Headache – Overview
Definition of Headache:
A headache is pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck. Serious causes of headaches are extremely rare. Most people with headaches can feel much better by making lifestyle changes, learning ways to relax, and occasionally by taking medications.
Common Causes:
The most common headaches are probably caused
by tight, contracted muscles in your shoulders, neck, scalp,
and jaw. These are called tension headaches. They are often
related to stress, depression, or anxiety. Overworking, not
getting enough sleep, missing meals, and using alcohol or street
drugs can make you more susceptible to them. Headaches can be
triggered by chocolate, cheese, and monosodium glutamate (MSG).
People who drink caffeine can have headaches when they don't
get their usual daily amount.
Other common causes include:
- Holding your head in one position for a long time, like at a computer, microscope, or typewriter
- Poor sleep position
- Overexerting yourself
- Clenching or grinding your teeth
Tension headaches tend to be on both sides
of your head. They often start at the back of your head and
spread forward. The pain may feel dull or squeezing, like a
tight band or vice. Your shoulders, neck, or jaw may feel tight
and sore. The pain is usually persistent, but does not get worse
with activity.
Migraine headaches are severe headaches that usually occur with
other symptoms such as visual disturbances or nausea. The pain
may be described as throbbing, pounding, or pulsating. It tends
to begin on one side of your head, although it may spread to
both sides. You may have an "aura" (a group of warning
symptoms that start before your headache). The pain usually
gets worse as you try to move around. For more information on
this type of headache, see: migraine.
Other types of headaches:
- Cluster headaches are sharp, extremely painful headaches that tend to occur several times per day for months and then go away for a similar period. They are far less common.
- Sinus headaches cause pain in the front of your head and face. They are due to inflammation in the sinus passages that lie behind the cheeks, nose, and eyes. The pain tends to be worse when you bend forward and when you first wake up in the morning. Postnasal drip, sore throat, and nasal discharge usually occur with these headaches.
Headaches may occur if you have a cold, the
flu, fever, or premenstrual syndrome.
If you are over age 50 and are experiencing headaches for the
first time, a condition called temporal
arteritis may prove to be the cause. Symptoms of this condition
include impaired vision and pain aggravated by chewing. There
is a risk of becoming blind with this condition. Therefore,
it must be treated by your doctor right away.
Rare causes of headache include:
- Brain aneurysm -- a weakening of the wall of a blood vessel that can rupture and bleed into the brain
- Brain tumor
- Stroke or TIA
- Brain infection like meningitis or encephalitis
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