Head pain or headache is very common.it is the discomfort in the form of throbbing, stabbing, or dull aches in the head or upper neck. It is among the top three neurological ailments suffered by various age groups
Head pain is more prevalent in females than males. According to an article published in the “Journal of Headaches and Pain “, approximately 40% of the global population suffers from headache disorders.
Head pain is a common symptom and there can be many reasons behind it. but there may be an underlying medical condition, it depends on the type of headache.
There are different types of head pain, mainly two types.
PRIMARY HEAD PAIN /ACHES.
These pains are not because of another condition but the pain itself is the main problem.
MIGRAINES: A migraine is a throbbing pain accompanied by symptoms like nausea, visual disturbances, and sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine head pain can be triggered by factors like stress, and hormonal disturbance. Certain foods and lack of sleep
TENSION HEADACHES:- It is a dull aching sensation all over the head especially gripping the neck.in this shoulder muscles may also be affected. The main cause of tension headaches is stress, poor posture, and fatigue.
CLUSTER HEADACHE:- Cluster headaches are extremely painful, the pain grips one side of the head accompanied by symptoms like eye redness, pain in one eye, tearing, and nasal congestion. The cause of these headaches is not known but they can occur in series.
ICE PICK HEADACHES:- It is characterized by intense stabbing pain commonly experienced around the eyes, temples, or on the side of the head for a few seconds or minutes. The exact cause of this head pain is unknown.
HEMICRANIA HEADACHES;- hemicrania is a continuous moderate pain on one side of the head. It may switch sides causing the feeling of pain on the whole head, the symptoms are nasal congestion, runny nose, or drooping eye.
SECONDARY HEAD PAIN /.ACHES
Secondary pains are the symptoms of an underlying medical condition. It means that the cause of the head pain is another medical condition that is yet to be detected.
SINUS HEADACHES:- headaches that happen due to inflammation or infections in spaces filled with air behind the bones of the upper face, can become infected or inflamed which can cause pressure and pain. Its Symptoms may include facial pain, nasal congestion, or fever.
CERVICOGENIC HEADACHES:- These headaches occur due to muscle tension, and dysfunction in the neck. The pain starts from the base of the skull accompanied by symptoms like stiffness in the shoulders, fatigue, and a feeling of nausea.
BRAIN TUMOR HEADACHES: Headaches related to brain tumors are continuous and worsening pain over time. The symptoms may or may not include nausea, changes in vision depending on the size of the tumor
INFECTION HEADACHES:- the pain occurs due to various infections affecting the central nervous system, such as meningitis(inflammation in the brain or spinal cord) or encephalitis(type of infection in the brain). These headaches are accompanied by fever, neck stiffness (in meningitis), altered mental status, and sensitivity to light.
MEDICATION-INDUCED HEADACHES:- Some medicine's side effects can cause headaches as a side effect. This can occur with certain drugs or overuse of drugs
HYPERTENSION HEADACHES:- these headaches are caused by Extremely high blood pressure These headaches are often described as intense and throbbing and may be accompanied by chest pain, shortness of breath, or vision changes. This is a dangerous condition and immediate doctor consultation is needed
TRAUMA HEADACHES:- Headaches can happen due to head injuries, such as concussions or skull fractures. These headaches may vary in intensity and duration depending on the injury.
Certainly! Head pain, commonly referred to as headaches, can stem from various factors, ranging from lifestyle choices to underlying medical conditions. Here's an in-depth explanation of the causes mentioned:
CAUSES OF HEAD PAIN /ACHES.
LIFESTYLE FACTORS THAT CAN CAUSE HEAD PAIN/ACHES
· Stress:- Stress is a common reason for headaches. When you are stressed, it affects the body muscles including the head, neck, and shoulders resulting in headaches
· Poor Posture:- Maintaining poor posture for a long period of time can strain the muscles, especially in the upper body leading to tension headaches
· Lack of Sleep:- lack of Sleep can trigger stress and fatigue which can interfere with the smooth functioning of the body including the health of our brains. Lack of adequate sleep can stimulate headaches.
MEDICAL CONDITION THAT CAN CAUSE HEAD PAIN/ACHES
· SINUS INFECTION:- Inflammation or infection of the sinuses can cause pressure in the facial muscles leading to headaches often accompanied by congestion, facial pain, and pressure around the eyes and forehead.
· MENINGITIS:- Meningitis is a serious infection in the protective layer of the brain and spinal cord. Headaches caused by meningitis can be extremely painful with other symptoms like fever, neck stiffness, and sensitivity to light.
· BRAIN TUMOR:- Tumors are very sensitive and crucial conditions. the headaches due to tumors are consistent and worsen with time with other neurological symptoms such as effect on the brain power, vision impairment, dizziness, lethargy, nausea, etc
3. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS THAT CAN CAUSE HEAD PAIN/ACHES.
· LOUD NOISES:- loud noises lead to nervous system hyperarousal causing fatigue and strain to the brain and causing headaches.
