What are the causes of headaches? Strong headache. Other causes of headaches

Cephalalgia is the scientific name for the most common ailment, headache. It occurs for a number of reasons, most often stress and overexertion are to blame. But also a headache can have a different genesis and indicate problems with the spine. What other problems will such a sign as a headache show us? And what are its types? An overview of the most common types of headaches will be presented to your attention below.

Classification

The classification of cephalgia was officially adopted in 2004. The International Medical Council has adopted a huge multi-level list, which lists all types of headaches and their symptoms. But the first attempt to carry out any classification was made by American doctors in 1952. We will consider different types of headaches and their causes, the symptoms of the main ones.

Specialists in the field of neurology distinguish 2 main types - primary (this is migraine and cluster pain) and secondary - when the primary cause is inflammation in the body. Let's start a review of the types of cephalalgia with pain due to overexertion - every person on the planet has had this pain at least once.

Overexertion pain

Many types of headaches arise from tension. That is, discomfort occurs as a result of spasms of the scalp (or neck) muscles. Cephalalgia of this kind can be mild, moderate, severe, or even unbearable.

Spasm occurs when a person for a long time is under stress. The muscles of the neck-collar zone are automatically clamped during the pressure of stress factors. The muscles in the head also tense and stretch the lining of the brain, which is covered by a large network of nerve fibers. Hence the discomfort arises.

Overexertion pain is recognized by the following signs:

• the character is "constricting" (it seems that a bandage was tied too tightly around the head);
• she is aching, not sharp;
• occurs at any time of the day.

And if a stressful situation develops for a long time, then it is almost impossible to relax the neck muscles on your own. This leads to chronic pain. The same effect happens if a person sits in the wrong posture all day and does not stretch during work.

Cluster headache

Bundle, or cluster cephalalgia is hereditary. It is impossible to determine at what age a person will overtake the first attack. This is a severe headache, which is absolutely impossible to confuse with another species. Her signs:

• very strong pain in the temporal part of the head and the eyeball on the left or right;
• redness of the eye, possibly lacrimation;
• an attack always comes in bundles (clusters).

It is believed that the activity of the hypothalamus triggers the pain mechanism. It is also believed that men suffer from cluster pain more than women. And the mechanism of the disease by scientists is not fully understood.

Migraine causes

A migraine is triggered by one of those triggers. It is also a hereditary disease. Therefore, if in the family one of the relatives suffered from migraines, it is best to take care of yourself from any provoking factors and be less stressed.

How to distinguish a migraine from, say, cluster pain?

• With migraines, a person is very sensitive to light and noise.
• The pain is throbbing and very severe. More often it is localized only in one hemisphere of the brain.
• Migraines are characterized by nausea and vomiting. Such cephalalgia usually feels better after vomiting.
• The attack can last up to 72 hours.

The physiology of a migraine is simple. The cerebral vessels expand sharply and begin to pulsate strongly. They are filled with blood and, expanding, disturb the trigeminal nerve, which then sends its pain impulses to the entire hemisphere.

Intracranial pressure

Another type of cephalalgia that is not associated with inflammatory processes is pain as a symptom of high. Since the cranium cannot expand, any additional volume that occurs in the brain causes severe headache, which is characterized by most as "bursting".

Increased intracranial pressure is often provoked by an incorrect lifestyle and is called favorable. The real diagnosis of VSD is, as a rule, a consequence of severe asphyxia, brain tumor, hematoma from a stroke or other serious process in the brain that threatens life. The person himself will not be able to recognize ICP by signs; a qualified doctor must make this diagnosis. But still, let's list the symptoms that warn a person about the need to see a doctor for a diagnosis:

• severe headache to nausea, pain worse in the morning;
• dizziness, weakness;
• loss of consciousness;
• heart rate abnormalities;
• flies before the eyes;
• in severe cases, cramps of the whole body;
• over time, vision problems appear.

Treatment should be prescribed by a doctor depending on the type of hypertension associated with an excess of cerebrospinal fluid (cerebrospinal fluid), venous insufficiency, or a brain tumor.

Types of headache with osteochondrosis

Neglecting health leads to osteochondrosis. And this after a while is reflected in the whole body. In osteochondrosis, the bone processes often press down those arteries that go to the brain through the spinal column. As a result, little blood is supplied to the brain, and therefore, little nutrients. Another kind of pain occurs when the veins are pinched. Then, on the contrary, enough blood enters the brain, and problems are observed with an outflow.

Agonizing cephalalgia in the diagnosis of osteochondrosis is a fairly common phenomenon. The headache in such cases is pressing and constant, and not throbbing, as in migraine. In addition, innervating pain in the heart or tingling (numbness) in the fingers may also be a sign.

If a person has more and more headaches and pain innervation is observed, then in this way the body sends a signal for help. An urgent need to consult a chiropractor for the treatment of the underlying disease - osteochondrosis.

Cephalalgia with inflammation and pathologies

Headache sometimes has root causes such as poisoning, long stay in a smoky room or prolonged hunger. They do not require deep diagnostics.

But such a pathology of a mechanical nature as inflammation of the lining of the brain requires a visit to a doctor. And the signs of such a disease will be the sudden appearance of a severe headache and refusal to eat.

Let's pay attention to the most serious illness and pathologies in which serious headaches occur. They require urgent medical attention.

• Meningitis and encephalitis, arachnoiditis (inflammation of the arachnoid membrane of the brain).
• Liver disease (hepatitis).
• Development of diabetes mellitus.
• Cardiovascular diseases that lead to pressure disorders.
• Brain tumor, neuralgia.

However, any person recognizes an infection by a rising temperature and chills. And the first symptom of heart disease is an irregular heartbeat. Therefore, in such cases, the underlying disease is treated.

