Headache is a common symptom of a nonspecific nature, which manifests itself in the form of pain of a different nature in the head area, often radiating to the neck. Such a pathological process cannot be ignored, as it may be a sign of the development of a life-threatening illness. It should be noted that this condition can be provoked by any disease whose pathogenesis involves an effect on pain receptors human body. The periodic and short-term occurrence of such a symptom is not always a reason to see a doctor, while frequent headaches require immediate medical intervention.
Etiology
The causes of headaches may include the following:
- spasm of arterial vessels;
- hypoxia;
- (observed in the back of the head);
- excessive tension in the muscles of the head and neck;
- the development of certain pathological processes that affect nerve endings;
- sudden change in weather conditions;
- excessive physical activity;
- starvation;
- , nervous tension;
- injuries;
- hypokinesia;
- chronic pathologies of the sinuses - , .
In addition, it is often observed headache during pregnancy, which is due to changes in the functioning of the body and an increase in the load on some systems.
It should be noted that these are not all etiological factors in which cephalalgia is observed. In any case, if a person is bothered by frequent headaches, he should consult a doctor and not take medications without permission. It is likely that this symptom is one of the signs of the clinical picture of a certain illness. Ignoring this factor can lead not only to the development of complications, but also to death.
We should not forget that headaches from overexertion, overwork or lack of sleep are possible. In this case, you should simply reconsider your regime and make appropriate adjustments. Otherwise, concomitant diseases may develop.
Classification
According to the international classification ICD-10, headaches are divided, depending on the etiology, into two groups:
- primary;
- secondary.
The primary group includes the following subspecies:
- tension headache (occipital neuralgia, strained neck muscles, psychosomatics);
- various types (in this case nausea is added);
- cluster headache or cluster headache.
Secondary types of cephalgia include those that are the result of a certain pathological process or mechanical impact (impact, injury). In general, the following factors can be identified:
- post-traumatic cephalgia or injuries of the cervical spine;
- vascular pathologies in the head and neck area;
- intracranial pathologies;
- long-term use of certain medications or sudden refusal of medications;
- infectious or viral diseases;
- symptomatic, which are caused by diseases of the respiratory tract, oral cavity (for example, a strong one can provoke a headache in the temple area and radiate to the eyes and ears).
In such cases, treatment should only be prescribed by a doctor, taking into account not only the general clinical picture, but also the pathogenesis of the underlying disease.
Symptoms
Additional signs of the clinical picture will depend on the etiology of the disease that provoked this symptom. However, it should be said that each type of cephalalgia has its own characteristic signs. In general, the following symptoms can be identified:
- general weakness;
- irritability;
- deterioration or complete .
The most common type of headache is tension headache, which has the following characteristics:
- noted in the forehead, back of the head and temporal areas;
- has an aching character, there is a feeling of compression of the forehead with a hoop;
- unpleasant sensations last for a long time.
In addition to these signs, tension headaches may have the following additional symptoms, which are determined by the person’s condition:
- irritability;
- nervous tension;
Cluster headaches are most common in men. The clinical picture in this case is as follows:
- one-sided nature of the pain (headache in the forehead or temple, often radiating to the neck);
- short duration of pain - no more than 5 minutes;
- attacks 5-6 times a day.
It should be noted that such attacks can be so severe that painful shock may develop. These headache symptoms require immediate medical attention.
Attacks of migraine pain are common. In this case, the following clinical picture is observed:
- throbbing pain in the head;
- pain duration up to 72 hours;
- , sometimes with bouts of vomiting;
- intolerance to light and loud sounds;
- irritability;
- insomnia.
In some cases, there may be a headache in the back of the head. It should be noted that clinicians have identified the manifestation of such a localization site when.
The general clinical picture may be supplemented by specific signs, depending on what exactly caused the development of such a symptom.
Diagnostics
Diagnostic measures will depend on the general condition of the patient and the suspected etiological factor. First of all, a detailed physical examination is performed to determine the general medical history. In general, the diagnostic program may include the following laboratory and instrumental examination methods:
- X-ray studies.
Additional diagnostic methods will depend on the location of headache, the general clinical picture and the patient’s medical history.
Treatment is prescribed only by a doctor, after an accurate diagnosis and identification of the etiology of the development of this pathological process. Taking medications without permission if you have a headache every day is strictly not recommended. This can lead not only to the development of serious complications, but also to a blurred clinical picture, which will complicate further diagnosis and may lead to ineffective treatment.
