One of the most common problems is a headache that many people suffer from. In addition, it can be repeated very often, dramatically reducing the comfort of life, but it is not a sign of the disease. Often, an illness changes in the nature of the pain. In particular, they become more frequent and heavy. Depending on the localization of the headache, a feature of the course of the disease can be recognized.
If painful sensations occur very often, then you must definitely consult a doctor for diagnosis.
Causes of pain
The causes and localization of headaches can be very different. However, this is very important for making the correct diagnosis. Among the main provoking factors, one can distinguish the following:
- abuse of alcohol, tobacco and coffee;
- frequent stress and depression;
- infectious diseases;
- intoxication with harmful substances;
- injuries and bruises of the spine;
- significant physical exertion;
- cardiovascular diseases;
- sciatica, osteochondrosis.
Many people experience a headache of tension or migraine, which occurs due to overwork and prolonged exposure to stress. In some cases, pain can be observed due to the presence of diseases of the nose, eyes, teeth, ears or with increased pressure.
Character, duration and location
Headache is a complex biological process associated with various chemicals. That is why by nature it can be:
- throbbing
- compressive;
- dumb;
- compressive;
- spicy;
- bursting.
The causes and localization of a headache can be very different, and they largely affect the duration of this condition, which can be short-term or chronic. Painful sensations can cover the parietal, temporal, occipital, frontal area, part of the head or the entire entire circumference.
Pain in the temples
The localization of headache in the temples is quite common, and the reason for this may be:
- alcohol consumption;
- change of weather;
- colds;
- mental stress;
- stressful condition;
- eye strain.
In some cases, painful sensations can occur during the course of the inflammatory process in the jaw joint, ear, and teeth. In this case, to eliminate painful sensations, it is necessary to eliminate the main provoking factor by visiting a specialist.
More serious reasons include vasoconstriction, migraine, impaired nerve endings, circulatory disorders. Diagnosis will help determine the cause.
Pain in the back of the head
Patients complaining of pain in the back of the head say they are quite sharp and also permanent. Sometimes it’s quite difficult for a person to even turn his head, since any change in body position causes a severe attack of nausea or a deterioration in well-being. Basically, such a localization of headache occurs in cervical osteochondrosis, and also provoking factors can be:
- disturbances in the neck;
- hypothermia;
- neuralgia;
- stroke;
- neoplasms.
With swelling of the brain, severe pain is observed associated with intracranial pressure. In addition, there may be severe vomiting and impaired coordination. In healthy women, the localization of a headache in the back of the head can be associated with pregnancy, hormonal disorders, or menopause. In this case, you need to additionally consult a gynecologist and solve this problem in a comprehensive manner.
Pain in the frontal part
With the localization of a headache in the frontal part, a person feels a very strong malaise. The painful sensations are quite intense, oppressive, accompanied by nausea. This condition makes it difficult to concentrate. In healthy people, a headache can be associated with stress, eye fatigue, and mental stress. If this condition is constantly observed, then you should definitely contact a neurologist. Among the main reasons can be identified:
- migraine;
- hypertension
- inflammation of the facial nerve;
- sinusitis;
- colds.
With hypertension, a headache covers the frontal part, the parietal zone, and then gradually spreads to the entire head. In this case, you need to be especially careful, as soreness provokes blurred consciousness, nausea. All of these signs may indicate a stroke.
With sinusitis, there may additionally be nasal congestion, as well as an increase in temperature. Almost the same symptoms are observed in the presence of colds. If such a localization of headache is very common, then it is advisable to additionally consult an ophthalmologist.
Other types of pain
The localization of a headache can be very different, and the peculiarity of the course of various diseases largely depends on it. Pain in the area of the skull can extend only to part of the head or completely to its entire circumference. Often they occur with severe overstrain, and in this case the pain is not pulsating, but is constant in nature, and is also accompanied by tension and discomfort in the neck.
Localization of
headache with hypertension can be mainly in the neck, forehead and gradually passes to the eyes. Usually it is accompanied by pressing sensations, nausea, dizziness.
The localization of a headache with migraine can be very different. However, it mainly applies only to half of the head. In addition, nausea, vomiting, and also excessive sensitivity to light are observed. Painful sensations are greatly enhanced by any type of activity. In some patients, during an attack, there may be bright flashes of light in the eyes, as well as various smells.