Diagnostics

How is the root cause of a headache diagnosed? When chronic cephalalgia restricts a person and does not allow him to perform normal duties, one cannot hesitate. You need to come to a neurologist and undergo a full examination in his direction. As a rule, the following studies are assigned:

• CT scan.
• Echoencephalogram of the brain.
• Study of the vascular system of the brain.

To establish hypertension, you also need to see an ophthalmologist and have a bone marrow puncture. If there is a lot of cerebrospinal fluid, and the brain tissue is compressed, this will be seen in the pupils of the eyes. When suspicions fall on osteochondrosis, a neurologist should give a conclusion. First of all, it is necessary to establish what types of headache the patient is worried about, and their treatment should be started only after the diagnosis. Without this, it is impossible to start therapy with pills or injections.

Treatment of cephalalgia. Types of headache pills

For those who are worried about frequent tension pains, it is best suited physiotherapy, acupuncture, balneological procedures and apitherapy as prevention. To get rid of a severe headache, ordinary analgesics - ibuprofen, analgin, citramone - help. However, if the discomfort is not severe, it is not recommended to immediately take pain relievers; it is better to apply a cold compress to the forehead, which will relieve the condition.

Migraines and cluster pains cannot be cured with analgesics. For this type of ailment, there are special medicines - triptans:

• "Amigrenin".
• Sumatripta.
• "Rimigren".

If these drugs are not enough, you can take one analgesic tablet and one with a triptan content. But only with the permission of the doctor.

Triptans are considered specific pain relievers. They act on receptors. Having weakened the "transmitter" of sensations, a person can fall asleep. But they are contraindicated for the risk of stroke or heart attack and for hypertension. There are also triptans in shots. They minimize all migraine triggers.

Intracranial pressure pain cannot be treated with pills. In this case, an urgent need to find out the cause (and in most cases it is a brain tumor) and carry out the necessary treatment.

And of course, if the headaches appeared as a result of traumatic brain injury and cerebral edema, then the treatment should be appropriate to the diagnosis.

Folk ways to combat cephalalgia

In order to distract from a weak headache and not poison the liver with pills, external agents are used. It has been proven that ointments containing capsoicins (substances in red pepper), as well as menthol, are effective for cephalalgia. If that doesn't work, you can tie your head tightly with a scarf. Another way is to attach a handkerchief with ice, as mentioned above.

How to prevent cephalalgia?

We examined the types of headache and the causes of its occurrence. What can be done as a preventive measure? People who are prone to migraines or cluster beams need to give up chocolate and alcohol. These foods contain phenylethylamine, while blue cheeses contain tyramine. Absolutely all amines disrupt serotonin metabolism, and therefore contribute to headaches.

Hot baths with essential oils are helpful to relax tight back muscles. But only when there is no allergy to these oils. As a preventive measure, it is recommended to breathe fresh air more often in park areas and from time to time take a massage course. It is especially useful for people with a genetic predisposition to migraines and osteochondrosis. But what is especially important is the observance of the work and rest schedule and good nutrition.

They torture at least 70% of the population of developed countries. But in fact, many more people are familiar with this condition, just many do not go to the doctor, preferring to cope with it on their own. But it must be remembered that the only symptom of many serious illnesses is precisely a severe headache. What to do in this case, only a doctor can advise. And, despite the fact that now there are many tools that can quickly relieve suffering, you should not get carried away with them. Indeed, in order to get rid of headaches, you need to eliminate the causes that cause them, and not just the symptoms themselves. Therefore, before taking pills, you need to find out why you have this condition.

What diseases can cause headaches

The most common cause is vascular diseases: arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, vegetative-vascular dystonia and others;

Migraines are also common, especially among women;

Cervical osteochondrosis can lead to a pinched artery, resulting in severe headache and nausea;

Often this condition is a symptom of viral diseases;

Sinusitis, tonsillitis, and sinusitis also cause headaches;

It will surely occur after a traumatic brain injury;

Various vision problems, ranging from increased intraocular pressure and glaucoma to incorrectly fitting glasses, can cause headaches;

This condition is sometimes caused by otitis media and dental diseases;

A constant strong may indicate the development of a brain tumor;

It can also be caused by certain diseases of the endocrine glands, as well as such rather rare diseases as temporal arteritis and disorders of the temporomandibular joint.

Other causes of this condition

But in many cases absolutely healthy people complain of severe headaches. What to do in this case, you can understand if you remember what events preceded this state. After all, pain is often caused by improper lifestyle and diet. What can cause them?

Most often these are stress, depressive conditions and psycho-emotional overstrain;

Nervous and muscle fatigue, as well as excessive mental stress;

Sedentary lifestyle and lack of fresh air;

Poor posture, the habit of tucking your legs under you and hunching your back;

Sleep disorders, night work;

Changes in meteorological conditions, sudden hypothermia or heat stroke;

Improper nutrition: malnutrition, diet, the predominance of nitrites, caffeine and histamine in food;

Poisoning by alcohol, chemicals and drugs;

Lack of certain vitamins and minerals, such as iron or B vitamin deficiency.

Types of headaches

The pain may vary depending on the cause. It can vary in intensity: strong, harsh, dull, aching, pressing or throbbing. The pain may increase gradually or when changing position, from sounds and smells. Sometimes it calms down when you are in peace and quiet, during sleep. Depending on this, you need to choose the means to combat it. Headache is also classified according to the place of its occurrence. It can be encircling when the whole head hurts, or it can be localized in one place. It often depends on the reasons causing it. The most common pain is in the temporal region. It can be called various diseases, stress and poisoning. Pain in the back of the head occurs due to pressure surges or cervical osteochondrosis. Eye strain and infections can cause these sensations in the forehead. Sometimes they are localized on one side. For example, a severe headache on the left side of the head indicates the development of migraine.

