The symptoms of a headache are familiar to many. A similar violation occurs for a variety of reasons. If headache often occurs, then you need to conduct a comprehensive diagnosis to determine the provoking factor, as this can indicate serious violations in the body. Treatment is carried out with the help of medications and folk remedies.
Kinds
There are several different types of headaches, in particular the following:
- vascular;
- cluster
- muscle tension;
- neuralgic;
- liquorodynamic;
- hallucinatory;
- hungover;
- mixed genesis.
Vascular headache manifests itself in the form of migraine, and also occurs with hypertension. Migraine is a condition in which attacks of severe throbbing soreness appear. It is also possible the appearance of nausea, sound and photophobia. Often, young women suffer from migraines. In addition, hereditary predisposition is important.
With increasing blood pressure there is a pressing, severe, throbbing pain. Basically, it is localized in the neck and neck.
Cluster types of pain are a pronounced pain syndrome in the brain. It occurs spontaneously and is observed irregularly. The intensity of the pain is so strong that it can lead to suicide attempts to get rid of it. Among the main reasons you need to highlight such as:
- lack of sleep;
- alcohol;
- smoking;
- stress;
- consumption of certain foods;
- temperature rise.
Headaches of muscle tension are considered the most common. Muscle contraction acts on the blood vessels, thereby interfering with normal blood circulation. This provokes a lack of oxygen in muscle tissue and the accumulation of toxic substances that provoke severe pain. As a result of this, a rather severe headache appears.
Basically, it occurs in the neck and extends to the frontal part. The pain is dull and non-pulsating. It creates a feeling of intense tension on the crown of the head or in the forehead and temples. The muscles of the shoulders and neck and the skin of the skull often also hurt. The pain is usually bilateral. It equally affects both sides of the head.
Liquorodynamic headache occurs for the following reasons:
- head injuries;
- volumetric neoplasms of the brain;
- inflammatory diseases such as meningitis, encephalitis.
The neuralgic type of pain has a number of characteristic signs. Among the main signs of a headache, it should be noted that it lasts for several seconds or minutes, but the attacks follow one after another at short intervals. This makes a person suffer for several hours or even days.
There are also certain areas, the irritation of which provokes a very strong attack. Even a simple touch on this area can cause severe headaches. Discomfort also extends to neighboring and remote areas. The pain is mainly acute, sharp, piercing. At the time of its appearance, a person freezes and is afraid to make an extra movement.
Pain can occur as a result of mental stress, acute or chronic stress. Often fixed in people with a high level of anxiety. The pain is permanent, it compresses, compresses, without a clear localization, of weak or moderate intensity.
Reasons for the appearance
A variety of factors can provoke such a symptom. Headaches and migraines can cause even a simple visit to the steam room. In addition, such provoking factors are:
- head injury;
- brain tumor;
- inflammatory diseases;
- cold;
- mental stress;
- increase or decrease in pressure.
The onset or withdrawal of certain medications can provoke an attack of pain. Certain chemicals also cause it. These include alcohol, insecticides and many others.
Quite often, a headache occurs after exercise, as this provokes muscle strain. Any problem in the skull, teeth or ENT organs can also trigger a severe attack. Headache appears with osteochondrosis of the cervical region. It is localized in the temples and the back of the head.
Additional symptoms
Often there are other signs of a headache, which include the following:
- fainting and dizziness;
- nausea and vomiting;
- temperature rise;
- weakness;
- neck and throat pain;
- noise in ears.
If the headache was provoked by problems with the vessels, then their pathology leads to fainting. Often a similar symptom appears with migraine, which also causes pulsation and numbness. If a person refuses food for a long time, then his health will only worsen.
A similar condition is possible in the presence of a tumor in the brain, but there is a bursting pain inside.
Nausea and vomiting occurs with vegetovascular dystonia, increased pressure. This is considered a crisis, therefore, urgent medical attention is required, since there is a risk of dangerous complications, up to the death of the patient.
High fever and headache are mainly observed with colds and inflammatory processes. Each of them has its own specific symptoms. With meningitis, the head hurts very much, and the nape muscles are always in tension. In case of vomiting, it is important to urgently hospitalize the patient. With flu and a cold, a headache is localized in the temples, eyes and in the forehead.
Diagnostics
If there are signs of a headache, then you must definitely undergo a diagnosis to determine the cause of this problem. You need to immediately contact a therapist who will conduct a survey to clarify its localization and intensity of sensations, as well as conduct an examination, after which it will refer to specialized specialists:
- otolaryngologist;
- optometrist;
- neurologist;
- a psychiatrist;
- to the dentist.
Thanks to the use of modern diagnostic techniques, diagnosis will be much faster. The electroencephalogram shows the general condition of the brain, vascular damage. X-rays help determine trauma, hydrocephalus, sinusitis. MRI makes it possible to determine the tumor, damage after a stroke, and cerebrovascular accident.
CT scan shows a change in the structures of brain tissue, hemorrhage, and reveals a blood clot, cyst, atherosclerosis, aneurysm. Electromyography is designed to diagnose damage in the tissues of the nervous system. Laboratory tests will determine if there are foci of inflammation or autoimmune processes in the body, as well as metabolic disorders.
