain scans such as CT scan and MRI
  • Blood tests.
  • A toxicology test may help if the patient has a history of drug abuse or alcohol abuse.
  • Lumbar puncture where the fluid surrounding the brain and the spinal cord is collected to be examined for infections.
TREATMENT
  • The less complex form of headaches can be treated by getting adequate rest and using pain relief medications.
  • For the more complex form of headaches, the underlying structural or infectious medical conditions are treated.