Diagnostics

It is already clear that taking analgesics can not always be a salvation from suffering.

If you incorrectly determine the cause and do not eliminate it, then after the cessation of the action of the drug, the algia will arise again. Therefore, you need to know why a severe headache appears. What to do to get rid of it, the doctor may advise after the examination. He will find out where the pain is localized, how frequent it is, and when the pain is stronger. The doctor should definitely tell about additional symptoms: dizziness, nausea, visual impairment and others. You will need to remember what preceded the onset of pain, what medications you took and how you ate. If necessary, the doctor will prescribe additional laboratory tests: usually blood tests, magnetic resonance imaging, an electroencephalogram of the brain and an X-ray of the cervical spine. You may also need advice from other specialists: an ophthalmologist, dentist, neurologist and endocrinologist.

When can you heal yourself

Many people suffer from severe headaches. What to do in this case, some decide on their own. But you can do without visiting a doctor only when you have already been examined and know your diagnosis. If headaches torment you periodically, and you know their cause, you do not need to go to the doctor every time, but apply the treatment that he prescribed for you. When is it necessary to visit a medical facility?

This is the first time you've had a headache, and you don't know what could be causing it.

The pain came on suddenly, for no apparent reason, and gradually intensifies.

The habitual localization and intensity of pain changed.

Additional symptoms appeared: nausea, dizziness, "flies" before the eyes, weakness.

Headache treatment

If you know your diagnosis and the cause of this condition, if pain occurs infrequently and disappears after use drugs, you can self-medicate. Most people try to manage pain with pills. Usually, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics and analgesics help, but in many cases you can do without these by no means harmless drugs if the causes of pain are eliminated. Relaxation, a walk in the fresh air, a relaxing massage, or a warm bath often helps. For many, headaches go away after sleep, meditation or auto-training. Folk remedies help well: herbs, compresses and acupressure. During treatment in a medical institution, physiotherapy can be prescribed: electrophoresis, salt caves, magnetic and laser therapy. In any case, all methods of getting rid of pain should be aimed primarily at its cause.

How to help yourself without medication

If you understand why you have a severe headache, what should you do at home to relieve the attack? If it is caused by overwork, you need to get distracted from work, take a walk in the fresh air, or just relax. It is useful to drink a decoction of chamomile, valerian, linden or mint.

Then you need to lie down and try to relax. To do this, turn off your computer, TV and radio, and draw the curtains. You can turn on pleasant music and light it up. A warm bath with sea salt or aromatic oils will also help you relax. Good to do with your fingers or a stream of warm shower. Sometimes the pain caused by tension goes away if you tightly bandage your head with a towel for 10 minutes, you can just briefly press hard on the temple area. In some cases, relief comes from drinking warm tea with lemon and honey or just sweetened water. All other means of treatment must be chosen depending on the reasons for which a severe headache appeared. What to do - in each case, the doctor can advise. For example, with high blood pressure, you need to take drugs to reduce it, during infectious diseases - antiviral and antipyretic drugs, and with osteochondrosis, massage. But in any case, measures must be taken in a timely manner, it cannot be tolerated if a severe headache appears.

What to do: what pills to drink

All medicinal pains can be divided into several groups. Any of them, without the recommendation of a doctor, can be taken only once - to relieve an attack.

1. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs will help with pain of any origin, in addition, relieve inflammation and fever. The best of them are "Ibuprofen", "Naproxen", "Nurofen", "Imet", "Ketorolac" and others.

2. Antispasmodics are used for tension pain, vasospasm, if NSAIDs do not help. "Papaverin", "Drotaverin", "No-shpa", "Spazgan" and others are recommended.

3. If pain is caused by pressure fluctuations or other vascular disorders, analgesics will help in this case: "Analgin", "Nebalgin" and others. But in combination with them, you need to take vasodilators or special hypertensive drugs.

4. These drugs may not help if the headache is very severe. What to do, usually in this state, a person cannot decide. Combined drugs can quickly bring relief: "Pentalgin", "Solpadein", "Brustan", "Novigan" and others.

Folk remedies

But sometimes medication is impossible for various reasons, and a severe headache arose. What to do in this case? Many are helped by various herbal preparations, compresses and other traditional medicine. You just need to choose the method of treatment that is acceptable to you, which will really ease the condition.

You can drink warm decoctions of herbs: St. John's wort, coltsfoot, oregano, mint, valerian and some others will help;

You can make compresses with lemon, lavender or orange oil, or simply inhale their scent;

You need to drink the juice of potatoes, spinach or viburnum berries;

Helps many ginger tea or cinnamon tea;

Acupressure and acupuncture are also helpful.

Severe headache during pregnancy

What to do for women expecting a baby, because most drugs are contraindicated for them? And pregnant women often have headaches. This is due to hormonal changes in the woman's body, toxicosis and circulatory failure.

If your head doesn't hurt very much, you can try to deal with it without medication. Can help:

Rest and sleep;

Shower or warm bath;

Relaxing exercises or breathing exercises;

Neck and shoulder massage;

A warm or cold compress on the bridge of the nose and forehead for pain in this area, as well as on the neck in case of a severe headache in the back of the head.

What if these methods don't work? One pain reliever tablet can be taken. If you do this infrequently, then it will not bring harm. What medications are permissible for pregnant women to drink? In small doses "Citramon" or "Paracetamol" is allowed, there is also a little-known drug - "Acetaminophen". It is strictly forbidden to drink Nurofen, Aspirin and analgesics. These same rules must be followed during lactation if a severe headache occurs. "What to do: I am feeding the child, but there is no strength to endure?" - women are often interested. There are drugs compatible with breastfeeding, mainly based on paracetamol. These are "Calpol", "Eferalgan" or "Panadol". They harm the child the least, but often they should not be taken either.

