My head hurts what should I do. What to do if your head hurts: causes of pain and treatment methods What will help if your head hurts
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At least 70% of the population of developed countries suffer. But in fact, many more people are familiar with this condition, it's just that many do not go to the doctor, preferring to cope with it on their own. But we must remember that the only symptom of many serious diseases is a severe headache. What to do in this case, only a doctor can advise. And, despite the fact that now there are many means that can quickly alleviate suffering, you should not get carried away with them. After all, in order to get rid of headaches, you need to eliminate the causes that cause them, and not just the symptoms themselves. Therefore, before drinking pills, you need to find out why you have such a condition.
What diseases can cause headaches
Their most common cause is vascular diseases: arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, vegetovascular dystonia and others;
Migraine is also quite common, especially among women;
Cervical osteochondrosis can lead to pinching of the artery, resulting in severe headache and nausea;
Often this condition is a symptom of viral diseases;
Sinusitis, tonsillitis and sinusitis also cause headaches;
It will certainly occur after a traumatic brain injury;
Various vision problems, ranging from increased intraocular pressure and glaucoma to the wrong selection of glasses, can cause headaches;
This condition is sometimes caused by otitis media and dental disease;
A constant strong may indicate the development of a brain tumor;
It can also be caused by some diseases of the endocrine glands, as well as such rather rare diseases as temporal arteritis and disorder of the temporomandibular joint.
Other causes of this condition
But in many cases, perfectly healthy people complain of severe headaches. What to do in this case, you can understand if you remember what events preceded this state. After all, pain is often caused by an unhealthy lifestyle and diet. What can cause them?
Most often, these are stresses, depressive states and psycho-emotional overstrain;
Nervous and muscular fatigue, as well as excessive mental stress;
Sedentary lifestyle and lack of fresh air;
Incorrect posture, the habit of tucking your legs under you and hunching your back;
Sleep disturbances, night work;
Change in meteorological conditions, sudden hypothermia or heat stroke;
Improper nutrition: malnutrition, diets, the predominance of nitrites, caffeine and histamine in food;
Poisoning by alcohol, chemicals and drugs;
Lack of certain vitamins and minerals, such as iron or vitamin B deficiency.
Types of headaches
Depending on the causes, the pain may be different. It can vary in intensity: strong, sharp, dull, aching, pressing or throbbing. The pain may increase gradually or with a change in position, from sounds and smells. Sometimes it subsides when in peace and quiet, during sleep. Depending on this, you need to choose the means to combat it. Headache is also classified according to the place of its occurrence. It can be shingles, when the whole head hurts, or it can be localized in one place. It often depends on the reasons causing it. Most often there is pain in the temporal region. It can be caused by various diseases, stress and poisoning. Pain in the back of the head occurs due to pressure surges or cervical osteochondrosis. Eye strain and infectious diseases can cause such sensations in the forehead. Sometimes they are localized on one side. For example, a severe headache on the left side of the head indicates the development of a migraine.
Diagnostics
It is already clear that taking analgesics can not always be a salvation from suffering.
If you incorrectly determine the cause and do not eliminate it, then after the medication stops, the algia will reappear. Therefore, you need to know why a severe headache appears. What to do to get rid of it, the doctor can advise after the examination. He will find out where the pain is localized, how frequent it is, and when it hurts more. The doctor should definitely tell about additional symptoms: dizziness, nausea, visual impairment and others. You will need to remember what preceded the onset of pain, what medications you took and how you ate. If necessary, the doctor will prescribe additional laboratory tests: usually these are blood tests, magnetic resonance imaging, an electroencephalogram of the brain, and an x-ray of the cervical spine. You may also need to consult other specialists: an ophthalmologist, dentist, neurologist and endocrinologist.
When can you self-medicate?
Many people suffer from severe headaches. What to do in this case, some decide on their own. But you can do without visiting a doctor only when you have already passed the examination and know your diagnosis. If headaches torment you periodically, and you know their cause, you can not go to the doctor every time, but apply the treatment that he prescribed for you. When is it necessary to visit a medical institution?
It's the first time you've had a headache and you don't know what might be causing it.
The pain came on suddenly, for no apparent reason, and gradually gets worse.
The usual localization and intensity of pain has changed.
Additional symptoms appeared: nausea, dizziness, "flies" before the eyes, weakness.