Treatment
Treatment of headache depends not only on the underlying cause of the disease, but also on its location. Thus, headaches during pregnancy require a minimum of medications, as this can harm the health of the child.
Traditional pain relievers can only be used for occasional headaches from tension, fatigue, and similar factors. In all other cases, it is the root cause factor that needs to be eliminated, and not the symptom itself.
A headache in the back of the head may indicate high blood pressure. In this case, the doctor may prescribe medications to stabilize blood pressure readings.
In general, the treatment program is based on the following aspects:
- if the back of the head hurts, use antihypertensive drugs and drugs to normalize the tone of the arterial vessels. The doctor may also prescribe physiotherapeutic procedures;
- medications for migraine headaches are prescribed strictly individually, as well as for tension headaches;
- if the occipital part of the head and temporal region hurts, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with an analgesic effect can be used;
- for headaches that are caused by, carbamazepine and its analogues are prescribed.
The list of tablets for headaches, dosage, regimen and duration of their use can only be prescribed by the attending physician. Unauthorized use of medications in this case is unacceptable, as this can lead to serious consequences.
Paracetamol is used for short-term relief of headaches. For more intense headache attacks, No-spa can be used.
Only a doctor can tell you how to get rid of a headache after an examination and an accurate diagnosis. As for non-traditional methods of treatment, folk remedies for headaches can be used, but only as an addition to the main course of treatment or as a preventive measure.
Prevention
Since severe cephalgia is not an independent disease, but a nonspecific symptom, there are no specific methods of prevention. However, to prevent illnesses in which this symptom is present in the clinical picture, the following should be applied in practice:
- nutritious and timely nutrition;
- elimination of bad habits, including alcohol and tobacco abuse;
- timely and complete treatment of all ailments;
- systematically undergoing preventive examinations from specialized medical specialists;
- avoiding stress, nervous strain and similar psychological disorders.
In addition, you should not begin self-medication, as this is fraught with serious consequences, including death.
If you have symptoms of the above diseases and persistent headache, you should immediately seek medical help.
It is difficult to find a person who has never experienced a headache in his life. Some people take pills to save themselves without thinking about why their head hurts, while for others the medicines don’t bring relief. How to relieve a headache in this case?
There are several types of headaches; according to the international classification, there are 14 varieties, but each type, in turn, is divided into forms. However, all types of headaches can be divided into primary and secondary. In the first case, the pain appears on its own; in the second, it is a symptom of some disease.
Primary types of headaches
Tension pain or tension headache – it’s all about stress!
This is the most common type and occurs in 9 out of 10 people. In this case, there is a feeling of fullness, tension or tightening of the upper part of the head (“Hoop”). Often a person compares the condition to being in a helmet. This symptom is so characteristic that it is called the “neurasthenic helmet” (since headaches of this type are associated with neuroses). In mild form, pain appears only occasionally, and after rest there is improvement. If a person experiences pain more than 15 days a month, we are talking about a chronic course.
Main features. As a rule, these pains are mild or moderate, but the sensations become more intense in the evening, the duration of manifestations varies from half an hour to several days. In addition, a person is worried about increased fatigue, sleep disturbance, and a possible sensation of a lump in the throat.
Causes: overstrain of the muscles of the face, eyes, neck, back. The situation is aggravated by stressful situations (at work, when taking exams, etc.), lack of proper rest, stuffy rooms, heat or cold, abuse of analgesics or psychostimulants (including), as well as irregular nutrition or fasting. In addition, hormonal disorders can provoke pain.
In this case, malaise is the body’s protective reaction to overexertion. Adequate physical activity, walks in the fresh air, massage, and simply kneading the neck and shoulders will certainly bring relief. It’s a good idea to learn how to reduce stress; playing sports, meeting with friends, traveling, hobbies - everyone can choose the most appropriate way! For severe pain, painkillers are effective; in some cases, antidepressants can be used.
Migraine – treat? Try to prevent it!
Perhaps this is the most mysterious phenomenon, which has been the subject of debate among doctors for centuries.
Main features. Exhausting, lasting for hours, or even days, practically unresponsive to medication, intense pain is concentrated in one half of the head, focused in the area of the eye, forehead or temple. In this case, irritability and a feeling of fatigue are combined with photosensitivity, hypersensitivity to loud sounds, and aversion to various odors. The person experiences dizziness, nausea, and problems concentrating.
