Headache is considered a symptom that is known to every person. This symptom accompanies many pathological conditions. One example is intoxication syndrome, in which a headache is observed. Based on this, this symptom can accompany any inflammatory pathology. However, there are certain headaches. There are many of them. By these ailments are meant pathological processes that occur in this particular part of the body. Among these diseases, lesions of the brain and its membranes, blood vessels, problems with the skin of the face and hair are distinguished. In addition, mental disorders can be attributed to this group of pathologies.
Description of head diseases
Diseases of the human head - this is an extensive group of pathologies, which includes many ailments. Most often they are associated with damage to the central nervous system. Nevertheless, dermatological diseases, oncological processes, traumas, developmental anomalies can be attributed to pathologies of this area. As you know, there are many causes of pain. However, not all pathological conditions of the head are accompanied by this symptom. In some cases, the manifestations of such diseases include neurological and psychological disorders. Sometimes the development of pathology is indicated by symptoms such as a decrease in cognitive functions, sleep disturbance. Head diseases are equally common among both children and adults. Sex also does not matter with these pathologies. In some cases, the disease is congenital and is detected already in the neonatal period. Examples are hydrocephalus, intrauterine growth retardation, developmental abnormalities. Sometimes diseases are diagnosed in early childhood. However, this does not mean that the pathology was not genetically determined (Down syndrome, cerebral palsy). In the adult population, acquired head diseases predominate. Most often, they develop from vascular lesions, injuries, neoplasms. Some pathologies are hereditary, and the cause of their occurrence is unknown. Despite the genetic condition, they can occur at any age. Such ailments include most mental disorders (schizophrenia, multiple personality syndrome), some neurological pathologies.
Causes of Head Disease
The cause of the head disease depends on which pathology occurs in the given patient. There are the following adverse factors contributing to the development of ailments:
- Infectious agents. In most cases, microorganisms cause inflammatory diseases. These include pathologies of the brain and its membranes. In addition, bacterial and viral particles cause the development of skin diseases.
- Fungal affection of hair follicles.
- Hereditary predisposition. Many head diseases are genetically determined. This is especially true for mental pathologies. For example, a disease such as schizophrenia is often inherited or observed in close relatives. Currently, it is known that with some ailments, a change in the genetic code occurs. Such pathologies include Alzheimer's disease, Peak, Parkinson, Huntington's chorea, etc.
- Bad habits.
- Arteriosclerosis of arteries and hypertension.
- Obesity.
- Oncological processes in the brain.
- Benign neoplasms.
- Bites of tropical insects, encephalitis tick.
- Specific pathologies: syphilis, AIDS.
- Vasculitis
- Head injuries.
In some cases, the cause of the disease cannot be established. Congenital pathologies develop due to fetal ischemia during pregnancy, infectious lesions in the mother, bad habits, chemical and ionizing effects.
Classification of Head Diseases
Some patients ask the question: "What is the name of the disease when the head hurts?" As mentioned above, a lot of pathologies can lead to this symptom. Consider those associated with diseases of the head area:
- Meningitis This group of pathologies occurs due to inflammation of the meninges. The most dangerous is bacterial (purulent) meningitis. Regardless of the etiological factor, with inflammation of the meninges, a pronounced headache is observed.
- Encephalitis. This group of diseases is characterized in that the inflammatory process encompasses the substance of the brain itself. The main sign of encephalitis is the occurrence of severe neurological symptoms.
- One of the pathologies accompanied by pain is migraine. The cause of this ailment has not yet been clarified.
- Acute and chronic diseases of the vessels of the head. This group of diseases belongs to the most common neurological pathologies. Thrombosis and bleeding from cerebral vessels (stroke) are considered especially dangerous, since acute ischemia often leads to disability and mortality.
- Degenerative pathologies of the nervous system. In some cases, you can see the following picture: the patient shakes his head. What kind of disease is characterized by this symptom? Most often, degenerative pathologies develop in old age. To a greater extent, they are manifested by motor and neuropsychiatric disorders. An example is Parkinson's disease, in which there is tremor of the hands and head, impaired memory, and a change in gait.
- Atrophic pathologies of the central nervous system. Characterized by a gradual decrease in the number of brain cells. Examples are Peak and Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's chorea. These pathologies are characterized by progressive memory impairment, movement disorder.
- Tumors of the central nervous system. Often accompanied by pain in a certain area of the head.
- Mental pathology.
- Damage to the skin and its appendages.
All of these types of head diseases have a different etiology and development mechanism. However, many of them are accompanied by similar symptoms. With all pathologies, damage to the structure of the nervous tissue occurs. As a result, there is a headache and signs of damage to a particular CNS site. Also, in a separate group, structural changes in the brain can be distinguished with tertiary syphilis, AIDS.