With osteochondrosis, the localization of the headache is mainly observed in the neck. In addition, pain can be shingles. The nature of this pain is compressive, external, and there is a feeling that the head is compressed by a hoop. In this case, you need to visit a therapist and surgeon, as the cause of discomfort can be triggered by other factors.
The most dangerous are dull, slowly intensifying pains inside the head, without a clear localization. The causes of this condition may be associated with increased pressure in hematomas or brain tumors.
Severity
The types and localization of headache largely depend on the particular course of the disease. In addition, the sensations that a person experiences are of great importance. A headache can occur in a mild form and at the same time, the quality of life does not decrease, and work capacity does not worsen. Sometimes painful sensations proceed unnoticed, in some cases you just need to take pain medication and relax a bit.
A headache of moderate severity requires the use of medications, since such a condition knocks a person out of the usual rhythm. Severe painful sensations lead to severe suffering. This can be a serious reason to visit a doctor.
Classification
To make a correct diagnosis, you need to take into account the types of headaches and their localization. According to the degree of manifestation and the nature of painful sensations, they are divided into several different types, namely:
- pain of tension;
- migraine;
- cluster
- burning.
The pain of tension is aching intense, and it manifests itself after a strong mental and physical stress. Cluster is characterized by the fact that painful sensations are localized on only one side. In addition, there may be such signs:
- lacrimation
- runny nose;
- redness of the eyes.
This condition is very difficult to withstand. Often men suffer from such pains. Migraine is characterized by a significant intensity of pain and occurs mainly on one side only. However, it is distinguished from the cluster type of headache by a pulsating nature.
Burning pain sensations cover the entire part of the head and belong to one of the first signs of osteochondrosis or sclerosis. In addition, they can be associated with mental disorders.
Headache during pregnancy
Painful sensations for this condition are quite characteristic. Headache and nausea in some cases, the first to signal a woman about the upcoming changes. In pregnant women, this condition is observed quite often, since the body begins to rebuild to prepare for childbirth, so it becomes especially sensitive and begins to respond much faster to the situation.
In connection with a change in the hormonal background and with an increase in the volume of blood that is required to provide nutrition to the fetus, women may experience pressure fluctuations, as well as exacerbate chronic diseases, especially in the later stages. It is worth remembering that the period of bearing a child can provoke the occurrence of migraine.
It is very important to consult a doctor in a timely manner, since such a condition can adversely affect the condition of a pregnant woman and the fetus. Do not use medications on your own, as this can harm an unborn baby.
Headache in children
A common cause of acute headaches is various infectious diseases, as well as sinusitis. It may be functional or symptomatic. Functional headache can be triggered by various disorders in the body. Symptomatic are constantly present during other diseases.
In infants, sudden headaches appear as constant irritability and heavy crying. At an older age, they are manifested by tearfulness or constant complaints. During adaptation at school, children often have headaches that are associated with psycho-emotional stress.
During puberty, they are due to the restructuring of the body. Be sure to take into account the condition of the child and consult a doctor in a timely manner for qualified assistance.
Diagnostics
To determine the cause of the headache, you must visit a therapist who can refer to narrow specialists:
- otolaryngologist;
- neurologist;
- orthopedist;
- optometrist;
- osteopath.
After the examination, the doctor prescribes a long-term diagnosis, the methods of which largely depend on the available signs of the disease. To determine the inflammatory processes in the body, a blood test is performed for the presence of antibodies. In addition, you may need:
- ophthalmoscopy;
- encephalogram;
- angiography;
- spinal puncture.
One of the best diagnostic methods is MRI, since this method allows you to determine the presence of diseases of the circulatory and nervous systems, as well as the musculoskeletal system. It allows you to determine the most minor violations and deviations in the work of internal organs.
Drug treatment
Many people very often have a severe headache, which is simply impossible to endure. That is why it is important to know how to deal with it yourself. The painful sensations provoked by spasms of blood vessels that arise as a result of overstrain can be eliminated with the help of the No-Shpa preparation. Headache with a cold, sinusitis or flu will help to remove such medicines:
- "Aspirin";
- "Paracetamol";
- Diclofenac
- "Nurofen."
With reduced pressure, which is accompanied by intense painful sensations, Citramon or Axofen will help well. With the occurrence of pathological processes in the joints of the jaw and teeth, "Ketanov", "Analgin" and "Ibuprofen" are prescribed. In all other cases, only the attending doctor prescribes the drugs.