Treatment
Basically, a headache appears as a symptom of various pathologies and disorders in the body. To eliminate them, you need to carry out comprehensive measures, which consist of:
- drug therapy;
- physiotherapy;
- folk remedies.
Depending on the type and cause of headaches, treatment is selected strictly individually after a comprehensive diagnosis. Pills or injections have an analgesic effect, eliminate inflammation, and provide local anesthesia. OTC drugs are often enough, but with a serious problem, you just can’t do without special tools. In this case, medication blockade with hormonal drugs is prescribed.
Physiotherapy involves the use of ultrasound, alternating and direct current, heat treatment, magnetic field and many other techniques. They are considered the most effective in the treatment of headaches. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, this is the only technique that can be used.
In addition, you can use folk remedies, but before this, you need to consult your doctor. It can be homeopathy and lotions. They will not always be effective, and during pregnancy and lactation it is better to refuse them, so as not to harm the baby.
Drug treatment
To eliminate a headache attack, you can take these drugs:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory;
- antispasmodics;
- analgesics;
- muscle relaxants;
- combination drugs;
- multivitamin complexes.
Anti-inflammatory drugs help not only eliminate pain, relieve fever and inflammation. Such drugs include Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Nurofen, Ketorolac.
According to the instructions, "Spazmalgon" from headache is used in the presence of spasm of muscles and blood vessels. In addition, drugs such as “Drotaverin”, “No-Shpa”, “Spazgan” should be attributed to antispasmodics.
Analgesics help eliminate even a very severe headache, which is provoked by fluctuations in blood pressure. These include such as "Analgin", "Nebalgin." It is very important to take medications to normalize blood pressure or vasodilator tablets.
Combined drugs include Novigan, Solpadein, Pentalgin. These medicines should be drunk if a person has a very severe headache. With hypertension, you need to take drugs to normalize blood pressure, as well as muscle relaxants. They help eliminate muscle spasm, as well as normalize blood circulation in the soft tissues.
If the pain is very acute and other medicines do not help, then the doctor may prescribe Stugeron or Trental for migraines. They must be taken very carefully, as they can provoke serious side effects.
The drug "Amigrenin" helps to relieve the symptoms of migraine. Instructions for use indicate that the effect of the drug is based on eliminating the imbalance of serotonin in the body. It is indicated for the relief of acute attacks of headache with or without an aura. According to the instructions for use, "Amigrenin" has certain side effects, causes an increase and decrease in pressure, therefore, it should be used carefully and only after consulting a doctor.
In addition, you need to drink multivitamin complexes that help strengthen immunity. In addition, some of them may act as antipsychotics.
Non-drug treatment
You can get rid of pain with the help of not only medications, but also other methods of treatment. Alternative techniques include:
- massage;
- acupuncture;
- balneological treatment.
During the massage, the points on the arm are affected. This technique helps to get rid of headaches quickly and efficiently, as it helps to relax muscles and improve blood circulation. Balneological treatment is carried out using water of the right temperature. This includes gymnastics on the water.
You can also work on vital points on the arm from a headache by performing an acupuncture procedure. Alternative methods are used for long-term therapy and to prevent an attack.
Folk remedies
Apply such techniques only with the permission of the doctor, so as not to provoke deterioration. Folk remedies for headaches with pressure require prolonged use. In addition, you can drink infusions and decoctions only if there is no allergy.
Propolis alcohol tincture helps well. Take 20 g of raw materials, pour 100 ml of alcohol. Let it brew and you can consume the finished product by dripping 40 drops on bread. Take 20 g of wormwood root, chop, pour boiling water and let stand for 20 minutes. Filter and drink three times a day for 1 tbsp. l
Instead of tea, you can drink a decoction of mint, coltsfoot, lemon balm, oregano. You can quickly eliminate a headache with a lemon peel. It must be applied to the area where the pain is greatest.
Headache during pregnancy
This is a fairly characteristic condition during the period of bearing the baby. In addition, if the headache has passed after vomiting, then this can be considered the first signs of pregnancy. During this period, the body becomes more sensitive and sharply reacts to any changes.
Headache often appears in late pregnancy, which is associated with a change in hormonal levels and an increase in the volume of circulating blood required for normal nutrition of the fetus. In women, fluctuations in blood pressure are often observed, and chronic diseases are exacerbated. In addition, with the onset of pregnancy, migraine can begin.
What could be the consequences
In addition to disability and the inability to lead a habitual lifestyle, there is a risk of complications of the root cause, which provoked a headache. If a pathology is not detected in a timely manner and treatment is not carried out, then therapy may not be effective enough.
Prophylaxis
The best prevention is the timely diagnosis, determining the cause of the headache and its elimination. It is not always possible to prevent its occurrence due to changes in weather, depression, nervous strain. That is why it is better to avoid situations that can lead to a violation.
It is very important to get enough sleep, not overwork, refuse alcohol and drinks, which can provoke an increase in pressure or problems with blood vessels.