Headache Treatment
If you know your diagnosis and the cause of this condition, if you experience pain infrequently and disappear after using medications, you can self-medicate. Most people try to manage their pain with pills. Usually, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, and others help. But in many cases, these drugs, which are by no means harmless, can be dispensed with if the causes of pain are eliminated. Rest, a walk in the fresh air, a relaxing massage, or a warm bath often help. For many, the headache goes away after sleep, meditation or auto-training. Folk remedies help well: herbs, compresses and acupressure. When treating in a medical institution, physiotherapy can be prescribed: electrophoresis, salt caves, magnetic and laser therapy. In any case, all methods of getting rid of pain should be directed primarily to its cause.
How to help yourself without medication
If you understand why you have a severe headache, what to do at home to relieve an attack? If it is caused by overwork, you need to take a break from work, take a walk in the fresh air or just relax. It is useful to drink a decoction of chamomile, valerian, linden or mint.
Then you need to lie down and try to relax. To do this, turn off the computer, TV and radio, draw the curtains. You can turn on pleasant music and light it up. A warm bath with sea salt or aromatic oils will also help to relax. It is good to do with your fingers or a stream of warm shower. Sometimes the pain caused by tension disappears if you tightly bandage your head with a towel for 10 minutes, you can just press hard on the temple area for a short while. In some cases, relief comes from drinking warm tea with lemon and honey or just sweetened water. All other treatments should be chosen depending on the reasons for which a severe headache appeared. What to do - in each case, the doctor can advise. For example, with high blood pressure, you need to take drugs to reduce it, during infectious diseases - antiviral and antipyretic drugs, and for osteochondrosis, massage. But in any case, measures must be taken in a timely manner, you can not endure if there is a severe headache.
What to do: what pills to take
All medicinal pains can be divided into several groups. Any of them without the recommendation of a doctor can be taken only once - to relieve an attack.
1. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs will help with pain of any origin, in addition, they will relieve inflammation and fever. The best of them are Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Nurofen, Imet, Ketorolac and others.
2. Antispasmodics are used for tension pain, vasospasm, if NSAIDs do not help. Recommended "Papaverin", "Drotaverin", "No-shpa", "Spazgan" and others.
3. If the pain is caused by pressure fluctuations or other vascular disorders, analgesics will help well in this case: Analgin, Nebalgin and others. But in combination with them, you need to take vasodilators or special hypertensive drugs.
4. These drugs may not help if you have a very severe headache. What to do, usually in this state, a person cannot decide. Combined preparations can quickly bring relief: Pentalgin, Solpadein, Brustan, Novigan and others.
Folk remedies
But sometimes taking medication is not possible for various reasons, and a severe headache occurs. What to do in this case? Many are helped by various herbal preparations, compresses and other traditional medicine. You just need to choose the method of treatment that is acceptable to you, which will really alleviate the condition.
You can drink warm decoctions of herbs: St. John's wort, coltsfoot, oregano, mint, valerian and some others will help;
You can make compresses with lemon, lavender or orange oil, or simply inhale their scent;
You need to drink the juice of potatoes, spinach or viburnum berries;
Ginger tea or cinnamon tea helps a lot;
Acupressure and acupuncture also help.
Severe headache during pregnancy
What should women who are expecting a baby do, because most drugs are contraindicated for them? And pregnant women often have headaches. This is due to hormonal changes in the body of a woman, toxicosis and circulatory failure.
If the headache is not very bad, you can try to cope with it without medication. Can help:
Rest and sleep;
Shower or warm bath;
Relaxing exercises or breathing exercises;
Neck and shoulder massage;
A warm or cold compress on the bridge of the nose and forehead for pain in this area, as well as on the neck in case of a severe headache in the back of the head.
What if these methods don't help? You can take one painkiller tablet. If you do it infrequently, then it will not bring harm. What medicines are allowed to be taken by pregnant women? In small doses, "Citramon" or "Paracetamol" is allowed, there is also a little-known drug - "Acetaminophen". It is strictly forbidden to drink "Nurofen", "Aspirin" and analgesics. The same rules must be followed during lactation, if there is a severe headache. "What to do: I feed the child, but I have no strength to endure?" - women are often interested. There are drugs compatible with breastfeeding, mainly based on paracetamol. These are Kalpol, Eferalgan or Panadol. They are the least harmful to the child, but often they should not be taken either.
