Headache: Understanding the causes, types, symptoms, and management

Overview

What is a headache?

Headache is the gradual or sudden pain in the head area. It may occur on both sides or one side of the head region. It is a general condition seen in people; in most cases, it is not a severe sickness. In rare cases, a headache may be accompanied by a grave illness.

About headache

• Headache is also known as cephalalgia
• Headache is the most frequent type of pain
• Anybody can experience a headache at any time
• Headaches may reappear and may last for several days at a times ¹Overview | Researched based study from Sciencedirect.com

Types

Different types of headache

There are around 150-200 types of headaches divided into two categories

Primary headache

• A primary headache is a disease not due to other conditions such as tension and migraine headaches.

Secondary headache

• A secondary headache is a disease due to a different cause, such as abrupt caffeine withdrawal or head injury ²Types| Researched based study from ichd-3.org

Some of the common types of headaches are

Migraine headache

• Migraine headache is repeated moderate to severe deep pain in one part of the head. It can last for days.
• People often have difficulty in light and high sound and sometimes have nausea and vomiting

Symptoms

• Increased sensitivity to light and sound
• Nausea and vomiting
• Muscle weakness

Tension headache

• Tension headache is mild, moderate, or severe pain in the head, neck, or area behind the eyes.
• It can persist with the periodic occurrence of one to two times a month. The leading cause of tension headaches is stress.³Types| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Symptoms

• Pain radiates to the face, neck, and shoulders
• A feeling of pressure on the back of one’s eyes
• Sensitivity to light and sound

Cluster headache

• Cluster headache is the sharp pain on one side of the head with a tired eyelid, teary eyes, and stuffy nose.³Types| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov
• It comes as cycles of headache attacks with headache-free periods in the middle.
• It may occur eight times daily or continue every day for weeks or months.

Symptoms

• Tearing eyes
• Puffed eyelid
• Blocked nose
• Sensitive to light and sound

Sinus headache (allergy headache)

• It occurs due to swelling of the sinuses (air-filled spaces behind the bridge of the nose) due to some allergic reactions.
• Swelling causes pressure build up in the sinuses and leads to pain

Symptoms

• Facial pain
• Blocked nose
• Nasal discharge
• Ear pain
• Toothache

Exertion headache

• Exertion headache develop after strenuous physical activity such as running and weightlifting.
• It occurs due to enhanced blood flow to the brain and it can lead to pulsating headaches on both sides of the head
• It generally resolves within minutes or hours

Symptoms

• Pulsating pain throughout the head region

Rebound headache

• It occurs due to the long-term use of pain-relieving drugs to treat headaches.
• It leads to more frequent headaches than fewer

Symptoms

• Similar to migraine and tension headaches

Spinal headache (Postdural puncture headache)

• It occurs due to the seepage of spinal fluid through a pierced hole in the spinal cord’s membrane.
• The decreased pressure of the spinal fluid on the spinal cord and brain causes headaches.

Symptoms

• Neck pain
• Radiating pain in the arms
• Lightheadedness
• Nausea and vomiting

Ice pick headache

• Ice pick headaches are sharp, intense pain in the head region that lasts for only a few seconds.
• The pain radiates to different head parts and can occur several times daily without warning.
• Ice-pick headaches in the same head area might indicate a medical condition.³Types| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Thunderclap headache

• It is the most intense headache that comes on very fast and reaches a peak within a minute.
• It can be a symptom of a severe medical condition needing urgent attention.

Caffeine headache

• Caffeine constricts the brain’s blood vessels. Consuming too much may further narrow the blood vessels and lead to pain.
• Sudden withdrawal of daily caffeine intake also triggers headaches. Without caffeine, the brain’s blood vessels expand, and the sudden improvement in blood flow causes a headache.

Hormone headache (also called menstrual headache)

• Hormone headaches are headaches due to hormonal changes viz; estrogen in the body.³Types| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov
• it occurs during, after, or before the menstrual period in women

Hypertension headache

• It is a pulsating headache that occurs when the blood pressure in the body becomes extremely high.
• It occurs on both sides of the head

Post-traumatic headache

• It occurs after a head injury and may become persistent
• It generally lasts for six months to 1 year

Hemicrania continua

• Hemicrania continua are a persistent form of moderate headache occurring continuously on one side of the head and face and lasting up to 90 days.
• One can also experience occasional periods of severe pain a few times daily ³Types| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Causes

Causes of headache

• Dehydration
• Stress
• Hormonal changes
• Strong odors
• Regular smoking
• Regular nicotine consumption
• Certain foods such as chocolate, cheese, caffeine
• Skipping meals
• Under eating
• Nutrient deficiency
• Exposure to allergens
• Weather change
• Incorrect sitting position
• Lack of sleep
• Excessive sleeping
• Excessive cough
• Hereditary(running in families)
• Infections(cold,fever)

