headache
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headache
by mehboob 6th November 2011, 5:02 am
What is a headache?
A Headache is defined as a pain in the head or upper neck. It is one of
the most common locations of pain in the body and has many causes.
How are headaches classified?
Headaches have numerous causes, and in 2007 the International Headache
Society agreed upon an updated classification system for headache.
Because so many people suffer from headaches and because treatment
sometimes is difficult, it is hoped that the new classification system
will allow health care practitioners come to a specific diagnosis as
to the type of headache and to provide better and more effective
treatment.
There are three major categories of headaches:
What are primary headaches?
Primary headaches include migraine, tension, and cluster headaches, as
well as a variety of other less common types of headache.
can affect the quality of life. Some people have occasional headaches
that resolve quickly while others are debilitated. While these
headaches are not life-threatening, they may be associated with
symptoms that can mimic strokes or intracerebral bleeding.
What are secondary headaches?
Secondary headaches are those that are due to an underlying structural
problem in the head or neck. There are numerous causes of this type of
headache ranging from bleeding in the brain, tumor, or meningitis and encephalitis.
What causes tension headaches?
While tension headaches
are the most frequently occurring type of headache, their cause is not
known. The most likely cause is contraction of the muscles that cover
the skull. When the muscles covering the skull are stressed, they may
spasm and cause pain. Common sites include the base of the skull where
the trapezius muscles of the neck inserts, the temple where muscles
that move the jaw are located, and the forehead.
There is little research to confirm the exact cause of tension
headaches. Tension headaches occur because of physical or emotional stress
placed on the body. These stressors can cause the muscles surrounding
the skull to clench the teeth and go into spasm. Physical stressors
include difficult and prolonged manual labor, or sitting at a desk or
computer for long periods of time concentrating. Emotional stress may
also cause tension headaches by causing the muscles surrounding the
skull to contract.
What are the symptoms of tension headaches?
The pain symptoms of a tension headache are:
How are tension headaches diagnosed?
The key to making the diagnosis of any headache is the history given by
the patient. The health care practitioner will ask questions to
understand when the headache began, learn about the quality, quantity,
and duration of the pain, and ask about any associated symptoms. The
history of tension headache will include pain that is mild to moderate,
located on both sides of the head, described as a tightness that is
not throbbing, and not made worse with activity. There will be no
associated symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or light sensitivity.
The physical examination, particularly the neurologic portion of the
examination, is important in tension headaches because it should be
normal to make the diagnosis. The only exception is that there may be
some tenderness of the scalp or neck muscles. If the health care
practitioner finds an abnormality, then the diagnosis of tension
headache would not be considered until the potential for other types of
headaches have been investigated.
How are tension headaches treated?
Tension headaches are painful, and patients may be upset that the
diagnosis is "only" a tension headache. Even though it is not
life-threatening, a tension headache can affect the activities of daily
life.
Most people successfully treat themselves with over-the–counter (OTC)
pain medications to control tension headaches. The following work well
for most people:
If these fail, other supportive treatments are available. Recurrent
headaches should be a signal to seek medical help. Massage,
biofeedback, and stress management can all be used as adjuncts to help with control of tension headaches.
It is important to remember that OTC medications, while safe, are
medications and may have side effects and potential interactions with
prescription medications. It always is wise to ask your health care
practitioner or pharmacist if you have questions about OTC medications
and their use. This is especially important with OTC pain medications,
because patients use them so frequently.
It is important to read the listing of ingredients in OTC pain
medications. Often an OTC medication is a combination of ingredients,
and the second or third ingredient may have the potential for drug
interaction or contraindication with medications a patient is currently
taking. For example:
A Headache is defined as a pain in the head or upper neck. It is one of
the most common locations of pain in the body and has many causes.
How are headaches classified?
Headaches have numerous causes, and in 2007 the International Headache
Society agreed upon an updated classification system for headache.
Because so many people suffer from headaches and because treatment
sometimes is difficult, it is hoped that the new classification system
will allow health care practitioners come to a specific diagnosis as
to the type of headache and to provide better and more effective
treatment.
There are three major categories of headaches:
- primary headaches,
- secondary headaches, and
- cranial neuralgias, facial pain, and other headaches
What are primary headaches?
Primary headaches include migraine, tension, and cluster headaches, as
well as a variety of other less common types of headache.
- Tension headaches
are the most common type of primary headache. Up to 90% of adults have
had or will have tension headaches. Tension headaches occur more
commonly among women than men. - Migraine headaches
are the second most common type of primary headache. An estimated 28
million people in the United States (about 12% of the population) will
experience a migraine headache. Migraine headaches affect children as
well as adults. Before puberty,
boys and girls are affected equally by migraine headaches, but after
puberty, more women than men are affected. It is estimated that 6% of
men and up to 18% of women will experience a migraine headache in their
lifetime. - Cluster headaches are a rare type of primary
headache affecting 0.1% of the population (1 in a 1,000 people). It
more commonly affects men in their late 20s though women and children
can also suffer these types of headache.
can affect the quality of life. Some people have occasional headaches
that resolve quickly while others are debilitated. While these
headaches are not life-threatening, they may be associated with
symptoms that can mimic strokes or intracerebral bleeding.