Vascular disease of the head
Vascular pathology of the head is a group of diseases that characterizes a violation of the blood supply to the brain. They can occur at any age, but are more common in older people. Distinguish between acute and chronic vascular disorders. The first include strokes. Acute ischemic cerebrovascular accident is a disease that occurs due to obstruction of the lumen of a vessel by a thrombus or embolus. In most cases, this type of stroke has a more favorable prognosis. The cause of the development of ischemic stroke may be atherosclerotic lesions of the cerebral arteries, cardiovascular and oncological pathologies, diseases of the hematopoietic system, prolonged immobilization (staying in one position of the body). Hemorrhagic stroke is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate surgical treatment. The etiological factors of this disease are complicated hypertensive crisis, malformation and vascular aneurysm. Chronic pathologies include dyscirculatory encephalopathy. DEP is often found in the elderly. The main reason for the development of encephalopathy is a gradual narrowing of the lumen of the cerebral vessels due to atherosclerosis. Also, an osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is considered an etiological factor.
Atrophic diseases of the brain
Atrophic pathologies are conditions in which a decrease in brain activity occurs due to the breakdown of connections between neurons. The causes of this phenomenon have not yet been fully elucidated. It is believed that changes occurring at the gene level lead to atrophic pathologies. Therefore, such ailments are often observed among members of the same family. One of the most striking examples of brain atrophy is Alzheimer's disease. Often, this particular memory impairment can be seen in various films. With such a pathology, a person gradually loses orientation in his own personality. The patient does not remember the events that happened in his life recently. Nevertheless, in his memory are long gone years. Thus, a progressive violation of the patient’s personality occurs. A similar ailment is considered Peak's disease. The differences between these pathologies are the preservation of the ability to write, speech. Huntington's chorea is another atrophic disease. This pathology is characterized by a movement disorder, that is, the inability to control its activity. Other signs of head disease later join. Among them are mental abnormalities, memory impairment, aggressive behavior, etc. The first signs of an ailment are noted in middle age.
Another pathology characterized by hyperkinesis is Parkinson's disease. With such an ailment, an extrapyramidal system of the brain is affected. This pathology is characterized by tremor of the extremities, changes in muscle tone, inability to stop the movement of one’s own body. One of the most striking symptoms is that a person has a headache. "What kind of illness and how to cope with it?" - Often, the patient's relatives are interested. Unfortunately, etiological therapy against this pathology has not been developed, since the exact cause of its development is unknown. Patients with atrophic and degenerative disorders of the nervous system require constant care and support of loved ones.
Diseases of the scalp
In addition to diseases of the head itself, dermatological pathologies also belong to the pathologies of this group. Among them - damage to the skin and its appendages, in particular, the hairline. This issue is especially worrying for the female half of the population. Indeed, such violations as brittleness and hair loss, loss of shine and silkiness are often found. To fix this, women make various masks, use special shampoos. However, scalp disease also occurs in men. In these cases, a symptom such as alopecia is often observed. This disease is characterized by pathological hair loss, leading to baldness. Distinguish between diffuse and focal (nest) alopecia. Baldness can develop not only in men, but also among the female population. The exact causes of this symptom are not known, it is believed that it occurs when the combined effect of several damaging factors. Most often, diffuse alopecia develops in chronic anemia, adrenal gland diseases. Focal alopecia can be caused by fungal infection. In most cases, it develops after contact with infected domestic animals (cats). Also, the cause of alopecia areata are thyroid pathologies, chronic stress, helminthic invasion, etc.
Head Disease: Symptoms of Ailments
Given that there are a lot of diseases of the head, their symptoms can be different. This is especially true for CNS pathologies. The clinical picture depends on the type of head disease. Symptoms of ailments:
- Neurological disorders. They are found in inflammatory, oncological, vascular, degenerative and atrophic processes. Symptoms of neurological disorders depend on the localization of the pathological focus. When the right side of the brain is damaged, disorders are noted in the left limbs (and vice versa).
- Headache. It is observed in inflammatory processes (encephalitis, meningitis), neoplasms, impaired cerebral circulation. The most pronounced headache occurs due to migraine.
- Cognitive impairment (decreased memory, perseverance, sleep disturbance). It is observed in the initial stages of degenerative and dystrophic pathologies, with discirculatory encephalopathy.
- Decreased intelligence. It occurs at the last stage of DEP (senile dementia). In some cases, mental retardation is congenital and develops due to chromosomal abnormalities.
- Mental disorders.
- Convulsive syndrome.
Symptoms of dermatological diseases include peeling of the skin, the appearance of rashes, itching, alopecia.
Diagnosis of head pathologies
To find out the cause of head disease, a number of studies are needed. Among them, the main is a neurological examination. Instrumental diagnostics is also carried out. It includes such studies as ultrasound of the vessels of the head and neck, EEG, EchoEG. If you suspect degenerative, oncological and atrophic processes, magnetic resonance imaging is performed.
Head diseases: treatment of pathologies
The choice of treatment depends on the pathology. In inflammatory diseases, antibiotic therapy is prescribed. The drugs of choice include a solution of Penicillin, Ceftriaxone, Erythromycin. In order to improve blood circulation prescribe medications "Cerebrolysin", "Piracetam". Treatment of mental illness is carried out in a special medical institution. As symptomatic therapy, painkillers are used. With a tendency to thrombosis, it is recommended to use the Aspirin medication daily. In acute circulatory disorders, aneurysms and tumors, surgical intervention is necessary.
Head disease prevention
Prevention of head diseases involves the following recommendations:
- Do not walk without headgear at low air temperatures.
- Correct lipid metabolism in patients with atherosclerosis and metabolic syndrome.
- Visit a neurologist if you suspect a head condition.