Often, a couple of days before the attack, visual, olfactory or tactile abnormalities appear: a person sees bright elements, smells or tingles throughout the body.
Causes of occurrence. There are several hypotheses for the occurrence of migraine: the leading one today is a violation of vascular tone. A number of factors can provoke the condition:
- stress (read also: )
- physical overexertion
- sudden change in weather
- taking certain medications (read also: )
- sleep disturbance (both lack and excess have a negative effect)
- alcohol consumption
- various products, each with its own “culprit”: cheese, nuts, chocolate, citrus fruits, etc. By the way, migraines “cannot tolerate” fasting and snacking.
- Changes in hormone levels: PMS, ovulation, menopause, pregnancy and even taking birth control can cause attacks.
The list is very impressive, and each person has his own predisposing factors, which must be determined by trial. But even here a difficulty arises: the identified provoking factor will not always lead to the development of an attack!
How to treat this type of headache? Migraine treatment is aimed at stopping the attack at the very beginning; in this case, medications selected by a doctor can help. In the stage of an already developed attack, it is very difficult to get rid of pain, here we are talking about alleviating the condition, and the following will help: a warm bath, a darkened room, the absence of loud sounds, various herbal teas, acupressure.
Unfortunately, it is possible to achieve complete cessation of the attack in only 10% of patients. Triptans (Zomig, Sumatriptan, etc.) are considered effective in the treatment of migraine attacks. If they do not have the desired effect, then non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (for example, Diclofenac, Ibuprofen) can be added.
Fighting migraines is difficult, but it is possible. Knowing about your illness, you can prevent an attack by adjusting your sleep hygiene, diet, and minimizing the consequences of stressful situations. And the main thing is to find a method that will be effective in your case!
Cluster headache - sudden attack
This type of pain is quite rare, most often occurring in men under the age of 40.
Main features. Acute throbbing pain occurs in the eye area, affecting the temples or forehead. Painful but short-lived attacks occur in the form of clusters (series). In this case, redness of the eyes, watery eyes, and runny nose are possible. The pain appears without warning, often even at night or upon awakening. The condition can last from 15 minutes to an hour, repeating up to eight times a day, for example, once a week, once a month. The pain may suddenly disappear; there are cases when the break lasts several years.
Causes of occurrence. The causes of cluster headaches presumably lie in vascular pathology. Treatment is difficult because the onset of pain is episodic and its cessation is unpredictable.
How to treat this type of headache? To alleviate the condition, inhaling oxygen is effective; in 70% of patients, the attack is relieved within a short period of time. Taking analgesics is not justified, since the peak of pain will pass much before the onset of the drug's effect. It is possible to take fast-acting drugs, for example, Ergotamine, Lidocaine, Somatostatin, but only under the supervision of a doctor, since there will be no effect if used incorrectly. Therefore, medications for cluster pain that are right for you should be prescribed by your attending physician.
Secondary headaches - look for the disease!
This group includes headaches that appear in a person in the presence of a certain pathology. To get rid of this type of headache, you need to treat the underlying disease. Among the most common we have identified 4 main types:
Headache caused by infection
This type of headache appears due to the action of toxins secreted by pathogenic microorganisms. For example, with influenza or ARVI, the pain, not too intense, is localized in the temples, forehead, and eyes.
The condition improves when taking painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications. The pain that appears with meningitis is sharp and throbbing, growing, it becomes unbearable. Thus, the patient’s condition and treatment depend on the type of infection that caused the disease, but only a specialist can prescribe drugs to get rid of headaches.
Sinus headache
It is typical for diseases of the paranasal sinuses, most often it is sinusitis or sinusitis. In this case, pain appears in the forehead and under the eyes, which intensifies with sudden movement and tilting of the head.
The cause is an inflammatory process of viral, bacterial or allergic origin.
Treatment is aimed at eliminating the underlying disease; in this case, vasoconstrictor drops are prescribed to reduce swelling of the mucous membrane, sinus evacuation of the sinus contents. For sinusitis of a bacterial nature, antibiotics are recommended; for allergic origin of the disease, antihistamines are recommended. But in any case, only a doctor can determine the cause of the pain and prescribe the necessary treatment.
Occipital headache
This type of pain can be of a very different nature: sharp or dull, bursting or throbbing, it can be constant or appear periodically.
