Histamine headache, which is also called Horton's syndrome or cluster, is considered "male" because it most often occurs in men. The pain appears for no apparent reason at night or in the morning early. This disease can cause suffering every day for a long period of time. Or, which also occurs too often, after short-term manifestations, the pain sensation disappears and for a long time does not make itself felt. During seizures, it seems to hurt in the brain. In fact, there are no pain reflexes in the brain. Impulses pass through the membranes of the brain, nerve channels, muscles and blood vessels, and they are located inside the human skull. In more detail about the fact that this is a histamine headache syndrome further.
Symptoms of the disease
When the concentration of pain occurs, a person has an attack of such intensity that it seems as if sparks from the eyes have crumbled. And this comparison is true because of the location of the pain in the eyeball.
Symptoms:
- Arbitrary appearance of difficult to tolerate sensations.
- Concern does not allow the patient to sit or lie down (most often sways from side to side, like a pendulum).
- The episodic duration of the attack, that is, the time period of pain varies from 10 minutes to several hours.
- A feeling of pain can occur soon after a person falls asleep.
- The pain is concentrated on one side of the head.
- Gradual transition of painful sensations to the temporal artery (whiskey swells as if).
- Swelling of the nose and nasal congestion occurs.
- Lacrimation.
- Redness of the affected part of the eye.
- Sinking down the upper eyelid.
- The pupils become narrow.
- Soreness of the head above the ear.
- The location of the pain in the eyeball.
- The cheek swells and this part of the face turns red.
History tour
This type of headache was first described in a 1925 journal article. Almost a century has passed since then, but specialists in the field of medicine do not seek to “officially” diagnose this disease as there are a large number of headaches of various etymologies. And, in most cases, it is not easy to determine the type of pain.
There is a test for the content of histamine: the syringe is filled with histamine and 0.01 mg is slowly injected intravenously. Three minutes later, in the absence of pain, the introduction of histamine 0.03 mg is continued very slowly - from 3 to 5 minutes. This test is performed if you suspect that the attack is characteristic of cluster pain.
They can be episodic and chronic.
Chronic nature is a continuous manifestation of pain, with the absence of a period of rest.
Occasional pain is characterized by short, piercing, painful flashes in the eyes. These feelings, disturbing a person about three times a day for a long time (from 1 to 2 months), suddenly disappear. Then there is a remission, which lasts for different periods (sometimes several years).
Causes of the disease
Cephalgia (ICD-10 code: G44.0) is a relatively unknown disease that most often exhausts men aged 20-60. Women suffer from cephalgia less often (10% of the total). The number of affected children is minimal. Doctors suggest that the disease is associated with serotonin levels. Serotonin, concentrating, delivers pain from the place of appearance to the brain. The nerve, in turn, reacts impulsively, the muscles of the vessels work in a feverish rhythm, the blood begins to circulate incorrectly, provoking the appearance of burning pain.
When interviewing patients, a pattern was revealed - this type of headache manifests its activity, mainly at night (the phase of fleeting sleep). Based on this, experts associate a cyclic disease with human biorhythms. When sleep occurs, signals are sent to the central nervous system from the hypothalamus, reacting, blood vessels expand, while the natural qualities of the body are disturbed. Histamine (a biologically active substance contained in the hypothalamus) regulates specific functions and, possibly, provokes allergic pathologies. An altered histamine level is most likely the cause of this type of headache.
The development of a headache from an increase in histamine can occur as a result of a previous illness - flu and others, as well as changes in the functioning of blood vessels and various other diseases associated with the nervous system.
The cause of a histamine headache may be the behavior of a person who is nearby, that is, a situation of tension in the relationship. Of course, this reason is indirect, leading to stress, and the consequence is the formation of unpleasant sensations in the chain of interaction of reactions to the body described above.
Key factors
The material of the causes of histamine headache has not been widely studied by specialists, so far only assumptions exist. The following development factors are not approved, but proclaimed reliable:
- the constant use of foods such as chocolate, bananas, nuts, cheese (they contain tyramine);
- alcohol abuse and smoking;
- the use of nitroglycerin;
- the presence of criteria that can provoke the nervous system: an instantly blinding light, an uncharacteristically loud sound, a jump, and the like;
- the body’s test of shock in the form of something unusual, for example: a new position, an airplane flight.
Medications
Due to the fact that the disease has been little studied (the role of the cyclical nature and short duration of pain), cephalgia is not easily cured.
During the period of the highest concentration of pain, medications are prescribed that act depressingly on the multiplicity of serotonin, thereby blocking its property of regulating vascular contraction:
- Sumatriptan
- Pizotifen.
- Metisergide.
- "Lysurite."
- Cyproheptadine.
Medicines for the treatment of histamine headache, suppressing the activity of histamine (a substance that can provoke an allergy):
- Diphenhydramine.
- "Diazolin".
- Suprastin.
Pain relievers during an attack:
- Prednisone.
- "Somatostatin."
- Verapamil.
- "Psilocybin."
Medications for pain around the eyes and in the head, which reduce the speed of signal translation:
- Anaprilin.
- "Phentolamine."
- Propranolol
- Tropafen.
The list can be increased by the least applicable and yet effective means:
- Seduxen.
- "Atropine".
- Indomethacin.
- Ergotamine.
Also, during a therapeutic course, it is recommended to inhale oxygen air using a mask and do physical exercises under the supervision of an observer. Autotraining is used to combat shock conditions. This often gives a positive result and improves the patient's condition.
Folk ways
The frequency of pain can be changed, especially if it is a nightly headache, using (widely used by healers and patients) folk methods:
- By massage the temples by activating biological points.
- Compresses with essential oils such as chamomile, lemon, lavender. As well as rubbing with the same components.
- People make extensive use of clay. From a mint infusion mixed with clay and water, a mask is made in the right place on the head and kept for 20 minutes, then washed off.
- Lemons have proven themselves in cramping. Apply lemon peel, as well as grated lemon mass to the head.
- Ice or cloth dampened with cold water is applied to the temple and forehead.
- Pillows filled with flaxseed are used for sleeping. Pads (tampons) scented with your favorite perfume are placed on your eyes, which act soothingly and protect from bright light. Pads are also stuffed with different herbs: some of them help to deal with stress, others make breathing easier, and others help the eyes relax.
Preventative measures
After eliminating the aggravation of day and night headaches, calcium blocking agents are needed to help with arterial instability, as well as with poor-quality changes in the cardiovascular system. The doses of the medication administered are gradually reduced, because when the drug is abruptly discontinued, a pressure surge can occur, and excess medications can lower it and slow down the heart rate.
The best drugs for prevention
Prophylactic drugs for beam headache:
- Corticosteroids help normalize the patient's condition during remission. Only regular intake of them provides the expected effect.
- Steroids can have an adverse effect and are used with extreme caution. Usually short-term and apply only if the action of other dosage forms has not occurred. Most often, in the absence of emergency medical care, use: "Metisergid"; Clonidine "Lithium carbonate."
Conclusion
In view of the foregoing, it can be said that the so-called "male" headache can occur in absolutely any person. And yet, some predisposition to the disease exists. More often the one who is constantly addicted to alcohol, excessive consumption of cigarettes, is stressed, periodically suffers from insomnia. So that painful, exhausting sensations do not make you live an inferior life, guaranteed to protect yourself from everything. But this, of course, is difficult. Nevertheless, it is worth trying, namely: to temper, do exercises, observe hygiene, eat right and undergo routine examinations in medical institutions in a timely manner.