Headache in children

Small patients are much more difficult to treat because they often cannot accurately describe their condition. Therefore, in case of a headache, it is imperative to show the child to a doctor. Only by making a diagnosis can the doctor determine how to deal with the problem. In addition to pain associated with various health problems, modern children often experience tension pain and even suffer from migraines. A light massage, rest and sleep, linden tea or a cool compress can help the baby. For a one-time removal of a severe attack, it is permissible to give the child paracetamol-based medicines. Most non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics are contraindicated in children under 12 years of age.

Prevention of headaches

As you know, all medicines are unsafe for health. Therefore, it is better not to allow the state when you need to drink strong drugs. For those who regularly suffer from headaches, it is very important to observe the correct daily routine, go to bed on time and walk more in the fresh air. It is necessary to lead an active lifestyle, spend less time in front of the TV and computer. It is also very important to monitor your diet, because many foods can cause headaches: coffee, chocolate, carbonated drinks, canned food and sausages. They are best avoided. You also need to give up alcoholic beverages and smoking.

Severe headaches are represented by significant pain in a specific area - in the back of the head, temple or forehead. Such phenomena are distinguished by high intensity and can affect the entire circumference. Being in this state, a person experiences difficulties in conducting normal life activities, cannot work, study and do the usual things. If a very severe headache bothers you on a regular basis and continues for a long time, you need to contact a neurologist who will conduct an examination and prescribe an effective therapy.

There are certain causes of severe headache that are caused by the presence of or other pathological conditions.

Meningitis

This disease provokes an inflammatory process in the meninges and is caused by concomitant bacterial or viral flora. The sensations are not localized, there is a feeling of spreading throughout the head. The disease causes a significant increase in body temperature, vomiting, rigidity.

Migraine

Another answer to the question of why intense pain occurs is migraine. An unpleasant sensation occurs after a person has inhaled a harsh scent or underwent significant stress. For such situations, a one-sided feeling of pain is characteristic, which is of a pulsating nature and arises in the region of the temples, forehead, spreading throughout the volume of this part of the body. In this case, severe excessive headache is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, a deterioration in the general condition is observed when talking and the occurrence of any sounds.

Bundle headaches

In this case, very severe pains of a burning and tearing character arise. They start in the eye socket and pass into the cheeks, ears, and frontal lobe. As additional symptoms, redness of the eye, severe tearing, drooping of the eyelid, and significant constriction of the pupils can be distinguished. Usually such sensations occur in young men in their 30s at night.

Glaucoma

This disease involves a significant increase in intraocular pressure. Unpleasant sensations begin from the orbit, and then enter the temporal part, go to the forehead and back of the head. At first, the pain is localized on one side, in the first symptoms it is similar to the manifestation of a migraine. Severe pain in the head with glaucoma is aggravated by other symptoms - impaired visual field and pupil shape, nausea and vomiting.

Pain in dental diseases

Similar painful sensations can cause disorders in the teeth - cyst, scurvy, periodontal disease. In such situations, patients usually complain that they have a severe headache in the forehead area.

Inflammatory processes

Another option why pain in the head may occur is colds in the body, which include sinusitis, rhinitis, otitis media, bronchitis. These diseases occur against a background of nasal congestion, general muscle weakness, ear pain, and other symptoms. If there is a frequency of severe headaches, it is necessary to consult a specialist, since this can act as a sign of the spread of the infectious process.

Brain cancer

Based on statistics, 0.1% of patients presenting with pain in the left or right side of the head have a tumor. Additional symptoms that arise against the background of an intolerable sensation are as follows: seizures, nausea. But for diagnosis, relying only on symptoms is not enough, therefore, experts prescribe an examination.

Pregnancy

Due to the fact that hormonal disturbances occur in pregnant women, periodic headaches occur. They can manifest themselves against the background of a common migraine or inflammatory diseases, as well as be independent. In this case, it is important to carry out timely treatment and know how to relieve symptoms so as not to harm the baby.

Thus, we examined what pain in the head can usually be from. The type of pain depends on the cause of this phenomenon.

Varieties of pain in the head and its nature

Before answering the question of how to relieve a severe headache, it is worth considering the features of its manifestation in different parts of the head.

• Pain in the back of the head indicates that there are diseases of the spine - spondylitis, osteochondrosis.
  You can also talk about injuries and sprains.
• Pain in the frontal lobe of the head is provoked by the presence of migraines, flu, inflammation of the ear, nose and throat. It is possible that intracranial pressure is increased, then there is sharp pain... This is an acute symptom, so timely treatment is required.
• If there are severe pains in the temples in the head, then this is a clear reason to consult a neurologist. This sensation occurs in 70% of all patients and is usually triggered by inflammation, climate change, mental and physical stress.

If you have severe headaches in any of the areas, the first thing to do is see a specialist.

Diagnostics

The main thing to do in case of severe pain is to see a doctor. He will prescribe a diagnosis that can be carried out

in several ways.

• Conducting a general blood test to determine the inflammatory process;
• measurement of indicators blood pressureif pain occurs periodically;
• implementation of CT and MRI in the area of \u200b\u200bthe brain;
• compulsory angiography of cerebral vessels.

Healing activities

What to do with acute severe headaches - we already know, there is
understand the methods of treatment, which can be medication and non-medication.

The use of traditional drugs

To be able to quickly get rid of unpleasant sensations, it is necessary to take medications.