Its origin is caused by a variety of reasons, the most common are: neuralgia of the occipital nerve, diseases of the cervical spine (for example, osteochondrosis), muscle tension after intense physical activity. In addition, a headache in the back of the head can be caused by hypertension, spasm of the arteries, increased intracranial pressure, even malocclusion or an uncomfortable posture can cause discomfort. Depending on the cause, the nature and location differ. For example, with cervical osteochondrosis the pain can spread to the temples, with spondylosis the pain is almost constant, with neuralgia the sensations are paroxysmal.
To alleviate the condition, it is necessary to determine the cause of the headache; treatment is prescribed based on the results of the examination. For neuralgia, spinal diseases, stress, massage, physiotherapy, physical therapy will be effective, and pain caused by malocclusion is treated by an orthodontist. To alleviate the condition, regardless of the reasons, you can try a warm drink of herbal tea, a warm compress on the back of the head, and ventilating the room.
Headache of vascular origin
Most often it has a pulsating character and is localized in the temples or the back of the head. Its occurrence is caused either by spasm of cerebral vessels and lack of blood supply, or by expansion of the venous network with impaired blood outflow.
Vascular headache is one of the main signs of hypertension or hypotension, temporal arteritis, and thrombosis. Accordingly, the symptoms of headaches of vascular origin may vary. For example, when intracranial pressure increases, intense squeezing pain occurs in the morning, aggravated by movement. With arteritis, there is a throbbing, acute pain in the temples, radiating to the neck and shoulders, aggravated by chewing.
Treatment depends on the disease causing the headache.
When should you seek medical help?
So where is the line that separates a headache that has already become habitual from a condition that requires emergency medical attention? What should you be wary of? Urgent medical attention is required if:
- head or spinal injury
- sharp pain in the eye with blurred vision – possible glaucoma
- acute intense or gradually increasing pain
- the appearance of additional symptoms: vomiting, dizziness, fever, hallucinations, stiff neck, loss of consciousness.
Today, finding the cause of illness is usually not difficult; for this, there are modern diagnostic methods: tomography, ultrasound, electroencephalography, electromyography, as well as numerous laboratory methods.
How often, when experiencing a headache, do we prefer to “drown out” it with a pill, without thinking that this reaction of the body is a call about trouble? But pain may be almost the only sign that will allow timely identification of the disease. And it doesn’t matter whether the headache hurts every day or periodically: in any case, this is a reason to visit a doctor. Only examination and adequate treatment can relieve debilitating headaches that so affect our mood and performance!
Oksana Matiash, general practitioner
Illustrations: Anastasia Leman
Every person has experienced discomfort caused by headaches. Sometimes the headache is so severe that it interferes with everyday life. The person becomes nervous and reacts sharply to any irritants.
The severity and duration of the headache depend on the cause of its occurrence. This article will help you identify this cause and understand what to do if you have a headache.
Main causes of headaches
Doctors say that only in 10% of cases headaches occur due to diseases of the head itself. The main sources are deviations in the functioning of other organs of the body. Below are the most common causes of discomfort in the head area.
Provoking factors
Often, periodic headaches are not associated with serious illnesses, but are caused by external irritants. Factors that trigger migraines include:
- Improper routine and poor sleep
- Frequent stress and anxiety
- Eating too little or too much food
- Strong physical activity
- Overheating or hypothermia of the body
- Frequent drinking and smoking
Another factor is the individual reaction of each organism to weather changes. Weather dependence is the most common cause of migraines in most people.
Diseases and localization of pain
Chronic headaches can indicate serious illnesses. Depending on the location of the pain, we can draw a conclusion about the type of disease.
Pain in the temple area
Most often, painful sensations in the temples occur due to pressure changes. However, we should not exclude problems such as:
- Impaired blood circulation.
- Infections and viruses. Pain in the temples is one of the first signs of a cold or flu.
- Pain in the facial area (problems with teeth, broken nose, etc.) can cause discomfort in the temples.
- Change hormonal levels due to pregnancy, menopause or puberty.
Important information
In each of the cases presented above, specialist consultation and medical examination are necessary.
Pain in the back of the head
Such pain does not appear without serious reasons and indicates serious health problems.
Painful sensations in the back of the head and neck simultaneously indicate osteochondrosis. Sometimes pain manifests itself in the temporal region. This is due to the destruction of the discs of the cervical vertebrae. Typically, osteochondrosis is accompanied by the following symptoms with sudden head movements:
- Darkening in the eyes.