Headache in children
Smaller patients are much more difficult to treat because they often cannot accurately describe their condition. Therefore, in case of a headache, it is necessary to show the child to the doctor. Only by making a diagnosis can a doctor determine how to deal with the problem. In addition to pain associated with various health disorders, today's children often experience tension pain and even suffer from migraines. A light massage, rest and sleep, linden tea or a cool compress can help the baby. For a one-time removal of a strong attack, it is permissible to give the child medicines based on paracetamol. Most non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics are contraindicated for children under 12 years of age.
Prevention of headaches
As you know, all drugs are unsafe for health. Therefore, it is better not to allow a state when you need to drink strong drugs. For those who regularly suffer from headaches, it is very important to follow the correct daily routine, go to bed on time and walk more in the fresh air. It is necessary to lead an active lifestyle, spend less time at the TV and computer. It is also very important to monitor nutrition, because many foods can cause headaches: coffee, chocolate, carbonated drinks, canned food and sausages. They are best avoided. You also need to give up alcohol and smoking.
Headache may be associated with arterial hypertension. This is a chronic condition of the cardiovascular system, a disease characterized by a persistent increase in blood pressure (abbreviated designation - BP) from 140/90 mm Hg. Art. and higher. Approximately 20-30% of adults suffer from arterial hypertension. With age, this figure increases. About 50% of people over 60 years of age have a named chronic disease.
In people suffering from arterial hypertension, the pressure is increased, the head hurts in the early hours. The place of localization of pain is the occipital region. It is worth noting that pain may not occur with a slight or moderate increase in pressure. They are always observed only with a rapid increase in blood pressure over 200/120 mm Hg. Art.
Arterial hypotension
If you often have a headache, what could be the reasons? One of the answers to this question is arterial hypotension. This is a condition in which the blood pressure is 90/60 mm Hg. Art. and less. He is characterized by a headache. It can be dull, constricting, bursting or pulsating. The place of its localization is the fronto-parietal or fronto-temporal region. With arterial hypotension, the following symptoms are also observed:
- weakness;
- lethargy in the morning, drowsiness;
- dizziness;
- emotional instability;
- sensitivity to weather conditions;
- pallor;
- palpitations and shortness of breath on exertion.
Specialists have created a classification of arterial hypotension. There are acute and chronic varieties. The latter is subdivided, in turn, into physiological, primary and secondary. Acute hypotension is a sudden decrease in blood pressure. A similar condition is observed with blood loss, acute myocardial infarction.
Low blood pressure, headache... Such symptoms are sometimes noticed by absolutely healthy people. Athletes are an example. They have low blood pressure with constant physical activity. This feature is an adaptive reaction of the body, a protective measure. This type of arterial hypotension is called physiological.
The primary form is considered an independent disease. It is not a consequence of any pathologies, does not occur against the background of existing diseases. Doctors see primary hypotension as a special form of a neurosis-like brain disease. But the secondary variety is observed in various diseases (for example, in heart failure, brain injuries, arrhythmias).
subarachnoid hemorrhage
Sudden diffuse or occipital pain may be characteristic of a subarachnoid hemorrhage. This term (abbreviated designation - SAK) experts refer to the accumulation of blood in the cavity between the pia mater and arachnoid. Hemorrhage occurs suddenly due to rupture of an arterial aneurysm or a traumatic brain injury.
People who have experienced a subarachnoid hemorrhage note that the pain they experienced was the most severe of those they encountered in their lives. Other symptoms of SAH include nausea, vomiting, and loss of consciousness. With a hemorrhage, a person needs urgent medical attention. This is a very dangerous condition that can lead to death or severe disability.
intracerebral hemorrhage
Diffuse or local intense pain may be a symptom of intracerebral hemorrhage. This is the ingress of blood into the substance. Hemorrhage occurs when the walls of the cerebral vessels are ruptured or during diapedesis (the release of blood elements from the vessels in violation of their permeability and tone).
Who can face this dangerous condition? Most often, hemorrhage occurs in people in adulthood and old age due to cerebral atherosclerosis, hypertension. Much less often, the causes are blood diseases, inflammatory changes in the cerebral vessels. Cerebral hemorrhage sometimes occurs in young people. The most common cause is drug use.
brain formations
If you often have a headache, what are the reasons? An unpleasant symptom can be caused by various brain formations (hematomas, tumors, abscesses). Pain is most often diffuse. Sometimes it occurs in the place where the volumetric formation is localized. In the early stages of the disease, it makes itself felt in the morning and is weak. As the disease progresses, the nature of the pain changes. It becomes constant and stronger. Other symptoms that indicate the presence of space-occupying formations include:
- vomiting that occurs without nausea;
- the appearance of oculomotor disorders;
- memory impairment;
- behavior change, etc.