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - aspirin, ibuprofen, ketorolac;
• Antispasmodic drugs help to cope with tension pain and to overcome vasospasm. It is recommended to use Papaverine, No-shpa.
• For pain caused by disturbances, the pressure function does a good job of analgesics - analgin and others.
• If it is necessary to provide quick investment, a one-time use of some drugs is recommended - NOVIGAN, Pentalgin.

In the presence of severe pain, the main task of medicines is reduced to antiviral therapy, means are prescribed to eliminate cerebral edema and vasoconstriction.

Therapy without medication

When considering the answer to the question of how to get rid of the headache, and do it quickly, alternative methods can be taken into account.

• Massage treatment with general and local action. These procedures have active action to biological points and help to improve blood outflow and general muscle relaxation.
• Balneological therapy involves medical procedures using water at any temperature, this includes swimming gymnastics.
• Acupuncture is another method that involves the introduction of special needles into the active points of the skin.

If the side of the head or its entire area suddenly aches, medications are used for a quick effect, alternative methods are relevant for long-term treatment and prevention of subsequent manifestations.

Alternative treatment

The main folk remedies, as always, include compresses, infusions and decoctions. You can drink warm decoctions of St. John's wort, mother-and-stepmother, mint, valerian. If you prefer to make compresses, you can use lemon, orange and lavender oils, inhalation with these ingredients helps well.

Headache - this is exactly the problem that people most often complain about to a specialist neuropathologist. According to the latest research by scientists, in the developed countries of the world, about 70% of the population complains of periodic headaches. But in fact, this figure is not indicative, since people suffering from such pain do not always seek medical help, taking analgesic drugs for attacks that are sold without a doctor's prescription.

Features of a headache

Depending on the pathology, the headache can be of different intensity and occur in different areas. Both persistent and intermittent pain can be a symptom of many diseases. This is the leading, and in some cases the only complaint in children and adults with, arterial hypotension , P atologies of kidneys and endocrine system , etc. The so-called cluster headache is an especially intense one-sided pain that brings severe torment to the patient. A throbbing headache in the occiput occurs when a person has developed it. Tension headache worries with depressive conditions. With drops, as well as in people with a high level of perception of weather conditions, a sharp and severe headache appears in the forehead and in the temporal region. In addition, pain in the temples can be a symptom of many diseases, the diagnosis and treatment of which should be carried out by a doctor.

Pain in the head can occur in different conditions of the body. So, a woman is often worried about such manifestations during menstruation, during lactation. In addition to headache, when breastfeeding, an increased temperature is sometimes noted, indicating an inflammatory process. The exact reasons for this phenomenon should be determined by the doctor, as well as how to remove these unpleasant symptoms... But even with periodic headache attacks, a specialist should offer a scheme for how to treat this phenomenon. In some cases, drug treatment is necessary, in others, treatment is practiced folk remedies, massages or other unconventional therapies.

Types of headaches

Doctors use several different ways to classify this pain. There are four directions in which the initial division of the types of headache is carried out. First of all, these are pains that manifest themselves as a consequence of organic diseases of the brain or disorders of the dynamics of the cerebrospinal fluid. The causes of headache in this case are associated with head injuries, the presence of formations in the brain, as well as with inflammatory diseases of the brain.

The second subspecies is vascular headaches. This category includes migraine , which is characterized by very strong throbbing pain in one half of the head. In this case, nausea, vomiting are often manifested. Pain in hypertension is also referred to as vascular. In this case, the person suffers from severe pressing pain in the back of the head and neck.

Psychogenic headaches include tension pain, which is considered the most common. It most often affects people who are prone to depressive conditions ... Tension pain can also manifest itself as a response to severe emotional distress. In this case, it is difficult to determine the localization of pain, which has a constant, pressing character.

The fourth subspecies are headaches that cause non-cerebral causes. They mainly bother a person with the development of extracerebral infectious diseases, in which it is the headache that often becomes the first symptom. Taking certain medications and chemicals such as alcohol, carbon monoxide, lead can also provoke headache attacks. This group also includes pains that are associated with metabolic disorders, pains associated with pathologies of a number of organs. Often worried about seizures and patients who are diagnosed with the cervical spine. In this case, the pain is initially localized in the neck and back of the head, after which it can be given to the temples. Such frequent headaches are mainly manifested after a certain mechanical overstrain, for example, sleeping in an uncomfortable position, prolonged physical exercise.

Headache diagnostics

If a person has headaches that often recur over a long period, then it is imperative to visit a doctor and undergo a comprehensive examination. To date, computed and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, as well as magnetic resonance angiography, are used to determine the nature of headache. To determine the presence of latent arterial hypertension, blood pressure monitoring is used. In addition to such studies, it is sometimes advisable for the patient to conduct laboratory tests to determine the presence of signs of infection or inflammatory processes in the body. Almost always, with a headache, the patient is advised to consult an ophthalmologist, since special equipment allows detecting the presence of changes in the fundus. This can help determine the cause of the pain. Also, sometimes consultation with other specialists is required.

It is more difficult to treat headaches in children, as it is very often difficult to determine their origin. If a child says that he has a headache, then it is already difficult for him to describe in more detail the symptoms of discomfort. It is important to understand that only a doctor can determine why a baby has such complaints. He will also give clear recommendations on what to do if a child has a headache.

Therefore, in the presence of such complaints, the child should be immediately taken to an appointment with a pediatrician, who will tell you which doctors should be consulted. In this case, a comprehensive examination is important: the baby's eyesight is necessarily checked and the baby's eyes, his musculoskeletal system - his back, neck are examined. Sometimes even the child's skin and its condition, as well as the study of other organs, laboratory tests, can determine the origin of pain. In some cases, even dental problems can provoke a headache.