- Problems with coordination.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- The appearance of tinnitus.
With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, pronounced pain is observed that is constant.
Another cause of pain in the back of the head may be hypertension. Most often, unpleasant sensations appear after sleep. In this case, throbbing pain is combined with tachycardia, weakness throughout the body and frequent dizziness.
With inflammation of the neck muscles associated with injuries, pain is transmitted from the back of the head to the shoulders and affects the area between the shoulder blades. It manifests itself with sudden movements of the head.
Throbbing pain after sleep in the early morning, moving from the back of the head to the forehead, indicates vascular diseases in the cranial region. It is not felt in a calm state and appears during movement.
Forehead pain
A headache in the forehead also indicates serious illness. These include:
- Sinusitis, in which the mucous membrane of the maxillary sinuses becomes inflamed. With sinusitis, in addition to pain in the head, there is constant nasal congestion.
- Inflammation of the frontal sinus, which is called frontal sinusitis, a painful sensation occurs in the morning and goes away only after clearing the sinuses. In severe cases of frontal sinusitis, operations are performed and antibiotics are prescribed. In the early stages, you can get by with vasoconstrictor drops, inhalations and heating.
- Pneumonia, influenza, and malaria can cause throbbing pain. It is also accompanied by general weakness, muscle pain and fever. With malaria, the pain can be sharp.
- Acute meningitis is a disease in which there is severe headache in the forehead and nausea or vomiting.
Pain in the eye area
In most cases, eye pain occurs due to pain in the forehead area. Often headaches in the eyes are associated with overwork at work. Fortunately, you can cope with this illness on your own, simply by giving your body a rest. But sometimes the causes of pain in the eye area can be much more serious. So, these may include:
What to do if you have a headache
Many people prefer to treat headaches with medications. This option is not always effective, since most medications only relieve discomfort, but not the cause itself. A safe way is to use folk remedies. However, to get rid of the source of the problem, you need to be examined by a specialist. Below we will look at the main ways to treat headaches.
Headache tablets
If the pain is not chronic and caused by external factors, getting rid of it will not be difficult. In such cases, conventional analgesics are used. The safest drugs are considered to be tablets based on ibuprofen or paracetamol. These can be considered:
- Citramon. In addition to the above-mentioned components, the composition contains caffeine. It stimulates the central nervous system. The medicine helps well with fatigue and decreased cerebral vascular tone.
- Aspirin. The drug not only gently relieves headaches, but also helps improve well-being during colds.
- Analgin is a tablet that is suitable for eliminating symptoms on the first day before prescribing therapy. The medicine quickly relieves pain due to colds and flu.
- Paracetamol is a good drug for long-term treatment. Helps get rid of not only pain, but also fever. Relieves symptoms of viral diseases and toothache.
For pain due to high blood pressure, analgesics may not be helpful.
When taking medications for headaches, you must follow these rules:
- You should not combine medications with alcohol, as there is a risk of kidney and liver dysfunction.
- Codeine-based tablets are contraindicated for motorists, since the presence of this drug in the blood can be perceived as a state of drug intoxication.
- Painkillers should not be used for more than 5 days.
- The combination of several types of analgesics is strictly prohibited due to their negative effects on the stomach and intestines.
Treatment without pills
If you don’t have painkillers on hand and you can’t go to the pharmacy, you should try the following methods to get rid of headaches.
- You need to drink 1-2 glasses of strong tea or sweet juice for headaches due to a hangover. An infusion of dried fruits is also suitable. Due to stress, the body needs a portion of glucose, which is contained in such drinks.
- You can tightly cover your open eyes with your palms and look at them for half a minute. After this, you need to close your eyes and remove your hands. Then you need to carefully open your eyes, blink several times, close your eyes tightly and finally open them wide. This exercise will help relieve tension from the eyes and head.
- Between the thumb and index finger there is a nerve responsible for pain relief. It should be massaged periodically, and then the headache will no longer bother you.
In addition to the proposed methods, you can practice a head massage or a small warm-up for the neck. If you have migraines due to long-term work in the office, it is important to periodically go out into the fresh air or ventilate the room.
Folk remedies
It is possible to relieve pain without medications. In folk medicine, there are many remedies for headaches. Below are the most effective of them.
Important information
If you are allergic to the components included in the recipes, you must stop using them and choose other remedies.