It is worth noting that pain sometimes occurs when tilting the head, coughing, straining, physical exertion. Such a symptom may be characteristic of tumors of the posterior cranial fossa. The pain that occurs in these situations and is short-lived can occur without intracranial pathologies.
Inflammation of the paranasal sinuses
If the head often hurts in the forehead, heaviness is felt near the nose, then this is sinusitis. This term means inflammation of the mucous membrane lining one or more paranasal sinuses. Sinusitis occurs as a complication of influenza, runny nose, infectious diseases. Bacteria and viruses provoke inflammation.
Pain and heaviness in sinusitis are not the only symptoms. Other signs of the disease are:
- nasal congestion;
- fever;
- purulent discharge from the nose;
- soreness when tapping the area of the affected sinus.
Acute angle-closure glaucoma
The term "glaucoma" refers to an eye disease, which is characterized by such a sign as an increase in intraocular pressure. There are 2 forms of this disease. One of them is called angle-closure glaucoma. It occurs due to contact between the trabecular meshwork and the iris. With an illness, the outflow of intraocular fluid from the eye becomes difficult, the functioning of the trabecular network is disrupted. As a result, intraocular pressure rises.
Acute angle-closure glaucoma is something that causes daily headaches for some people. With this disease, people complain of pain in the eye area, vision of rainbow circles around the light source, blurred vision. Intraocular pressure is measured to confirm or rule out angle-closure glaucoma.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
When often can be in a long-term head injury. The pain can be excruciating for a long period. Its character is dull, diffuse and aggravated by physical exertion. Usually this symptom is accompanied by memory impairment, decreased attention, poor sleep, dizziness, fatigue and psycho-emotional disorders.
In some cases, there are such suspicious signs as an increase in headache, drowsiness, confusion, changes in pupil size, asymmetry of reflexes. They may not be the consequences of TBI, but symptoms of chronic subdural hematoma.
Tension headache
And the treatment of the disease is a very relevant topic today. What is meant by this term? This is a common type of primary pain. Currently, it is called differently. Specialists use a new term - tension-type headache.
This symptom can occur at any age. It begins to manifest itself most often after 25 years. Tension pain is characterized by moderate intensity. In almost all cases, it is bilateral, and the place of its localization is the temporal, frontal and occipital regions. Pain has a squeezing effect. It usually lasts from several minutes to several days. Vomiting is not observed. Sometimes there is nausea, sound and photophobia.
Tension headache, the symptoms and treatment of which are known to about 20% of the inhabitants of our planet, has a different etiology. The causes of pain are different:
- getting into stressful situations;
- sleep disturbance;
- irregular meals;
- too high or too low ambient temperature;
- hormonal disorders;
Pain while taking medication
If you often have a headache, the reasons may lie in the medications you take. Painful symptoms are caused by the following drugs:
- vasodilators (calcium antagonists, nitrates, chimes);
- anticonvulsants;
- corticosteroids;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory;
- hypolipidemic;
- antihistamines;
- estrogens;
- antibacterial.
Visit to a specialist
If headaches periodically torment, then you need to seek help. This symptom may hide a life-threatening disease. If you often have a headache, which doctor can help? First you need to make an appointment with a therapist and tell him about your problem. It is very important to convey to the specialist all the important information, because the effectiveness of the treatment depends on it.
So, at the reception you should tell:
- in what area of the head is the pain localized;
- at what time of the day does it make itself felt;
- when the pain first appeared (for example, a few days ago);
- when the pain sensation becomes maximum;
- what additional suspicious symptoms are observed with a headache;
- Are any medications being taken?
- how many pain attacks happen per day;
- whether there are any diseases.
It is imperative to express your point of view about what the pain could have caused. Maybe a few weeks (months, years) ago there was an injury or a blow to the head. This is very important information that will help the specialist determine the cause of the headache that occurs.
The therapist, after listening to all complaints, will prescribe the necessary examinations (blood test, X-ray, computed tomography, etc.). The doctor will also give a referral to the necessary specialist (for example, to an otolaryngologist in the presence of diseases associated with the ear, throat, nose, head, to a neurologist to exclude or confirm diseases related to the nervous system) in order to finally find out why the patient often hurts head.
