Headache is one of the most common complaints in society, with up to 70% of people suffering from recurrent headaches. Although it negatively affects quality of life, it is generally not life-threatening. But a headache;
- If it came on suddenly and was the worst headache you have ever experienced,
- It does not go away and the severity increases,
- Causes double or blurred vision,
- If there is vomiting without nausea,
- Appeared after the age of 50,
- If it occurs after a blow to the head or an accident,
- If it manifests itself as stiffness or fever in the neck, you should consult a doctor.
Contents
Causes of Headache
Headaches can occur without a structural defect in the brain (primary) or can develop due to other diseases affecting the brain and body (secondary).
Primary headaches,
- Migraine
- Tension-type headache
- Cluster headache
- Other primary headaches
Secondary headaches,
- Due to head and/or neck trauma
- Due to vascular diseases of the head and/or neck
- Intracranial, extravascular causes
- Due to substance or substance withdrawal
- Due to microbial diseases
- Due to disturbances in blood biochemistry
- Due to eye, ear, nose, sinus, tooth, mouth problems
- Due to psychiatric disorders
Common Headaches
Tension Headache
It is due to contraction of the muscles surrounding the head and pain is often felt throughout the head
The pain is in the form of heaviness, pressure, compression.
It may last for 5-10 minutes or may continue continuously for days.
They are not often disturbed by nausea, vomiting, light and sound.
The pain usually starts later in the day in the afternoon and may cause difficulty in falling asleep.
Different factors can cause tension-type headache. Psychological stress, anxiety, depression, muscle strain (such as driving for a long time, working in a bad sitting position...), overuse of medication to relieve headache are some of them.
Migraine
Migraine is one of the most common neurological diseases. The prevalence of migraine in people aged 15-55 in Turkey is 21.8% in women and .9% in men. Most migraine sufferers have another migraine sufferer in their family. Characteristics of a migraine headache: It comes in attacks (there is no headache between attacks), lasts 4-72 hours if left untreated, is often unilateral, throbbing and severe, may be accompanied by nausea and / or vomiting, there is sensitivity to light and sound, pain may be exacerbated by physical activity, there may be visual symptoms such as “flashing lights, zig-zag lines ...” before the onset of pain.
Factors that trigger migraine: Certain foods and drinks (old cheese, nuts, chocolate, yogurt, onions, figs, liver, caffeinated foods and drinks, smoked or pickled fish/meat, wine), lifestyle changes (too much or too little sleep, starvation, physical or mental fatigue, shift work), menstrual period, weather/seasonal/pressure changes, flickering/bright/fluorescent lights, bright daylight, odors (perfume, chemicals, smoking), stress.
Cluster Headache
It is more common in men. It is a throbbing, severe, minutes-lasting pain around the eye, but recurring several times during the day between 15 minutes and 3 hours, causing redness and tearing in the eye on that side, shrinkage of the pupil and drooping of the eyelid, nasal congestion and runny nose. Clusters of pain of this nature persist for 4-8 weeks at certain times of the year. The characteristics of the headache are the most important data in determining the cause of the pain and choosing treatment. Therefore, patients should describe the character and frequency of the headache and the accompanying symptoms.
Headache due to anemia
Presence of Intracranial Tumor: The patient should be evaluated for tumor in the presence of severe and pre-existing headache.
In injuries involving the head, acute and chronic headache may occur after trauma.
Headache may also occur after viral and bacterial infections.
Due to poisoning (such as alcohol, carbon monoxide, lead poisoning).
Treatment: It is appropriate to use painkillers and muscle relaxants.
Headache due to Eye, Ear, Nose, Throat, and Cervical Spine Diseases
Headache due to high blood pressure
Headache due to substance and drug use
(Alcohol intake, long-term use of ergotamine and painkillers and withdrawal from alcohol, ergotamine, caffeine and narcotic drugs) can cause headaches.
Headache may occur after coughing and sneezing, after heavy lifting and due to sudden bending and straightening. A headache lasting from a few seconds to a few minutes may occur. It is more common in men.
Posterior Fossa Tumor
A headache that occurs during coughing and after lifting a heavy object should suggest a posterior fossa tumor.
In the presence of polycystic ovary syndrome or a tumor secreting the hormone prolactin;
a) Presence of sudden onset of headache.
b) Milk coming from the mammary glands, although she has not given birth.
c) Menstrual cessation occurs.