Prevention
Headaches may occur due to poor diet or disturbed sleep. In order to understand why it occurs, you need to keep a diary. It should note what food was eaten during the day, the time of going to bed and the days on which the head hurt. This way it will be possible to draw a conclusion about the connection between painful sensations and lifestyle. It is also necessary to note critical days in a woman’s diary, since pain may be associated with them.
To prevent migraines from tormenting, it is important to get enough sleep and often be in the fresh air. Physical activity and giving up bad habits will be beneficial. It is important to avoid stress and conflict situations. It is advisable to eat small portions 6 times a day. It is important to exclude fatty, fried and very spicy foods from your diet.
You also need to undergo periodic medical examinations to rule out serious illnesses.
Conclusion
Headache is uncomfortable, especially if it occurs constantly. It can occur either due to fatigue or changes in temperature, or due to negative processes in the body. Rare pain can be dealt with on your own using painkillers or folk remedies. If you experience constant and severe pain, you should consult a doctor. Also, one should not forget about prevention, because a correct lifestyle has a positive effect on the general condition of the entire body.
Cephalgia is a chronic headache syndrome that is common, especially among residents of megacities. Constant noise, conflict situations in the workplace, family difficulties and many other factors cause severe headaches. This problem prevents a person from living a full life.
Sleep patterns are disrupted, and there is no desire or strength to engage in your favorite hobby or sport. In addition, pain in the head can negatively affect a person’s visual apparatus and memory. Over time, when becoming chronic, headaches provoke health difficulties, malaise and weakness appear in a certain part of the body.
In order to prevent the further development of the disease and promptly stop the consequences of migraines, it is necessary to establish why the headache constantly hurts, and also undergo appropriate treatment and prevention.
Possible reasons
There are many reasons why you may have a constant headache. Not all are associated with specific deviations in a person’s well-being. Migraines can be caused by internal and external factors. Internal factors relate to problems with human health, the presence of congenital pathologies, etc. External factors are the causes leading to migraines. These could be conflict situations, stress, depression, etc.
Let's look at the reasons why you constantly have a headache:
- Blood pressure surges. Head pain increases with hypertension.
- In weather-sensitive people, migraines may occur during weather changes.
- Stretching of blood arteries.
- Osteochondrosis in a developed form.
- Psycho-emotional factors (depression, stress, disorder).
- Giant cell arteritis.
- Pathological abnormalities in metabolism.
- Congenital pathologies of the facial structure.
- Kidney diseases.
Head pain can appear even with a common cold, as a side effect. If migraines occur sporadically, in an uncontrolled manner and no more than once every two weeks, there is no reason to worry. If you constantly have a headache, and the pain becomes a pattern, and also appears more than once a week, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Why don't pills help anymore?
Every person has encountered a situation where painkillers do not help with a headache. Why is this happening?
Standard painkillers relax the blood vessels in the head, which leads to the elimination of pain. Medicines that stabilize blood pressure act in a similar way. But, with prolonged use of the same drug, the human body develops immunity, and it is necessary to buy stronger drugs.
If stress is the cause of the pain, then the problem is not in the arteries or blood vessels, but in the central nervous system. Painkillers cannot affect the central nervous system, so the discomfort remains the same.
Depending on the cause of the pain, headache pills may or may not help. It is necessary to determine what is causing the migraine and only then take the appropriate medicine. Long-term use of painkillers will only harm a person.
How to behave
If headaches become chronic, you need to know the standard algorithm of actions to muffle the discomfort.
You can eliminate this unpleasant condition in the following ways:
- Go to bed is the best solution to this problem. Sleep helps with mild to moderate pain. Unfortunately, if you constantly have a headache and there is throbbing, sleep will not help.
- Mute all devices, turn off the TV or laptop, put down the phone. Tension of the sensory systems often becomes a provoking factor, as a result of which acute pain in the head increases.
- Provoke vomiting. Provided that a person has high blood pressure or food poisoning, gagging can help get rid of the discomfort at least partially.
- Drink sweet hot tea. When glucose enters the body, the central nervous system calm down, and the person will be able to sleep peacefully. It is recommended to drink chamomile tea as it has strong sedative properties.
It is recommended to keep strong painkillers in your home medicine cabinet, but if you have mild headaches, you should not take them. It is enough to drink 2 tablets of analgin to dull the pain. To eliminate spasms and alleviate the current condition, you can apply cold compresses to the forehead. Wet a cloth with cold water, lie down and place it on your forehead.
