The first documented references to headaches and neck pain appeared more than 5 thousand years ago. In Babylonian literature, pathology was compared with a flash of lightning. In his writings, Herodotus described a headache. The first symptoms of migraine were described by Hippocrates. Frequent recurring headaches cannot be ignored. It is important to find out the reason for their appearance. Sometimes it is the only symptom of a dangerous disease.
Headache development mechanism
Cephalgia has nothing to do with sensations of the nervous tissue of the brain, since pain receptors are completely absent in it. In the thickness of the bone, they are not there either. Headache and neck pain occurs as a result of negative effects on the following sensitive areas:
- Periosteum.
- Veins.
- Arteries.
- Dura mater.
- The muscles.
- Subcutaneous tissue.
- Nerves.
- Mucous membrane.
- Sinuses.
- Eyes.
In most cases, cephalgia is associated with irritation or tension of the receptors that are in the vessels or hard shell of the brain. They are able to activate as a result of trauma, swelling, stress or muscle strain.
Modern medicine knows more than 200 different forms of headaches. The causes of pathology are diverse. Some of them are harmless. And there are those that can pose a threat to human life. For example, very severe headaches and necks can indicate the development of dangerous infections.
Statistics show that at least once a year more than 90% of the world's population suffers from cephalgia. In 1% of patients undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit, cephalgia appears due to the development of a certain pathology.
The vast majority of headaches are primary. They pass quite quickly and without complications. The reasons for their appearance are not fully understood. Many scientists are of the opinion that neck pain and headache result from various changes in nerves and blood vessels. But some experts do not agree with this point of view. They are sure that cephalgia appears only in people who, from birth, have an increased sensitivity of nerve endings in the hard shell of the brain.
The secondary form of headache is less common. It develops as a result of certain pathological processes that occur in the body. In some cases, determining the shape is quite difficult. Long patient monitoring and numerous clinical studies may be required.
Cluster headache
Strong and truly painful for the patient is a cluster headache. Neck pain may also be present, but most often it is concentrated in the temporal or periorbital region.
Attacks can be repeated several times during the day. Sometimes they last for weeks and even months. A pain attack is observed for about 30-40 minutes. But the sensations are so strong that they can lead to suicide attempts to get rid of them. People who have experienced such attacks say that they have the sensation that the eye is pierced with a hot needle.
At the beginning of the attack, the patient blocks his ear. After this, the nasal canals become clogged, blood rushes to the face, the eye begins to water and the headache rises sharply. Squeezing may also be felt in the neck area.
The main symptoms of pathology:
- During a seizure, blood rushes to the face, so the patient becomes very red. His forehead is covered with sweat.
- The disease manifests itself between the ages of 20 to 50 years. Before and during puberty, pathology does not reveal itself. The frequency of attacks increases by the age of 30, and then gradually decreases.
- Attacks are most often observed in representatives of the strong half of humanity. Doctors noticed that bundle headache in the back of the head and neck is more often observed in large, muscular men with a square chin, green or blue eyes. Often they smoke a lot and abuse alcohol. Doctors cannot explain why such selectivity is associated. There is still no theory that can explain the reason that people with these characteristics are more prone to this pathology.
- Pain attacks can occur daily for several months. Often after this, seizures stop for a period of three years.
- In most cases, the patient is the only member of the family with a similar pathology.
- If a pain attack occurs at night, the patient wakes up and cannot fall asleep until it stops.
- A bundle headache in the neck, neck, or temple is repeated at the same time daily. During the day, one to ten seizures can be recorded.
- On the affected side of the head, the eye fills with blood, the pupil narrows, and the eyelid looks swollen. In addition, vision deteriorates, objects look vague.
- The patient often develops tachycardia.
- Pathology can manifest itself only in autumn or spring.
- Drinking alcohol during seizures instantly provokes the development of a new pain attack. At the same time, it can be stronger than the previous one. And drinking alcohol after the end of the seizure period does not in any way affect the development of a headache in the back of the head and neck.
The reasons for the appearance of such attacks have not yet been found. There is a theory that pathology is associated with a human biological clock. Scientists have found that seizures that occur at night almost always occur during REM sleep. It is still not possible to explain why this happens.
Pathology is treatable quite difficult. Medicines are prescribed by the doctor and controls their intake. It helps to relieve an attack of breathing with oxygen, as well as instillation of "Lidocaine" in the nose.
Osteochondrosis
Cervical osteochondrosis occurs in 90% of people over the age of 60. Dystrophic disorders can be observed in the cartilage of any joint, but most often the intervertebral discs suffer. Violations occur in the lumbar, thoracic or cervical region.
