Headache is a very common condition that causes pain or discomfort in any part of the head, scalp, neck, face or back of the head, and can affect one or both sides of the head or be localized to a specific point and is generally caused by stress, high blood pressure, anxiety, or even more serious problems such as a brain tumor, for example.
Headache pain can be mild, but in some cases, it can be severe and accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting or greater sensitivity to light, and last from 30 minutes to a few days, making it difficult to concentrate on daily activities. , at school or at work.
Headache can be treated with simple measures such as rest, hydration, lifestyle changes or the use of anti-inflammatory or analgesic medications such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, for example, which must be recommended by your doctor.
Main symptoms
Headache can start gradually or suddenly and cause symptoms such as:
- Pain on the right or left side of the head;
- Pain throughout the head;
- I miss the nut;
- Stitching sensation in the head;
- Nausea or vomiting;
- Sensitivity to light, smell or sounds;
- Eyelid drooping;
- Pain in the back of the eye.
If you experience these symptoms, it is important to consult a general practitioner or neurologist to determine the cause of the headache and initiate the most appropriate treatment. Generally, headache is not the result of a serious illness, however, in some cases it can occur due to an aneurysm or meningitis and require emergency medical attention as it can be life-threatening.
Types of headache
There are several types of headache that can occur in different regions of the head, the most common of which are:
1. Tension headache
Tension headache, or tension headache, is the most common type of headache and can occur due to contraction of the muscles in the neck, face or scalp, caused by stress, anxiety or poor posture, for example.
This type of headache is generally characterized by mild pain, but it can gradually worsen throughout the day, causing pain around the head as if there was a bandage around the head, pain in the back of the neck or a sensation of pressure behind the legs. eyes. Check out other tension headache symptoms.
2. Cluster headache
Cluster headache is the most painful type of headache and the exact cause is unknown, however, some studies suggest that it may be due to changes in the hypothalamus, a region in the brain responsible for regulating the biological clock.
This type of headache is characterized by a severe headache that starts suddenly, behind or around the eyes, which can radiate to other areas of the face, head or neck and is generally accompanied by nausea, excessive tear production, redness. or swelling in the affected eye, blocked nose, or drooping eyelid. Learn how to identify all the symptoms of cluster headache.
3. Migraine
Migraine, also called migraine, is a type of chronic headache that can occur due to an imbalance of chemical substances in the brain, such as serotonin, or excessive use of painkillers or excessive coffee consumption, causing a stabbing headache on one side of the head and can be accompanied by sensitivity to light, smells or sounds, for example. See other migraine symptoms and how to identify them.
4. Post-spinal headache
Post-spinal headache, or post-spinal headache, is a type of headache that can occur after the administration of anesthetic into the cerebrospinal fluid, which is the liquid that surrounds the spinal cord, during surgeries such as cesarean section or knee surgery, for example.
This type of headache is characterized by a headache in the front or back of the head, shoulders or neck, which worsens when sitting or standing, and can begin 24 to 48 hours after anesthesia and last for about 5 days. Check out other symptoms of post-spinal headache.
Possible causes
The causes of headache can be classified according to the origin of the pain, and include:
1. Primary headache
Primary headache is the most common and is not caused by any disease, but some factors contribute to its onset, such as:
- Consumption of alcoholic beverages, especially red wine;
- Consumption of processed foods, due to nitrates used as preservatives;
- Poor sleep or insomnia;
- Bad posture;
- Skipping meals;
- Difficulty seeing;
- Hormonal changes;
- Stress;
- Anxiety;
- Emotional tension.
This type of headache may be related to an increased sensitivity of some region of the brain, nerves, blood vessels or muscles of the head or neck, being very common in some types of headache such as tension headache or cluster headache, for example.
2. Secondary headache
Secondary headache usually develops as a complication of other diseases such as:
- Sinusitis;
- Aneurisma cerebral;
- AVC;
- Brain tumor;
- Ear infection;
- Glaucoma;
- Dehydration;
- Alcoholic hangover;
- High pressure;
- Meningitis;
- Panic syndrome attacks;
- Trigeminal neuralgia;
- Toxoplasmosis.
Furthermore, excessive use of analgesic medications, used to treat pain, can cause secondary headache.
How the treatment is carried out
Headache treatment should always be indicated by a general practitioner or neurologist, and aims to alleviate headache symptoms or treat the disease that is causing the headache.
The main headache treatments include the use of analgesic or anti-inflammatory medications, such as paracetamol, dipyrone or ibuprofen, and, in some cases, such as migraine or cluster headache, other medications such as triptans, ergotamine or opioids may be recommended by the doctor.
Furthermore, some simple measures can help relieve headaches such as rest, hydration, applying cold compresses to the forehead or hot compresses to the neck or back of the head, massaging the scalp or taking a warm relaxing bath, for example.
Other important measures that can help prevent new headache attacks are identifying the cause of stress, undergoing therapy with a psychologist, practicing physical activities, avoiding the use of alcoholic beverages or excessive coffee consumption.
When to go to the doctor
It is important to seek medical help immediately or the nearest emergency room if you experience symptoms that include:
- Fever above 38ºC;
- Confusion;
- Somnolence;
- Seizures;
- Difficulty speaking, seeing or hearing;
- Difficulty walking;
- Numbness, weakness or paralysis on one side of the body;
- Nausea and vomiting that doesn’t go away.
In addition, a doctor should be consulted if the person experiences headaches frequently or symptoms worsen even with the use of medication, so that an assessment can be made of the type and cause of the headache and the most appropriate treatment.