Experts say that modern children can suffer from migraine attacks. In this state, the pain is quite intense, it decreases somewhat in a state of complete rest or in sleep. Nausea and vomiting often develop in parallel. When assessing a child's condition, the doctor must pay attention to whether his parents have headaches. Also, the study of the baby's nutrition is subject to close attention, since many foods can provoke migraine attacks.

To relieve situational headache attacks in a child, doctors recommend using drugs based on. If the pain is associated with a certain pathology, then the doctor prescribes a treatment regimen individually. Speaking about the prognosis, doctors note that in about 60% of children, migraine attacks disappear during puberty.

If in the normal state of the body it is not difficult to relieve pain in most cases, then a headache sometimes causes a lot of worries and troubles. The Vedas in pregnant women have headaches more often, and in some cases even more intense. Its occurrence in expectant mothers is determined by a number of reasons. First of all, these are serious hormonal changes in the body. Also, serious shifts in the work of some body systems, changes in the daily diet, and weather conditions can provoke attacks of pain. In the last months of pregnancy, headaches are provoked by changes in a woman's posture.

However, sometimes a woman expecting a baby can be pleased with pleasant changes. So, in some patients who previously suffered from migraine attacks, they practically do not appear during pregnancy or go much easier. But if a migraine attack manifests itself in future mother for the first time in your life, this must be reported to the attending physician, who will prescribe the necessary examinations.

A tension headache for a woman in a position is more often worried in the first and third trimesters. In this case, the woman has to change her habits and lifestyle. But in such cases, it is better not to take pills for headache. But if the pain is too intense, then only a doctor can tell you what drugs can be taken during pregnancy.

A particular danger is posed by a sharp and sudden pain in the head: it can become a symptom of very serious ailments. Exist risk of intracerebral hemorrhage , pathologies of the central nervous system , cerebral venous and other diseases. Therefore, every minute is precious here: you need to go to a specialist immediately.

A pregnant woman needs to adjust some of her habits to prevent headaches. A good sleep is important, the use of a normal amount of liquid, proper and timely nutrition, and fatty and salty food, smoked meats, canned food should be removed from the diet. Of course, pregnant women need to avoid any emotional outbursts and overloads.

With a severe headache, a pregnant woman may try to sleep, massage her head, put an ice pack on the back of her head, or tie a warm scarf over her head. Rosehip, lemon balm or mint tea will also help. If necessary, it is possible to use aromatherapy , homeopathic remedies assigned by the specialist.

Before taking any headache medicine, it is imperative to determine the cause of the pain. If the diagnosis is established, then therapy is carried out for the disease that provoked such a symptom. For the therapy to be as effective as possible, only an integrated approach is needed. For some diseases, in addition to medications, magnetic and laser therapy, acupuncture, manual therapy, etc. are also successfully used.

It is important to understand that a headache is curable, provided the correct approach to therapy and all the doctor's recommendations are followed.

It is important to consider that some signs that appear in parallel with a headache may indicate serious ailments. If, along with such pain, a person develops nausea, vomiting, fever, then an ambulance should be called without delay.

But a person should think about how to get rid of a headache even before the attacks become systematic. In this case, all the basic preventive measures aimed at maintaining a healthy lifestyle are important: walking in the fresh air, gymnastics, healthy eating... If a person has a sedentary job, he should change position all the time. In between work at the computer, which must be done every hour, you can relax for a few minutes by closing your eyes. or do simple exercises.

How to relieve a headache?

If acute manifestations are not observed, sometimes you can try to relieve the headache yourself. With a slow, gradual increase in pain, in parallel with which a stuffy nose, a sore throat, and other signs of a cold occur, you should take a pill and drink as much warm tea with honey and raspberries as possible. If symptoms persist, seek medical attention.

If pain occurs as a consequence of stress or serious emotional distress, you can take an analgesic drug, as well as a sleeping pill and sedative.

If your head hurts due to ailments of the musculoskeletal system, in particular cervical osteochondrosis, you should put a mustard plaster on the back of your head, take an analgesic and do a light head and neck massage yourself.

For pain provoked by an increase in pressure, antihypertensive drugs should be taken. If your head hurts due to low blood pressure, coffee or strong tea will help. With a situational headache, the use of pain relievers is allowed: aspirin , paracetamol , etc. A hot shower will help dull the pain, because streams of hot water have a relaxing effect on the muscles of the back of the head and neck. If the pain is throbbing, you can try to relieve it with a cold compress, which narrows the blood vessels. Such a compress can be made from ice wrapped in a towel, which must be kept for about 15 minutes.

There are also some medicinal herbsthat are used to treat headaches. So, with the help of rosemary, you can alleviate a person's condition if pain has arisen as a consequence of stress. The leaves of the plant should be brewed like tea and consumed for pain attacks.

The pain resulting from it will help relieve licorice root or peppermint infusion. With a cold, it will help to relieve the condition : they need to lubricate the forehead, back of the head and temples. Lemon pulp is also suitable for this purpose.

Another good remedy is infusion of cinnamon ... To prepare it, you need to take an eighth of a teaspoon of the seasoning and stir it with a tablespoon of water. Take after half an hour of infusion.

For headaches caused by migraines, you can relieve a person's condition with a hot bath or hot compress on the head. You can also massage your head from your forehead to the back of your head. It is advisable to make a compress from a leaf of burdock or cabbage.

If the pain manifests itself after a nervous strain, then the condition will be helped to alleviate viburnum juice with honey, infusion of thyme or hypericum, fresh potato juice.

In addition to the listed recipes, other medicinal plants can be used to relieve headaches: oregano herb, knotweed, nettles, linden flowers, horsetail herb.

For people who lead a particularly active lifestyle, playing sports, doctors advise to drink enough fluids, since headache attacks can also occur as a result of dehydration.