Symptoms

Symptoms of headache

Common symptoms are

• Pain in the head region
• Pain radiating to the eye, face, neck, and shoulder area⁴Symptoms| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov
• Seeing lines or spots
• Muscle weakness
• Difficulty speaking
• Numbness
• A pressured feeling in the back of the eyes
• Sensitive to sound and light

Other symptoms, along with headaches, need medical attention

• High fever(102 to 104 degree Fahrenheit)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Difficulty speaking
• Loss of balance
• Difficulty in walking
• Blurring of vision
• Fainting
• Numbness
• Seizure (body shaking)
• Paralysis ⁴Symptoms| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of headache

CT (Computed tomography) scan

• It uses a computer and X-rays to take pictures inside the body

MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging)

• It uses radio waves and a magnetic field to take images inside the body

X-ray

• It uses electromagnetic radiation to create images inside the body

Blood tests

• To determine the medical condition that is causing the headache ⁵Diagnosis| Researched based study from Sciencedirect.com

Risk factor

Risk factors for headache

• Increased weight
• People with increased exercise
• People without exercise
• People taking excessive stress
• Regular smokers
• Alcoholism (Addicted to alcohol) ⁶Risk factor| Researched based study from Sciencedirect.com

Management

Management of headache

Tension headache

Over-the-counter (OTC) medication

• Aspirin-It relieves pain and fever
• Ibuprofen-It fever, pain, and swellings
• Naproxen-It helps reduce swelling and pain⁷Management| Researched based study from Sciencedirect.com

Prescription medication (if OTC medicine doesn’t work)

• Meloxicam-It relieves pain and inflammation
• Indomethacin-It relieves moderate to severe pain and reduces swelling
• Ketorolac-It relieves moderate to severe pain and inflammation⁷Management| Researched based study from Sciencedirect.com

Migraine headache

• Rizatriptan-It is used to relieve severe migraine symptoms and prevents the symptoms from getting worse
• Sumatriptan-It relieves severe migraine and associated nausea and vomiting
• Propranolol-It reduces anxietyand helps prevent migraine attacks

Cluster headache

• Sumatripta-It relieves the symptoms and prevents the headache from getting worse
• Lidocaine-It causes temporary loss of sensation in the skin area

Oxygen therapy

• The treatment provides extra oxygen to breath⁷Management| Researched based study from Sciencedirect.com

Thunderclap headache

• Beta-blockers-It lowers the stress on the heart and blood vessels
• Calcium channel blockers-It lowers the blood pressure and increases the oxygen and blood flow to the heart ⁷Management| Researched based study from Sciencedirect.com

Alternative treatment

Alternative methods to manage headache

Engaging in physical activity

• Exercising regularly
• It reduces migraine frequency
• It decreases the intensity and duration of headaches ¹⁵Alternative treatment| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Acupuncture

• In acupuncture, needles are inserted into bodily areas to activate sensory nerves.
• It reduces the frequency of migraine headache attacks ⁹Alternative treatment| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Yoga

• Yoga is an exercise with a specific breathing technique
• It relieves stress and anxiety
• It decreases pain and improves the quality of life ⁸Alternative treatment| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Remedies

Home remedies to ease headache

Cold compress

Applying a cold pack or cold compress on the affected area

• It lowers nerve conduction and constricts blood vessels
• It reduces pain and swelling ¹⁰Remedies| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Keeping hydrated

• Drinking adequate water reduces headache attacks
• Also decreases the duration and severity of pain ¹²Remedies| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Taking adequate sleep

• Taking the correct amount of sleep reduces the severity of headache
• It decreases headache frequency ¹³Remedies| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Drinking tea or coffee

• Taking beverages such as tea or coffee enhances mood
• It constricts the blood vessels hence prevent headache¹¹Remedies| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Ginger

• Supplementing with ginger eases nausea and vomiting
• It decreases the symptoms of severe headache ¹⁴Remedies | Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Complications

What are the associated complications?

Common complication

• Lightheadedness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Sleeplessness

Serious complication

• Diarrhea
• Stomach pain
• Stomach Ulcer
• Loss of balance
• Confusion
• Rapid heartbeat
• Difficulty in breathing
• Seizure(convulsions)
• Stroke (blood vessels in the brain rupture and bleed)¹⁶Complications | Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Prevention

Preventing headache

• Taking enough water
• Eating balanced diet
• Taking adequate sleep
• Doing regular exercise¹⁵Prevention| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov
• Staying stress-free ¹⁷Prevention | Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Take away

Key Takeaways

• Primary headaches are not life-threatening
• One could manage primary headaches with proper diagnosis and treatment
• Secondary headaches require immediate medical attention and can be fatal if left untreated