At the initial stage, the disease is asymptomatic. Over time, the patient is increasingly suffering from headaches. Osteochondrosis of the neck is also manifested by other symptoms:
- Pain in the arms and shoulders.
- Dizziness.
- The appearance of "flies" in front of the eyes.
- A noise in the head.
The disease develops due to loss of elasticity and cartilage strength. As a result, the load on the intervertebral discs is unevenly distributed. Connective tissues, nerves, muscles, vessels and tendons are stretched or compressed. Microdamages of all structures of the spinal column occur. Because of this, headache, neck pain and dizziness occur.
In recent years, doctors have recorded the development of osteochondrosis not only in the elderly, but also among young people and even children. For an early manifestation of pathology, there are more than enough reasons. The development of this disease provokes:
- Weak physical fitness.
- Excess weight.
- Sedentary lifestyle.
- Violations of posture.
- Smoking.
- Flat feet.
- Improper nutrition (lack of fluid and a deficiency of important vitamins and minerals).
- Stress and nervous strain.
- Heredity.
- Adverse environmental conditions.
- Excessive exercise.
- Abrupt cessation of training in athletes.
- Professional activity, which is associated with the need to lift weights.
- Pregnancy.
Often people with osteochondrosis give a headache to the neck. Patients experience strong muscle tension at the base of the skull. In addition, there is stiffness and pain when turning the head.
The effectiveness of treatment depends on the ability to eliminate the cause of the development of the pathology. In this case, a headache in the neck is not an independent disease. This is only a sign of spinal pathology. Therefore, the attending physician should take all possible measures to slow down or stop the destructive processes in the cartilage.
Tension headache
Stress and nervous strain can provoke the development of headaches in the neck and neck. This type of pathology most often affects women. It refers to the primary form of cephalgia and is called "tension headache".
The mechanism of development of this disease is not fully understood. A few years ago it was believed that he was associated with spasm. Doctors suggested that contraction of the muscles of the head and neck leads to constriction of blood vessels. Blood circulation is disturbed, and pain occurs.
At the moment, it has already been established that the main role in the development of this pathology is played by depression, stress and anxiety. Most patients have elevated cortisol levels. This leads to the development of depression and anxiety. And then to the development of a headache. The performance of patients with this pathology is significantly reduced.
Stress headache refers to primary cephalgia. In turn, it is divided into two types:
- Episodic. Within one month, pain can occur no more than 15 days.
- Chronic It appears more often than 15 days a month.
Patients describe HDN as moderate or weak, it is rarely accompanied by nausea. Most often, it appears a few minutes after waking up and begins to increase. If the patient does not take the pain medication, the pain may not stop until the evening.
The intensity of GBN does not depend on physical exertion, but significantly increases against the background of emotional ones. Relief is observed during the period of psychological relaxation.
During the attack, the patient feels a strong compression of the skull. There is a feeling of stiffness in the neck and back. Headache is not accompanied by nausea or vomiting. The development of seizures may be accompanied by a manifestation of depressive disorder. This may be, for example, apathy, increased aggressiveness or longing.
Migraine
Migraine is a neurological disease. Its main symptom is a painful attack of severe headache. The neck and neck are rarely affected. Migraine attacks are not associated with hypertension, low blood pressure and nervous tension, as well as injuries or swelling.
Migraine is a chronic pathology. In most cases, the fair sex affects her. The average age of patients is 30 years. This disease is in second place among pathologies that for many years limit a person's performance. For example, in the UK every year due to migraine, sick leave for 25 million days. Despite the huge negative impact on the economy and human health, this pathology has not yet been fully studied. Migraine research does not receive adequate funding.
To date, there are several hypotheses for its appearance:
- A sharp decrease in blood supply to the brain due to narrowing of the arterioles.
- Genetic predisposition.
- Uneven vasodilation of the brain.
- A sharp increase in estrogen levels in women.
- Mental illness. For example, depression and bipolar disorder.
Attacks are accompanied by light and sound fear, hypersensitivity to odors. Often nausea and vomiting develop, dizziness. The patient may become lethargic or, conversely, too excited.
With migraine, pain in most cases is localized in one part of the head. It is characterized by a pulsating character and can spread to the eye. Amplified in bright light, pungent odors, or noise.
Especially severe migraine attacks can drag on for several days. The administration of analgesics in this case does not affect them. During seizures, gastrostasis occurs, due to which the substances taken inside cannot get into the small intestine and absorb into the bloodstream.