Every day I have a headache: diagnosis and first aid
Headaches vary not only in the cause of their occurrence, but also in the nature of impulsivity, as well as accompanying symptoms.
Throbbing pain. Over time, the pressure in the temples increases, pulsation is accompanied by high blood pressure. Due to massive bleeding in the brain, nosebleeds may begin. If you have a headache every day, it may be the throbbing type.
- Muscle tension. Increasing sensations, it feels as if the head is “in a vice.” It occurs in people whose line of work requires them to spend a lot of time near a computer screen.
- Liquorodynamic. This type is a side effect of hypertension or hypotension. Unpleasant sensations arise not only in the head, but also in different parts of the body.
- Neuralgic. Occurs as a result of strong moral overload. In advanced forms, painkillers and sedatives have no effect. The pain is localized throughout the head.
It is possible to establish the type of headache, as well as select the appropriate treatment regimen, only after undergoing diagnostic measures.
Diagnostics
Diagnostic measures carried out in the hospital consist of interviewing the patient and instrumental examination. Laboratory tests will not help determine why you have a headache every day.
When visiting a therapist, an oral survey follows, during which the treating specialist tries to determine the frequency of unpleasant sensations, the type of pain and other important nuances. At the end of the survey, the patient is referred to a specialist, usually a neurologist, neurologist or otolaryngologist.
Instrumental and hardware diagnostics consists of the following mandatory activities:
- EEG. A procedure to determine whether the brain is functioning properly. If any abnormalities are noticed, the patient is left for treatment in the hospital.
- X-ray. Required to determine whether head spasms were caused by injury, hydrocephalus, or other factors.
- MRI. It is performed to determine whether the patient has or does not have a tumor or malignancy.
- Ultrasound. Using ultrasound diagnostics, the doctor determines whether the patient has a problem with the vascular system.
All procedures must be carried out without fail. Additional activities are prescribed by the specialist at his discretion.
First aid
Some attacks come so suddenly that the person is at a disadvantage and cannot help himself.
To avoid unpleasant consequences, you should know how to provide first aid for a headache:
- The patient should take a lying position. Place a flat pillow under your head.
- Afterwards you should take painkillers, preferably of medium strength. Do not use potent drugs unless absolutely necessary.
- Measure your blood pressure. If the readings are elevated, give the patient a blood pressure lowering agent.
- If the spasms continue to worsen, the victim should induce artificial vomiting.
- Apply cold compresses to your forehead, maybe a little ice.
- Open the windows, balcony and doors. There should be fresh air circulation in the room.
If all of the above methods do not work and the condition continues to worsen, you should call an ambulance. The person must remain conscious. It is necessary to create a comfortable atmosphere and eliminate all extraneous noise.
Constant headaches and possible consequences
Whether treatment is required or not - this issue is decided by the attending physician. As a rule, this issue is guided by a neurologist. Therapy is prescribed if persistent headaches become more frequent and become chronic.
There are several methods of therapy:
- Drug therapy. The patient is prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs. As a rule, medications combine antispasmodics and painkillers. Medicines are selected individually, depending on the provoking cause and nature of the spasm.
- Massage treatments. The method is suitable for patients whose problem is osteochondrosis or spinal column disorders. Massage acts as an adjuvant therapy.
- Exercise therapy. Some exercises from the complex of physical therapy help eliminate spasms in the head, provided that they are caused by injury or overexertion.
All other methods are less common and are used when traditional medicine is powerless.
How does an attack occur and what is best to do?
An attack of headaches begins suddenly, after the provoking cause has outgrown the critical point.
Depending on the nature of the pain, the following actions should be taken:
- If the sensations are pulsating, you should turn off all electronic devices and lie in silence. If possible, go to sleep.
- Take painkillers. No-shpa, Analgin or Ketanov will do.
- Ventilate the room; if the pulsation is weak, go outside.
- Massage your temples. Use two index fingers to make circular movements in the temple area.
You need to try to protect yourself from extraneous noise as much as possible. If this succeeds, the vessels in the head will come to a relaxed state, which will significantly alleviate the person’s condition.
Folk remedies
Traditional medicine has repeatedly helped people out in situations where constant headaches brought a person to a hospital room. There are several proven folk ways to eliminate migraines.
- Mint cha y. It is enough to add a few mint leaves to any tea, for any pain. The product eliminates spasms and has a calming effect on the central nervous system.