· BRIGHT LIGHTS:- Intense and flickering lights mess with the eyes and brain putting a strain on it. Lights, especially bright light and flickering lights, may trigger a migraine.
· GENETICS:- genes play a role in predetermining the health of individuals who have a family history of primary or secondary headaches the genetic predisposition may affect them and cause headaches.
DIAGNOSIS AND EVALUATION OF HEAD PAIN/ACHES.
1. MEDICAL HISTORY:- Medical history can bring out underlying issues of which one of the symptoms can be headaches..looking into diseases or injuries suffered in the past can detect the cause of headaches Further characteristics like
- when did the pain start?
- location of the pain
- frequency and the duration of the head pain.
-other accompanying symptoms.
Can detect the main cause of the headaches.
2. PHYSICAL EXAMINATION:- As discussed above headaches can be a symptom of an underlying issue or the issue itself can be just headaches. Physical examinations such as vitals, neurological assessments, head and neck examinations, eye examinations, etc can catch the cause of head pain.
3. MEDICAL TEST FOR DIAGNOSIS:- MRI (MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING): - CT scan(Computed Tomography), Other specialized tests, such as lumbar puncture (spinal tap), may be performed in certain cases to evaluate for conditions such as meningitis or intracranial pressure abnormalities.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES TO CURB HEAD PAIN/ACHES.
There are some measures that one can take to prevent further headaches.
1. IDENTIFY THE TRIGGERS:- Triggers are the factors that can stimulate headaches. common triggers are bright lights, loud noises, certain food, smells, fatigue, and stress. there can be other factors as well that can trigger headaches. when you experience a head it is better to keep a journal in which certain things like the head start time and what are you feeling. The duration and the frequency. keeping a written journal on paper or phone can help to recognize the triggers.
2. REGULAR SLEEP:- Lack of sleep and oversleeping can be a reason for head pain..to have a regular sleep pattern here are some tricks:-
1. Eat a light dinner for 2-3 hours of sleep.
2. Put aside your gadgets like your phone and stop any visual gadgets before 1 hour of bed. gadgets stimulate the brain to want to use it more thus keeping pushing the sleep time
3. Create an environment that helps to sleep like dim lights and mild aroma candles.
4. A warm water bath can also better sleep as it relaxes the muscles.
3. MAINTAINING A HEALTHY DIET:- Certain foods can trigger head pain like coffee, alcohol, and highly processed foods Such foods and drinks should be avoided. Contrary to such foods one should indulge in a whole nutrients diet and make sure to keep yourself dehydrated.
4. RELIEVE STRESS:- stress causes stiffness in our muscles and also affects the quality of sleep. there are techniques to relieve stress:-
1. Hot water and Cold water therapies can help with stress
2. Do head massage or body massage
3. Yoga can help to relieve stress
4. Regular exercise like cycling and walking can reduce stress.
5. Indulge in deep breathing to reduce stress
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Head Pain is very common if it is getting worse and interrupting with your daily life . it is very essential to be concerned and look into the matter that why is
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION about Head pain.
1. WHEN SHOULD I WORRY ABOUT RIGHT-SIDED HEAD PAIN
When the headache is accompanied by weakness or numbness and it gets worse with time then there is a need to worry.
2. HOW TO REDUCE PAIN IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD
Use hot or cold therapy to relieve the pain. the reason for head pain can be fatigue and stress
3. SHARP PAIN ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BRAIN THAT COMES AND GOES
This pain can be a condition called ice pick headache which causes symptoms like sudden sharp pain that comes and goes. However, a doctor consultation is required to determine the actual cause
4. CLUSTER HEADACHE TREATMENT
Oxygen therapy along with medication can help treat cluster headaches
5. SINUS INFECTION
Sinus infection is inflammation of tissues in spaces in your forehead, cheeks, and nose usually filled with air. bacteria and viruses cause it. It causes pressure which can tense muscles and cause headaches.
6. EAR INFECTION SYMPTOMS
Ear infection symptoms are headache, nausea, dizziness, or discharge from the ear. Plugged ears, hearing trouble, etc.
7. LOWER HEAD AND NECK PAIN.
Lower head and neck pain is one of the symptoms of tension headaches, accompanied by other symptoms like dull throbbing pain. Tension headaches can be cured by appropriate rest.
8. BRAIN ANEURYSM.
A brain aneurysm is a tumor in a weak area of an artery in the brain. If the tumor leaks or bursts, it can cause a hemorrhagic stroke leading to death.
9. SINUS PROBLEM HOME REMEDY.
For sinus problems, steam therapy, drinking lots of water, warm compresses, and rest can relieve the problem.
10. HEADACHE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HEAD BEHIND EYE.
This could be a symptom of a cluster headache. A cluster headache is a very painful condition. The cause of this condition is still unknown but it is believed to be caused by irritated facial nerves with other symptoms like a runny nose,red eyes, and tearing