In the event that the migraine does not stop during the day, you must consult a doctor. Headache, fever, neck pain, and vomiting can be a symptom of another dangerous disease. For example, meningitis.
Hypotension and hypertension
The first thing a doctor does, to which a patient comes with a headache, is to measure his pressure. Cephalgic syndrome often develops due to a sharp jump in blood pressure. At the same time, a gradual and slight increase in indicators does not cause the development of a headache.
In 15% of cases, cerebrovascular accident occurs due to hypertensive crisis. Pathology is developing rapidly. Headache, neck pain and nausea occur without any precursors. Patients feel trembling in the body, palpitations, see "flies" in front of the eyes. They experience severe sweating and excessive urination. With increased pressure, headaches are pulsating and crucifying.
Hypotension can also cause the development of cephalgia. Hemodynamic disorders affect the small arteries. Their tone is reduced. A headache of a pulsating nature occurs.
Another type of cephalgia is associated with hypotension. Decreased intracranial vascular tone makes it difficult to drain blood, especially when the patient is in a horizontal position. The pain is localized in the occipital part. Most often, it is observed early in the morning. It gradually passes after a person gets up. The upright position improves the outflow of blood, and the tone of the veins rises.
Vegetative dystonia
Dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system can cause headaches in the back of the head and neck. Factors that provoke the development of VSD are divided into internal and external. The first include dysfunction and congenital weakness of the autonomic nervous system. External causes are more diverse:
- Traumatic brain injuries.
- Stress.
- Overwork.
- The negative impact of the environment.
- Bacterial infections.
- Excessive exercise.
- Viral diseases.
- Long stay in the hot sun.
- Radioactive contamination.
VVD often occurs in women aged 30 years. Then the disease fades. Only in rare cases does it become the cause of the development of serious pathologies.
There are two types of VSD: hypertonic and hypotonic. In each case, the patient's negative feelings will be different. With the hypertensive type, the pain is monotonous. She covers her head like a hoop or helmet. Pressure increases in the neck. With the hypotonic type, the pain is throbbing and acute. It is localized in the temples or eye area.
Diagnostics
Statistics show that in most cases people suffer from primary headaches. They proceed without complications, do not pose a threat to life and pass quickly enough. But in some cases, a headache can signal the development of a dangerous pathology that requires specific treatment.
Identifying the source of cephalgia development can be quite difficult. To determine the causes, it is necessary to observe the patient for a long time. In addition, the following clinical studies may be required:
- General blood analysis.
- CT scan of the brain.
- Fundus examination.
- Conducting electroencephalography.
- Tomographic examination of the head.
- Conducting a lumbar puncture to analyze cerebrospinal fluid.
After receiving the results of all necessary tests, the doctor will be able to find out the reason why the patient experiences headache and neck pain. Only after this, the doctor will be able to prescribe adequate treatment.
Pathology treatment
An adequate treatment is possible only after establishing the causes of the pathology. The main goal of therapy is to reduce the duration, severity and incidence of headaches. The prescription of medications can only be trusted by the attending physician, since uncontrolled administration of analgesics can cause the development of drug headaches, as well as gastric disorders.
You can get rid of a headache that is associated with hypertension or hypotension only after the pressure is normalized. Therefore, dispensing with the consultation of a therapist, cardiologist and endocrinologist will not work. VVD requires the supervision of a neurologist who will help normalize the condition and forget about cephalgia.
A crunch in the neck and headaches associated with osteochondrosis can be eliminated by a chiropractor or vertebro-neurologist. Massage is able to alleviate the condition of the patient. And also treatment with osteopathy, which relieves spasms that cause the development of cephalgia.
The following drugs help eliminate tension pain:
- Solpadein.
- "Panadol".
- "Copacil".
- Citramon
- "Analgin."
- Nurofen
- Tempalgin.
- Sedalgin.
- "Spazmalgon."
- Maxigan
In order to cope with cluster pain attacks and migraines, stronger, prescription drugs may be required. Reception of such funds can only be prescribed by a doctor.
Patient Reviews
Patients who suffer from severe headaches and neck pains say that it is important to drink an analgesic in time to prevent an attack. "Copacil" and "Citramon" can quickly cope with pain if the patient takes the pill at the first symptoms of pathology. If the intensity of pain has time to increase, stronger drugs may be required.
Facilitate the patient's condition allows massage, walks before bedtime and dosed physical activity. Many people note that the intensity and frequency of migraine attacks decreased after they started swimming.