One of the most annoying types of pain because it disrupts a person’s daily routine is head pain, and its incidence is about 50% of adults in the world’s population, and it is more common in women than in men. Some may think that pain or headache is only a passing symptom and do not realize that it is a disease that occurs for several reasons and requires effective diagnosis and treatment, so we will detail in this article its different types, causes, and how to diagnose and treat it.
What is headache?
Headache, or as it is called a headache, is a feeling of pain in a specific part of the head or neck, and it is one of the most common medical problems that we suffer from on a daily basis. This type of pain affects the life and daily activity of a person depending on its severity, the duration it lasts, in addition to the location of the pain, and sometimes it may be an indicator of the presence of a more serious health problem.
What are the types of headache?
Types of head pain are divided into 4 types that differ in their nature and causes, and whether they appear on their own or due to another pathological problem. It should be noted that the first three types are considered types of primary headaches that occur on their own without a greater pathological cause, which is completely different from secondary headaches. A full explanation is given below:
Migraine headache
Migraine is characterized by pulsating pain in the head that includes one side of the head and is accompanied by many symptoms such as nausea and extreme sensitivity to light. This type of pain affects women up to 3 times more than men, and its most important causes are hormonal changes in the body, hunger or fasting for a long period, and genetic factors.
Cluster headache
Cluster headache is a rare type that begins with sharp, stabbing pain around the eyes. It is considered one of the most severe types of headache. It occurs in the form of recurring attacks daily and is largely linked to smoking and drinking alcohol, as they are among the most severe triggers. The pain attack lasts for 3 hours and may recur several times a day.
Tension headache
Tension headaches are the most common type of headache and result from intense exposure to tension, psychological pressure, and mental stress with lack of sleep. The pain is moderate and appears in the form of a tightening around the forehead and at the back of the head, and lasts from 30 minutes to a few hours.
Secondary headache
As for secondary headaches, they are a type of headache that results from a more complex health condition. It is not a disease but a symptom of some diseases, and the most important causes of this type of pain are:
- Fever with exposure to a viral or bacterial infection.
- Head injury or concussion.
- Severe high or low blood pressure.
- A brain disorder such as meningitis.
- Excessive use of analgesic medications.
- Health problem in the jaw and teeth.
- التهاب الجيوب الأنفية.
Diagnosis of head pain
It is necessary to diagnose head pain in order to know the causes and begin an appropriate treatment plan. Therefore, doctors at Al Mousa Specialist Hospital help you diagnose the symptoms in the following effective ways:
- Conduct a complete medical history of the patient and ask about the nature and duration of the headache, whether it comes in the form of sudden attacks, and the most important symptoms accompanying it.
- Physical examination to identify and detect any sign of nerve injury or damage, or any health problem that led to the pain.
- A blood test to ensure that the person is not suffering from acute anemia, and a urine test to ensure that there is no infection that caused the fever and headache, is done with high accuracy in the Al-Mousa laboratory, which includes a group of the best accurate examination and diagnostic devices.
- CT scan or MRI to rule out tumors, bleeding in the brain, or any problem related to the blood vessels in the brain.
- Some cases may require a lumbar puncture if the doctor suspects the presence of meningitis. Lumbar puncture is a medical procedure in which a very fine needle is inserted into the lumbar vertebrae into the spine to withdraw a sample of the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord.
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Treatment of headache
There is no doubt that treating headache is the first step towards improving the quality of life and reducing the suffering caused by headaches. The doctor depends in choosing the treatment on the type and cause of the pain and the accompanying symptoms. Treatment includes the following:
العلاج بالأدوية
The first thing that doctors recommend to treat headaches is analgesic medications or medications that reduce the annoying symptoms of headache, and they can be divided as follows:
- Mild analgesics: They are usually used for simple, non-chronic types of headaches or those resulting from fatigue and tension. They include Paracetamol, ibuprofen, and aspirin, but only in certain cases.
- Medications to treat migraines: In cases of migraines, the doctor usually recommends a combination of medications such as sumatriptan, anti-nausea medications, and anti-spasmodics in some cases.
- Treatment of cluster headaches: This type of headache requires effective and rapid treatment, which sometimes includes inhaling pure oxygen with the use of nasal sprays, with preventive treatment such as cortisone, in addition to painkillers, of course.
تغيير نمط الحياة
Along with drug treatment, doctors recommend some instructions that will help you change your lifestyle, reduce headaches, and alleviate suffering. The most important of these instructions are:
- Getting enough sleep and rest daily reduces headache and stress.
- Physical therapy and massage to treat headaches resulting from muscle tension in the neck.
- Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercises, meditation, and yoga.
- Drink enough water to avoid dehydration.
- Do not take excessive painkillers on a daily basis.
- Exercise regularly and avoid smoking.
Treatment of advanced headache
In cases Severe chronic headaches Doctors may resort to advanced techniques to treat it, the most important of which are:
- Botox injection:
This method has proven successful in many cases, especially for those who suffer from recurring chronic migraine attacks. - العلاج السلوكي المعرفي CBT:
It is a successful and effective type of psychological treatment that aims to reduce stress and anxiety and deal better with headaches related to stress or depression. It is worth noting that the Rafah Center affiliated with Al Mousa Hospital includes an elite group of the most skilled doctors and psychologists in the Arab world, who conduct psychological and behavioral sessions for patients in order to teach them how to deal with tension headaches. - Neurostimulation:
By using low electrical currents to stimulate specific nerves with the aim of reducing and relieving pain or headaches, it is used in the case of all other treatment options.
Treating the causes of secondary headaches
As we mentioned previously, secondary headaches appear for other underlying health reasons, so the doctor resorts to treating them or controlling them well in order to reduce the resulting pain, such as treating the sinus problem, avoiding irritants, and taking blood pressure medications to control blood pressure, which greatly reduces the attacks of chronic headaches.
Head pain may be annoying and affect your daily life, but it is easier to treat and control, so we advise you to make a comprehensive medical visit at Al Mousa Specialist Hospital to diagnose the disease, identify its type and causes, and perform all necessary tests in Al Mousa Laboratory, then begin a safe treatment journey that guarantees you access to medical care at the highest level of quality.
Frequently asked questions
Below we answer common questions related to headaches and their seriousness:
What does a headache indicate?
Headache indicates a wide variety of medical causes, as we mentioned, such as sleep disorders, stress, dehydration, high blood pressure, or sinusitis, so an accurate diagnosis must be made to find out the cause.
How do I know the type of headache?
In order to identify the type of headache, you must note its nature, the exact location of the headache, and the factors that help it appear and increase, then ask the doctor about these points and find out the correct diagnosis.
When is headache serious?
Head pain becomes serious when it is a sign of a health problem that requires immediate medical intervention, especially if it is accompanied by symptoms such as blurred eyes, difficulty speaking, numbness, or temporary loss of consciousness with vomiting.
Sources
Headaches – clevelandclinic
How is the cause of a headache diagnosed? – healthdirect