The reasons (what to do, we described above) for the appearance of such a symptom, as is clear from the foregoing, are different. But summing up, it is worth noting that only 5% of patients who turn to doctors with complaints of headache have serious illnesses. Despite this, you should not refuse to make a visit to a specialist. The doctor will find out the real cause of the pain and give advice on how to get rid of this painful symptom.
Headaches are an unpleasant symptom that most often occurs in women engaged in mental work. Getting rid of it is not always easy, since analgesics do not bring the desired effect. Many are interested in the question of what to do if the head hurts very badly.
Kinds
Before starting treatment, it is important to determine the type and identify the cause of pain. Depending on the provoking factor and the nature of the symptom, several types are distinguished.
Pain of tension
It is considered the most common type of pain. The reason for its appearance is a long stay in one position, when there is tension in the muscle tissue of the neck and back.
It is described as squeezing the head from the outside, as if wearing a tight hat. The pain captures the whole head, affects the temples, the crown.
Hypertensive
It occurs in people with hypertension. Always localized in the back of the head and temples, has a pulsating character.
The intensity of pain is different depending on the change in blood pressure. The only diagnostic method is the measurement of blood pressure.
Hypotensive
It occurs as a result of a lack of blood circulation in the brain or squeezing of the vessels of the neck.
It is characterized by severe pain, in which the head is spinning. In some cases, syncope occurs. Diagnosis is carried out on the basis of blood pressure indicators, a study of the vessels of the neck and brain is prescribed.
Migraine
Unlike other types of headaches, the exact causes of its occurrence have not been established.
A hallmark of a migraine is that pain is localized in only one part of the head.
An unpleasant symptom occurs in the temple, accompanied by photophobia, increased sensitivity to noise. There is a decrease in performance.
The pain is strong enough, not amenable to treatment with drugs, lasts from several hours to 5 days.
cluster pain
They are found predominantly in men. The pains are paroxysmal in nature, localized in the back of the head, temples, forehead. They are only a few minutes long. But after a while they appear again. Eliminated by drugs.
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Other Factors Causing Headache
An unpleasant symptom may occur as a result of the development of certain diseases or conditions. Headaches often come from hangovers. But after the elimination of alcohol intoxication, it passes on its own.
With constant pain, it is important to pay attention to your health, as they may indicate the presence of the following pathologies:
- Meningitis. A dangerous disease that occurs with inflammation of the membranes of the brain. As concomitant signs, photophobia, sensitivity to noise are observed. Cough, fever are possible.
- Tumor. In the presence of neoplasms of a different nature, when they reach large sizes, pressure on the brain tissue increases, which leads to pain.
- Shake. The causes are various injuries. Associated symptoms are nausea, vomiting and dizziness.
Headache can occur as a result of the development of diseases such as sinusitis, sinusitis, frontal sinusitis, encephalitis,.
Painful sensations appear during pregnancy. In this case, it is strictly forbidden to take medicines on your own.
The symptom can indicate many diseases. That is why, in the absence of the effectiveness of drugs and traditional medicine within 2-3 days, you must consult a doctor and undergo a diagnosis.
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To get rid of a headache, you can apply general recommendations that will allow you to relax, restore your emotional state:
- Get out into fresh air. This will increase the level of oxygen in the vessels and reduce the content of carbon dioxide. But not always a walk helps to cope with the pain, but it helps to significantly alleviate it.
- Measure BP. If the device shows low or high pressure, you should take the appropriate tablet. The pain will pass immediately after the normalization of indicators.
- Lie down. Experts recommend lying down, preferably in a cool room, taking the most comfortable position, drawing the curtains, and eliminating noise. This will reduce the unpleasant symptom, especially with migraines.
- Make a cold compress. To do this, you need to take a piece of cloth, a towel, gauze, moisten in cool water and attach to the site of pain localization. When the compress is hot, you need to turn it over.
- Do exercises. Physical activity will relieve pain caused by muscle tension in the neck and back.
Also, an unpleasant symptom can be caused by the presence of a squeezing object, thing. It is enough to take off your hat, undo your braid or tail, and the pain disappears after a few minutes.
In cases where they appear constantly, accompanied by severe dizziness, nausea or vomiting, you need to contact a specialist. The doctor will diagnose and prescribe the necessary treatment.
How to quickly relieve pain
Often the headache is caused by overexertion, mental disorders. To relieve an unpleasant symptom, it is recommended to use aromatherapy. Special oils will allow you to relax.
In order to eliminate discomfort, apply:
- Lavender oil. Rubbed into the forehead and temples. The product relaxes, soothes and helps to fall asleep.
