What is headache ?
Headache is a pain in the head that is located above the eyes or the ears, behind the head, or in the back of the upper neck.
Cause of headaches
1. Primary headaches
Not associated with another diseases, example :
- Tension headache
- Cluster headache
- Migraine headache
2. Secondary headaches
Caused by associated disease, may be minor or serious and life threatening.
Primary headache
1. Tension headache
Tension headache does not have a clear cause. May have a cause that is similar to the cause of migraine headaches.
Symptoms of tension headache
• Often begin in the back of the head and upper neck
• As a band-like tightness or pressure
• As a band of pressure encircling the head
• With the most intense pain over the eyebrows
• Usually is mild ( not disabling ) and bilateral
• Not associated with an aura
• Seldom associated with nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light and sound
• Sporadically, unfrequently, without a pattern
• Can occur frequently and even daily in some people
• Most people are able to function
2. Migraine headache
Migraine headache is a combination of vasodilatation and the release of chemicals from nerve fibers that coil around the blood vessels. During a migraine attack, the temporal artery enlarges. Enlargement of the temporal artery stretches the nerves that coil around the artery and causes the nerves to release chemicals. The chemicals cause inflammation, pain, and further enlargement of the artery. The increasing enlargement of the artery magnifies the pain.
Activate the sympathetic nervous system in the body :
- In the intestine causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Delays emptying of the stomach thereby prevents oral medications from entering the intestine and being absorbed
- Decreases the circulation of blood, and this leads to pallor of the skin as well as cold hands and feet
- Contributes to the sensitivity to light and sensitivity as well as blurred vision
Symptoms of migraine headache
• Chronic condition of recurrent attacks
• Most migraine attacks are associated with headaches
• As an intense, throbbing pain that involves one temple ( in the forehead, around the eye, or back of the head )
• Unilateral, about the third the pain is bilateral
• Unilateral headaches typically change sides from one attack to the next
• Usually is aggravated by daily activities
• Nausea, vomiting, facial pallor, cold hands, cold feet, sensitivity to light and sound can be found in this type of headaches
• Prefer to lie in a quiet, dark room during an attack
• A typical attack lasts between 4 and 72 hours
An estimated 40%-60% of migraine attacks are preceded by premonitory (warning) symptoms lasting hours to days. The symptoms may include sleepiness, irritability, fatigue, depression or euphoria, yawning, and cravings for sweet and salty foods. Patients and their family members usually know that when they observe these warning symptoms that a migraine attack is beginning.
20% of migraine headache are associated with an aura. Aura precedes the headache, occasionally it may occur simultaneously with the headache. The most common auras are :
1. Flashing, brightly colored lights in a zigzag pattern ( fortification spectra ), usually start in the middle of the visual field and progressing outward.
2. A hole ( scotoma ) in the visual field, also known as a blind spot.
A less common aura consists of pins and needles sensations in the hand and the arm on one side or around the mouth and the nose on the same side. Other auras include auditory ( hearing ) hallucinations and abnormal tastes and smells.
For approximately 24 hours after a migraine attack the sufferer may feel drained of energy. The sufferer may also experience a low grade headache along with sensitivity to light and sound. Some sufferers may have recurrences of headaches during this period.
3. Cluster headache
Cluster headache does not have a clear cause, but it is known that alcohol dan cigarettes can precipitate attacks.
Symptoms of cluster headache :
• Headaches that come in groups ( clusters )
• Lasting for weeks or months
• Separated by pain-free periods of month or years
• During the period, pain occurs once or twice daily, but some patients may more than twice daily
• Each episode lasts from 30 minutes to one and one-half hours
• The same time every day and often awaken the patient at night
• Pain is exeruciating and located unilaterally around or behind one eye
• The pain as feeling like a hot poker in the eye
• Affected eye become red, inflamed, and watery
• Nose on the affected side may become congested and runny
• Patients with cluster headache tend to be restless
• They often pace the floor, bang their heads against a wall, and can be driven to desperate measures
• More common in males than females
Secondary headache
Disease causing secondary headaches :
• Tumors in the brain
• Subdural hematomas
• Epidural hematomas
• Infections such as meningitis
• Strokes
• Subarachnoid hemorage
• Sudden onset of severe high blood pressure
• Temporal arteritis
• Acute angle glaucoma
• Infections of sinuses, ear, and teeth
• Hypothyroidism
• Repeated carbon monoxide poisoning
• Parkinson’s disease
• Medication
• Overuse of OTC or prescription analgesic ( rebound headache )
• Cardiac ischemia
So, which is yours? ;D
Headache is a pain in the head that is located above the eyes or the ears, behind the head, or in the back of the upper neck.