What are secondary headaches?
Secondary headaches are those that are due to an underlying structural
problem in the head or neck. There are numerous causes of this type of
headache ranging from bleeding in the brain, tumor, or meningitis and encephalitis.
What causes tension headaches?
While tension headaches
are the most frequently occurring type of headache, their cause is not
known. The most likely cause is contraction of the muscles that cover
the skull. When the muscles covering the skull are stressed, they may
spasm and cause pain. Common sites include the base of the skull where
the trapezius muscles of the neck inserts, the temple where muscles
that move the jaw are located, and the forehead.
There is little research to confirm the exact cause of tension
headaches. Tension headaches occur because of physical or emotional stress
placed on the body. These stressors can cause the muscles surrounding
the skull to clench the teeth and go into spasm. Physical stressors
include difficult and prolonged manual labor, or sitting at a desk or
computer for long periods of time concentrating. Emotional stress may
also cause tension headaches by causing the muscles surrounding the
skull to contract.
What are the symptoms of tension headaches?
The pain symptoms of a tension headache are:
- The pain begins in the back of the head and upper neck and is described as a band-like tightness or pressure.
- Often is described as pressure encircling the head with the most intense pressure over the eyebrows.
- The pain usually is mild (not disabling) and bilateral (affecting both sides of the head).
- The pain is not associated with an aura (see below), nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light and sound.
- The pain occurs sporadically (infrequently and without a pattern) but can occur frequently and even daily in some people.
- The pain allows most people to function normally, despite the headache.
How are tension headaches diagnosed?
The key to making the diagnosis of any headache is the history given by
the patient. The health care practitioner will ask questions to
understand when the headache began, learn about the quality, quantity,
and duration of the pain, and ask about any associated symptoms. The
history of tension headache will include pain that is mild to moderate,
located on both sides of the head, described as a tightness that is
not throbbing, and not made worse with activity. There will be no
associated symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or light sensitivity.
The physical examination, particularly the neurologic portion of the
examination, is important in tension headaches because it should be
normal to make the diagnosis. The only exception is that there may be
some tenderness of the scalp or neck muscles. If the health care
practitioner finds an abnormality, then the diagnosis of tension
headache would not be considered until the potential for other types of
headaches have been investigated.
How are tension headaches treated?
Tension headaches are painful, and patients may be upset that the
diagnosis is "only" a tension headache. Even though it is not
life-threatening, a tension headache can affect the activities of daily
life.
Most people successfully treat themselves with over-the–counter (OTC)
pain medications to control tension headaches. The following work well
for most people:
- aspirin,
- ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil),
- acetaminophen (Tylenol) and
- naproxen (Aleve)
If these fail, other supportive treatments are available. Recurrent
headaches should be a signal to seek medical help. Massage,
biofeedback, and stress management can all be used as adjuncts to help with control of tension headaches.
It is important to remember that OTC medications, while safe, are
medications and may have side effects and potential interactions with
prescription medications. It always is wise to ask your health care
practitioner or pharmacist if you have questions about OTC medications
and their use. This is especially important with OTC pain medications,
because patients use them so frequently.
It is important to read the listing of ingredients in OTC pain
medications. Often an OTC medication is a combination of ingredients,
and the second or third ingredient may have the potential for drug
interaction or contraindication with medications a patient is currently
taking. For example:
- Some OTC medications include caffeine, which may trigger rapid heartbeats in some patients.
- In night time preparations, diphenhydramine
(Benadryl) may be added. This may cause drowsiness, and driving or
using heavy machinery may not be appropriate when taking the
medication.
- Aspirin should not be used in children and teenagers because of the risk of Reye's Syndrome, a disease where coma, brain damage, and death can occur if there is a viral like illness when the and aspirin is used.
- Aspirin
and ibuprofen are irritating to the stomach and may cause bleeding.
They should be used with caution in patients who have peptic ulcer disease or who take blood thinners like warfarin (Coumadin) and clopidogrel bisulfate (Plavix). - Acetaminophen, if used in large amounts, can cause liver damage or failure. It should be used with caution in patients who drink significant amounts of alcohol or who have liver disease.
- One
cause of chronic tension headaches is overuse of medications for pain.
When pain medications are used for a prolonged period of time,
headaches can recur as the effects of the medication wear off. Thus,
the headache becomes a symptom of the withdrawal of medication (rebound headache)
mehboob- Senior Member
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