- Tea tree oil. Its vapors are inhaled, which allows you to remove an unpleasant symptom.
- Peppermint oil. It has a rather strong smell. It is applied to the temples, scalp, wrists and rubbed with light movements. For one procedure, a couple of drops of the product are enough.
Peach, orange oils allow you to get rid of a headache. Among folk methods, valerian drops are popular. They are inhaled to help relieve pain.
Relax with an oil bath. Doctors also advise using a contrast shower. The impact of cold and then hot water invigorates, strengthens the walls of blood vessels.
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In the absence of the effectiveness of a shower, bath and aromatic oils, massage is used. Before each procedure, you should warm up the muscles of the head and neck with stroking.
Massage movements are made from the top of the head, then they move to the neck, back of the head, and shoulders. But the procedure should be done carefully, as in some cases it leads to increased pain. After the massage you need to rest.
Compresses will quickly get rid of discomfort and discomfort. They are made using potatoes, previously peeled and grated on a fine grater, cabbage leaf, cinnamon. They help relieve pain, especially after mental overload, stress.
Headache medications
If folk methods and other methods of getting rid of painful sensations do not help, medicines are used. They should be taken after consulting a doctor, in accordance with the instructions.
NSAIDs
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used to relieve pain, eliminate inflammation and normalize body temperature.
The most effective are Ibuprofen, Nurofen, Aspirin and Ketorolac. It is better to take them on a course.
Antispasmodics
Medicines are used in the presence of spasms of muscles or blood vessels. Already after the first tablet, significant relief is felt.
For headaches caused by spasm, Spazmolgon, Drotaverin, No-shpa or Spazgan are prescribed. Medicines have a number of contraindications and similar effects.
Analgesics
They are used for pain caused by a change in blood pressure. In this case, hypertensive drugs or vasodilators should be used.
Effective "Analgin" and "Nebralgin". But they should be taken, like all means, with caution.
Combined funds
They are prescribed only for severe headaches. Dosage and duration of administration are calculated by the doctor.
Such means as "Solpadein", "Pentalgin", or "Novigan" will help to remove an unpleasant symptom. The active components of the drugs can reduce pain already 20 minutes after administration.
Triptans
This group includes drugs designed specifically for the relief of pain caused by migraines, when half of the head hurts. They should be taken with caution, as they have a number of similar effects.
The most popular include Sumatriptan and Migrain. Used when other drugs do not help to cope with pain.
The doctor recommends taking multivitamin complexes. They help support the immune system. The composition includes vitamin B12, the effect of which is similar to the effect of neuroleptics. That is why, in some cases, the funds help reduce the intensity of pain.
It is important to know that drugs should only be taken as directed, unless there are contraindications. If you experience symptoms of an overdose or side effects, you should consult a doctor.
other methods
In cases where sleep, rest, compresses and other methods do not help to cope with pain, and drugs do not relieve discomfort, a physiotherapeutic effect is prescribed.
Often, electrophoresis with a drug is prescribed. The impact of an electric current converts the active substances of the drug into ions that penetrate the soft tissues. Thus, the action is directly on the focus of pain, helping to relieve tension after exertion.
Effective laser or magnetic therapy. Methods of physiotherapeutic influence are prescribed mainly in the case when the pain is caused by trauma, overstrain, and the pills do not help. Exposure to a laser or magnetic waves stimulates the work of the brain, blood vessels.
But these methods have contraindications, the presence or absence of which must be established by the doctor. This is due to the fact that the procedures have a number of side effects.
Why there is a headache, only a doctor can say. With a rare occurrence of discomfort, traditional medicine and other methods are used. But with the constant manifestation of a symptom, you need to contact a medical institution and undergo a diagnosis to determine the cause of its occurrence.
Many are wondering what to do if the head hurts a lot, but there is no definite treatment regimen, since there are a lot of reasons for the appearance of the symptom. It is important to establish what is the provocateur of painful sensations and only after that begin the course of therapy. Improper treatment or its absence leads to serious complications.
The other day, another, already the third, version of the International Classification of Headaches was released. Even if doctors and scientists hardly understand all the intricacies of the issue, then what can we say about ordinary patients! in the head, especially regular and intense ones, reduce the quality of life and can make a person practically disabled. You can’t tolerate such pain - you need to find the cause, and then deal with treatment and prevention.
What does "headache" mean?