- Lemon peel. You need to take two fresh lemons, peel them and put them on your temples. Next, wrap your head with something warm. The product will help you get rid of acute and throbbing pain.
- Drops based on propolis and vodka are suitable for a therapeutic course.. You need two tablespoons of crushed propolis and 300 ml of vodka. Mix and let sit for a day. Take a tablespoon an hour before bedtime or for severe headaches.
Many traditional medicine remedies help eliminate migraines, even when the situation seems hopeless and there is a need to call an ambulance.
Possible consequences
If the headache problem has become chronic, the situation may result in uncontrollable consequences, such as:
- Deterioration of sensory senses.
- Memory problems.
- CNS disorders.
- Psycho-emotional disorders.
- Destruction of the vestibular apparatus.
These are not all the consequences that arise as a result of chronic pain in the head. To prevent their development, you should visit a medical facility in a timely manner.
Prevention
As a preventive measure, all stressful situations, especially those related to work, should be eliminated. If your job is causing you problems, you should take a vacation and get yourself in order.
Take daily walks in the fresh air, stick to a daily routine, maintain an eight-hour sleep schedule, and stabilize your diet. In this case, health problems will not arise.
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There is probably not a person in the world who does not experience what we call “a splitting headache.” In some cases, you can solve the problem yourself, in others you should immediately go to the doctor.
To make the right decision, website I have compiled detailed instructions for you on how to determine the type of headache, find the cause and alleviate your condition.
Tension headache
It is also called tension. This is the most common type of headache in the world - each of us has experienced it at least once in our lives.
Signs. This is usually a mild, non-pulsating pain. There is a pressure around the top of your head, as if you were wearing a small helmet. It may seem that the muscles of the forehead and eyes are very tense and cannot be relaxed. The intensity often increases in the evening.
Causes. Tension pain can be associated with severe stress, overwork, poor posture and uncomfortable head position for a long time. Chronic is rare (less than 3% of cases) and is often associated with injuries to the muscles of the head and neck.
How to treat. To get rid of such a headache, a painkiller is usually enough. However, be careful: you should not abuse pills either. If the headache appears too often and does not go away for a long time, it is better to consult a doctor. Also try to do light physical exercise, regularly stretch your shoulders and neck, and spend more time outdoors to relieve stress.
Sinus headache
Occurs when the sinuses become inflamed. Accompanied by fever, swelling of the face, tension in the forehead and cheekbones.
Signs. Severe pressure and pain in the sinus area: forehead, eyebrows, area under the eyes. When you move your head suddenly or bend forward, the pain intensifies. The nose does not breathe, the congestion practically does not go away. Constant fatigue.
Causes. Occurs due to infection and inflammation of the sinuses. Due to obstruction, pressure arises, lack of oxygen leads to fatigue. It may occur as a complication after a cold or be the result of seasonal allergies.
Treatment. This type of headache rarely goes away on its own. If you have allergies, antihistamines may help. Otherwise, you should see a doctor as soon as possible, who will likely prescribe antibiotics.
Migraine
All migraine symptoms occur during an attack, which has 4 stages of development, although not all of them may be fully expressed.
Causes. Migraine is often a disorder in metabolic processes or blood vessels of the brain. There is also a hereditary predisposition to the development of this disease.
How to treat. There is no cure for migraines completely. However, for many people it goes away on its own. There are many medications to relieve symptoms; your doctor will help you choose the right one. Exercising regularly and staying fit will also greatly improve your well-being.
Cluster headache
Signs. Pain in the eye area occurs more often at night, usually on one side of the head. The eyes may become red, teary, and severely sensitive to light. Last from 15 minutes to 1 hour and are repeated daily. And then they can disappear, sometimes even for several years.
Causes are not known for sure, but may be related to a person’s biological clock, since pain occurs at certain times of the day.
Treatment. This type of pain is difficult to treat because it appears sporadically and can disappear just as unpredictably. Treatment only as prescribed by a doctor.
Hangover
Causes. There are a lot of guesses about exactly how alcohol contributes to headaches. One of them is that alcohol dilates blood vessels in the brain and disrupts the functioning of serotonin. Additionally, alcohol dries out the body, and dehydration is also known to trigger migraine attacks.
How to treat. The best remedy- painkiller tablet, water and good sleep. But you shouldn’t joke about a hangover. If your head hurts even after a small dose of alcohol, it may be a mild form of migraine, and alcohol simply provokes attacks.