Don't drink too much coffee. Good and healthy sleep, regular rest and walks are important.

At the end of the 19th century, Russian scientists began to study the nature of headache sensations arising in the head. It was then that the first scientific works devoted to the analysis of headaches appeared. Scientists noted that the course of the disease is largely influenced by the individual anatomical features of each organism. In their opinion, the painful condition was noticed not only in the soft parts of the head and in the numerous weaving of nerves, but also in the constituent parts of the skull and facial bones.

A glaring factor in the occurrence of headaches is brain injury. The nature of the disease in some cases also lies in violations of the work of other systems and functional capabilities of the body. Headache requires a special approach to diagnosis - the attending physician carefully examines the symptoms and then prescribes treatment.

Probable causes of headaches

Every person, at least once in his life, has felt the discomfort arising from a headache. The ill health associated with this ailment appears in combination with acute respiratory colds, viral infections and the flu.

Sources of headaches are:

• meteorological dependence (reaction to changes in weather conditions);
• failure of sleep mode;
• stressful condition;
• overeating and lack of appetite;
• prolonged stay of the body in a hot environment;
• hypothermia;
• bad habits (smoking or alcohol abuse).

Other, no less important, headache provocateurs - oxygen starvation the brain and its membranes, pathological abnormalities of the neck or head. As a rule, head cramps are in many cases the only clear symptom of other ailments.

Irritation of the meninges receptor is associated with irritation of the autonomic system of the brain and several types of nerves (trigeminal, vagus, glossopharyngeal, cutaneous), the spinal root in the neck and facial muscles. Failure of the nerve endings, irritation of the nervous and vascular system of the skull leads to the manifestation of very severe headaches.

The factors that cause pain in the head are of a different nature and manifestation, duration and frequency. The disease can overtake a person in different areas of the head: the back of the head, temples or crown. The headache sometimes occurs on its own, in other cases it is supplemented by other symptoms feeling unwell... Headache is often accompanied by loss of consciousness, nausea, vomiting, and surges in blood pressure. Vision problems are also directly related to this ailment. To make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor should take into account where it is localized headache, its duration, accompanying symptoms and recurrence in order to prescribe an effective treatment.

From time to time, absolutely healthy people face a headache. If a short-term attack has acquired greater intensity, repetition, uniformity, you need to consult a doctor for advice. This condition signals you that you have a serious illness.

International classification of headache

• due to physical stress;
• due to external compression of the head;
• cluster;
• with migraine;
• after increased sexual activity;
• without structural damage to brain tissue;
• resulting from craniocerebral head injuries;
• as a result of vegetative-vascular diseases,
• in connection with taking / canceling the use of medications;
• as a symptom of a disease of intracranial structures;
• with bacterial infections;
• due to metabolic disorders;
• due to the pathology of the cranial nerve plexuses.

If a severe headache is a symptom of another disease, it is a secondary ailment. It complements the problems associated with injuries, intracranial diseases, infections, intoxications, metabolic disorders, unhealthy blood vessels. Headache can occur due to life-threatening ailments of the patient (with meningitis, brain tumors, subarachnoid hemorrhages, strokes). Secondary headache is caused by overuse of caffeinated drinks and refusal to take pain medication. Often doctors diagnose a hybrid type of pain syndrome: overstrain plus a secondary symptom in the form of migraine.

Headache as a symptom of other ailments

With vascular disease, headache is a key symptom. Consider this for the timely diagnosis of vegetative-vascular dystonia, hypertension, transient ischemic attack, subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracerebral hematoma, vascular malformation, venous circulation, arteritis, stroke.

With vegetative-vascular dystonia, the headache is accompanied by loss of consciousness, nausea, surges in blood pressure, and neurotic disorders. Climate change or nervous tension, emotional decline can exacerbate the symptom.

Hypertension causes pain cramps with tinnitus, flickering in the eyes, nausea, pain in the heart. The head often hurts in the back of the head.

Venous dysfunction is complemented by headache at certain times of the day - morning and evening. The symptom is complemented by sensations of heaviness and pressure, the pain becomes dull and bilateral.

If you feel sharp, intense pain, this could be a sign of an acute stroke. Severe throbbing pain near your temple indicates that you have temporal arteritis. Vascular problems are also accompanied by pain in the head and impaired thinking.

Some head injuries cause head pain. For example, an acute lesion of the cranial structure of the head always causes this symptom, taking into account the intensity and severity. Unbearable pain is accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Hematomas cause delayed spasms at the site of occurrence.

Headache always serves as a key symptom of various types of infections (meningitis, encephalitis and colds). Supplemented by hanging body temperature, heaviness in the head, a feeling of constriction in the eyes and ears, nausea and vomiting in acute infection.

Aching painful sensations arise in the head due to a spectrum of eye diseases: glaucoma, strabismus, refractive errors. A dull pain in the head with intraocular discomfort, a feeling of heaviness can cause a lot of problems for the patient.

Diseases of the ear and the appendages of the sinuses, teeth are also accompanied by head cramps. The center of pain will be located in the area of \u200b\u200bthe inflammatory process.

Neuralgia of the cranial nerves is also accompanied by pain in the head. The attacks are quite severe, with cutting tingling sensations. They occur only in the process of brushing teeth, during communication, chewing food, and in contact with cold food. Between these manipulations, the attacks recede.

Various pathologies of the cervical spine also cannot do without headaches.

Degenerative-dystrophic disease, discogenic radicular symptoms, instability of the vertebrae cause spasms in the occiput and crown of the head, in the neck. The pain is severe, dull and prolonged. It manifests itself during the turn of the head and tilting it forward.