Why explain this, you ask? It’s already clear to everyone what “headache” means - every adult has encountered this condition at least once in his life. But few people know how a headache is born - and this understanding is important in order to distinguish between different types of pain.
To begin with, there are no pain nerve endings in the brain. That is why surgeons even perform brain surgery while the patient is conscious - it does not hurt, because there is simply nothing to hurt. And for the same reason, when the “head hurts”, the brain itself cannot hurt. The only exception is migraine.
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Types of headache
Headaches are divided into primary And secondary. The primary ones are independent neurological diseases, but the secondary ones are associated with some concomitant disease. If you have a headache, it is most likely the primary pain - it accounts for 90% of complaints. Nevertheless, first of all, the doctor must exclude secondary pain. Some are relatively harmless - such as pain and otitis media - but others can be dangerous.
Signs that may indicate secondary pain in the head: appeared for the first time after 50 years, changed character (the whole head used to hurt, and now only the left temple), “thunder-like” pain (starts abruptly and quickly intensifies), increases with sneezing, coughing, change in body position.
When patients see a doctor about a headache, they often think that this is a secondary pain - and blame it on cervical osteochondrosis, vascular problems, or increased intracranial pressure. But in fact, these reasons rarely cause a headache.
Kirill Skorobogatykh
Cervical is simply the process of age-related wear of the intervertebral discs in the cervical spine. This is a completely normal condition for an adult, and it should not cause pain. But there is a rather rare type of headache - cervicogenic, it accounts for approximately 1% of all headaches. Such pain is really connected with the neck - only not with osteochondrosis, but with the joints of the three upper cervical vertebrae.
Problems with blood vessels, namely with the blood supply to the brain, do not cause headaches - as we remember, there are no pain receptors in the brain. But some vascular pathologies can still cause pain in the head. For example, a rupture of an aneurysm causes a hemorrhage in the brain - the blood begins to irritate the pain receptors of the meninges, there is a sharp and acute pain, which is rapidly increasing. Another possible cause of pain is a dissection of a large artery, in particular, the carotid one. Such a pathology often occurs due to trauma - a blow to the head and neck, a car accident - and manifests itself in the form of a sudden severe pain in the head. If you suspect an aneurysm rupture or arterial dissection, you need to call an ambulance - these are extremely dangerous conditions that can end in death.
Finally, increased intracranial pressure(ICP) can cause headaches, but this is rare. Symptoms of headaches with high ICP: daily pain that gets worse when you lie down and decreases when you stand, nausea and. Even with an increase in ICP, swelling of the optic nerve head develops in the fundus - therefore, if headaches of this nature are suspected, patients are sent to see the fundus. But high ICP cannot be determined by MRI, although radiologists periodically write about this in their conclusions.
The cause of increased intracranial pressure is usually something that physically increases the volume of the substance in the skull: cysts, tumors, the same hemorrhages. Then the method of treatment is to remove the neoplasm. Another, very rare option is idiopathic: with this disease there are no formations in the brain, there are no visible reasons for the increase in ICP, but the pressure is still elevated. This disease usually occurs in women with, and weight loss most often normalizes intracranial pressure.
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What hurts in the head
If the doctor did not find any evidence of a secondary headache, then it hurts in the head itself. And one of the most common reasons migraine. Another common type of primary pain in the head is tension headache.
Most likely, the patient who came to the doctor with complaints of a headache is migraine. Although it is somewhat less common than a tension headache, it is much more intense and causes more suffering - which is why migraine patients still reach the clinic.
Kirill Skorobogatykh
Neurologist, Head of the University Headache Clinic
In Russia, out of 100 million adults aged 18 to 65, about 20% suffer from migraine. It causes such severe pain in the head that people can drop out of work and social life for one or more days. The symptoms of a migraine are as follows: pain is unilateral, throbbing, aggravated by movement and any physical activity, discomfort from light and / or sounds, nausea. A migraine attack usually lasts from four to 72 hours. Before the onset of an attack, there may be a so-called prodromal period, when there is still no pain, but weakness, drowsiness are felt, it is more difficult to concentrate, strange food “urges” appear - according to such symptoms, one can suspect the approach of a migraine.
Migraine comes with and without aura. Attacks with aura are less common, about 30% of cases, and are more severe than usual. Aura is a neurological disturbance that appears before the onset of a headache and lasts up to an hour. These may include spots of light in front of the eyes, numbness in the hand/face/tongue, tunnel vision, and even difficulty speaking. Normally, all manifestations of the aura disappear as soon as the pain begins, and only in extremely rare cases, neurological disorders can remain after an attack.