Cause of headaches
1. Primary headaches
Not associated with another diseases, example :
- Tension headache
- Cluster headache
- Migraine headache
2. Secondary headaches
Caused by associated disease, may be minor or serious and life threatening.
Primary headache
1. Tension headache
Tension headache does not have a clear cause. May have a cause that is similar to the cause of migraine headaches.
Symptoms of tension headache
• Often begin in the back of the head and upper neck
• As a band-like tightness or pressure
• As a band of pressure encircling the head
• With the most intense pain over the eyebrows
• Usually is mild ( not disabling ) and bilateral
• Not associated with an aura
• Seldom associated with nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light and sound
• Sporadically, unfrequently, without a pattern
• Can occur frequently and even daily in some people
• Most people are able to function
2. Migraine headache
Migraine headache is a combination of vasodilatation and the release of chemicals from nerve fibers that coil around the blood vessels. During a migraine attack, the temporal artery enlarges. Enlargement of the temporal artery stretches the nerves that coil around the artery and causes the nerves to release chemicals. The chemicals cause inflammation, pain, and further enlargement of the artery. The increasing enlargement of the artery magnifies the pain.
Activate the sympathetic nervous system in the body :
- In the intestine causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Delays emptying of the stomach thereby prevents oral medications from entering the intestine and being absorbed
- Decreases the circulation of blood, and this leads to pallor of the skin as well as cold hands and feet
- Contributes to the sensitivity to light and sensitivity as well as blurred vision
Symptoms of migraine headache
• Chronic condition of recurrent attacks
• Most migraine attacks are associated with headaches
• As an intense, throbbing pain that involves one temple ( in the forehead, around the eye, or back of the head )
• Unilateral, about the third the pain is bilateral
• Unilateral headaches typically change sides from one attack to the next
• Usually is aggravated by daily activities
• Nausea, vomiting, facial pallor, cold hands, cold feet, sensitivity to light and sound can be found in this type of headaches
• Prefer to lie in a quiet, dark room during an attack
• A typical attack lasts between 4 and 72 hours
An estimated 40%-60% of migraine attacks are preceded by premonitory (warning) symptoms lasting hours to days. The symptoms may include sleepiness, irritability, fatigue, depression or euphoria, yawning, and cravings for sweet and salty foods. Patients and their family members usually know that when they observe these warning symptoms that a migraine attack is beginning.
20% of migraine headache are associated with an aura. Aura precedes the headache, occasionally it may occur simultaneously with the headache. The most common auras are :
1. Flashing, brightly colored lights in a zigzag pattern ( fortification spectra ), usually start in the middle of the visual field and progressing outward.
2. A hole ( scotoma ) in the visual field, also known as a blind spot.
A less common aura consists of pins and needles sensations in the hand and the arm on one side or around the mouth and the nose on the same side. Other auras include auditory ( hearing ) hallucinations and abnormal tastes and smells.
For approximately 24 hours after a migraine attack the sufferer may feel drained of energy. The sufferer may also experience a low grade headache along with sensitivity to light and sound. Some sufferers may have recurrences of headaches during this period.
3. Cluster headache
Cluster headache does not have a clear cause, but it is known that alcohol dan cigarettes can precipitate attacks.
Symptoms of cluster headache :
• Headaches that come in groups ( clusters )
• Lasting for weeks or months
• Separated by pain-free periods of month or years
• During the period, pain occurs once or twice daily, but some patients may more than twice daily
• Each episode lasts from 30 minutes to one and one-half hours
• The same time every day and often awaken the patient at night
• Pain is exeruciating and located unilaterally around or behind one eye
• The pain as feeling like a hot poker in the eye
• Affected eye become red, inflamed, and watery
• Nose on the affected side may become congested and runny
• Patients with cluster headache tend to be restless
• They often pace the floor, bang their heads against a wall, and can be driven to desperate measures
• More common in males than females
Secondary headache
Disease causing secondary headaches :
• Tumors in the brain
• Subdural hematomas
• Epidural hematomas
• Infections such as meningitis
• Strokes
• Subarachnoid hemorage
• Sudden onset of severe high blood pressure
• Temporal arteritis
• Acute angle glaucoma
• Infections of sinuses, ear, and teeth
• Hypothyroidism
• Repeated carbon monoxide poisoning
• Parkinson’s disease
• Medication
• Overuse of OTC or prescription analgesic ( rebound headache )
• Cardiac ischemia
So, which is yours? ;D