Cancer, renal failure and diabetes.

For cancer, kidney failure and diabetes mellitus headache signals metabolic imbalance.

Headaches for infectious diseases

Cold viruses and other infectious diseases are accompanied by the destructive effects of toxins from the vital activity of microbes. This causes a headache against a background of high fever, body aches, chills, and vision problems. You can defeat a headache with the help of anti-cold drugs with antipyretic effects.

Intense cramps in the head with a cold can be a sign of a very serious condition called meningitis. Timely diagnosis of meningococcal infection will help avoid fatal damage to the meninges. Some forms of meningitis can lead to death within a few hours.

Patient examination

With a headache, the patient must undergo a large number of studies with different specialists: visit a therapist, ophthalmologist, neurologist, neurosurgeon and even an infectious disease specialist if necessary. A complete examination is prescribed taking into account the individual situation of each patient. Diagnostic basis:

• dopplerography;
• electroencephalography;
• computed tomography of the head;
• examination of the thyroid gland;
• examination of the cervical spine.

The patient also needs to pass some tests: general analysis blood and sugar, lipid profile.

Headache - Treatment

Therapy for headache elimination is prescribed by the attending physician. The results of a complete diagnosis of the body will prompt an accurate diagnosis for the selection of an effective method for eliminating severe headaches. To headache did not manifest itself in the patient so strongly, the symptoms are carefully studied and only then individual treatment is selected. The method is influenced by several factors:

• the severity of the manifestation of the disease;
• additional nuances (for example, age and the presence of other diseases).

The suppression of acute pain is possible when taking drugs of the group of analgesics (ibuprofen, paracetamol) and combined drugs containing caffeine and antispasmodics (pentalgin, panadol, noshpalgin, solpadein, imet). Various capsules, effervescent tablets and sachets with soluble powders proved to be effective in the treatment of acute manifestations of headache. They can be taken on their own for a short time, long-term use is fraught with addiction to such drugs. Be sure to consult with your doctor to find out the cause of the pain syndrome in order to eliminate them later.

The course of headache treatment consists of elements of physiotherapy:

• electrophoresis procedures;
• darsonvalization, including additionally the neck-collar zone;
• acupuncture;
• massage;
• procedures in water.

Staying in a resort-type sanatorium has no less favorable effect.

Drug therapy includes taking:

• gabapentins;
• valproate;
• muscle relaxants;
• sedatives;
• vitamin B;
• diuretics;
• venotonics;
• antioxidants;
• vascular medications;
• neuroprotectors.

After correct diagnosis, each doctor will prescribe an individual headache treatment. Listen to his explanations on how to use drugs to prevent and eliminate sudden and sudden pain.

Do not forget that self-medication for frequent headaches will only harm your body. The reason for the deterioration of the condition may be the presence of a tumor in the head, in this case, medicinal pills cannot act as a panacea - a surgical operation will be required. Excessive use of painkillers has a detrimental effect on the functionality of the gastrointestinal tract, liver and kidneys.

An example of a specialist consultation with a patient

Patient: What is an abusal headache?

Doctor: Abuse headache is a spasm that occurs as a result of frequent and chronic administration of drugs with an analgesic effect (aspirin, non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, ergotamines and barbiturates). The body quickly gets used to the drugs that the patient uses chronically - the pain is relieved at a slower rate. The patient has to gradually increase the dose of the drug, but the effect does not improve. A common headache turns into an abusal form - it can bother a person for two weeks a month. If you stop taking pain medications, the spasms will worsen and then stop about four weeks after you stop taking the medication. For the effectiveness of the treatment of the disease, the use of one or another drug in an outpatient or inpatient setting is canceled. Instead, symptomatic medications are selected for removal side effects... Experts do not recommend the abuse of such drugs for prevention.

Patient: how to suppress pain in the head with a cold?

Doctor: taking instant powder medicines (for example, fervex, coldrex and solpadenin) will help with this. Rubbing the temples and forehead with fresh cut lemon also helps. Improves the condition of multivitamin complexes, which can be purchased at the pharmacy without a prescription, and a decoction of hawthorn.

Patient: why are some manifestations of headache dangerous?

Doctor: in particular, the most dangerous is head pain, which is accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Vomiting should be especially alert, after the end of which it does not become easier in the head area and in the body as a whole. You should also pay attention to the following nuances:

• if the spasms do not decrease after the use of antipyretics, pain relievers and analgesic drugs;
• when, due to a headache, it is supplemented by unpleasant sensations in the neck and this makes it difficult to raise the head in the supine position from the pillow;
• if the pain syndrome was accompanied by loss of consciousness or hallucinogenic visions;
• the appearance of a rash with meningococcal infection (thus hemorrhage into the skin occurs). Small spots on the buttocks, abdomen, lower legs and other parts of the body acquire a dark red color, the rash does not protrude at the level of the upper layer of the skin and does not turn white when you press on it with your finger.

Patient: how to treat a special headache like migraine?

Doctor: in the treatment of migraine and cluster pain, specific drugs are used that act on special serotonin receptors in the brain. Alternative methods will also help to relieve attacks - applying a cold bandage to the head, massage and manual influence on biologically active points.

Patient: how do sleep conditions affect the pain in the head, can sleep provoke its appearance?

Doctor: you need to monitor your sleep patterns, but do not oversleep. For many people, pain in the head area is quenched by a night's rest of the body, especially after prolonged physical and mental stress. However, if you regularly sleep in the morning - there is a threat of the duration of the headache after waking up. If a person is not accustomed to sleeping during the day, you should not force yourself and abuse this habit. Prolonged naps can lead to migraines. You should try to sleep on your back. An uncomfortable posture causes spasm of the neck muscles and provokes a headache.