There is a rare and frightening form of aura called the Alice in Wonderland syndrome. With such an aura, it seems to a person that the surrounding objects become larger or, conversely, decrease in size. There is speculation that Lewis Carroll also suffered from migraine, and in the book "Alice in Wonderland" he bizarrely described the symptoms of his aura.
Migraine treatment aims to relieve pain as soon as possible. With migraine with aura, it is advisable to drink painkillers at the first symptoms of aura, with ordinary migraine - as soon as it starts. The sooner you take the pill, the faster the attack will pass - you can’t endure a migraine in any case. They take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for migraine, if they do not help - special drugs for migraine, triptans.
Even more often than migraine, in Russia it occurs tension headache- it is experienced by 30% of adults. Tension headache is caused by overexertion of the muscles of the neck, shoulders, and trapezium. If you sit in an uncomfortable position for a long time, carry heavy weights, take on too much weight in the gym, or are just constantly nervous - expect a tension headache.
According to the symptoms, a tension headache is an "anti-migraine": it is bilateral, not pulsating, not very intense, there is no nausea and sensitivity to light and sounds. Fortunately, tension headaches are not as painful as migraine headaches and go away fairly quickly. Often painkillers are not even needed - just take a walk in the fresh air and stretch your muscles.
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Prevention
In our country, 10% of people suffer from headaches 15 days a month or more - this means that the pain has become chronic. Such pain greatly reduces the quality of life, so measures must be taken to reduce the frequency of attacks.
Taking painkillers all the time won't help. On the contrary, if a person takes painkillers more than 10 times a month, overuse headaches occur. This means that the head hurts already from the very reception of painkillers. More pills - more pain, and the head starts to hurt more and more often.
“To reduce the number of seizures, we prescribe special treatment. These can include antidepressants, antiepileptics, blood pressure medications, and even Botox injections. The course of treatment is from six months to a year, after which headache attacks should become less frequent. Next - non-drug prevention, namely, a change in lifestyle depending on the type of headaches, ”says Kirill Skorobogatykh.
With migraines, it is important not to forget to eat on time, sleep well (not a little and not a lot, excess sleep also provokes a migraine), avoid your own migraine "triggers" - they are all different. Even certain foods and drinks, such as red wine, can trigger a migraine attack. People prone to migraines need to keep track of when they most often have an attack - and then try to avoid triggers.
With frequent tension headaches, you should think about changing your work chair, stretch your muscles more often and take breaks, go out into the fresh air. For any type of headaches, it will be useful to avoid stress, do yoga, Pilates or exercise therapy, move more, meditate. In more complex cases, biofeedback technology can help, which teaches a person to relax by tracking feedback from the body. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can help you cope better with everyday stress.
As for less traditional methods, there is a “black” and “grey” zone. Osteopathy is a "black" zone, you should not contact these specialists in any case.
Kirill Skorobogatykh
Neurologist, Head of the University Headache Clinic
Acupuncture, manual therapy, according to the doctor, are recognized practices of official medicine, but there is not enough evidence of their effectiveness in migraine. Therefore, this is a “gray” zone: it’s not a fact that it will help, but it’s also unlikely to harm. In addition, the placebo effect is very strong in pain therapy - so if you believe in "needles", you can use this method to treat and prevent headaches. Massage is also in the "gray" zone - it's very nice, but not very effective in treating headaches.
If, with all the preventive measures, headaches still interfere with your life, become more frequent and stronger, you should definitely seek help from a doctor, ”concludes Kirill Skorobogatykh.
Any malaise negatively affects the general well-being and performance. Therefore, if unpleasant symptoms occur, it is worth thinking about the causes of their occurrence and determining the most appropriate ways to correct them. Indeed, even an ordinary headache can bring many problems and completely disrupt all plans, especially if it occurs systematically or is especially pronounced. As practice shows, in most cases it is possible to cope with such a violation of well-being on our own. Let's clarify what to do if your head hurts a lot?
In order to successfully cope with headaches at home, you first need to determine the cause of their occurrence and correct it.
So, if the malaise is a symptom of a cold or SARS, it is advisable to take a medicine that helps reduce cerebral edema and an anesthetic. A good choice would be ordinary Paracetamol - it will remove the temperature and eliminate the pain. You can also use Analgin or Aspirin, and of the stronger drugs, Tempalgin should be preferred.
In the event that the head hurts badly due to diseases of the cervical vertebrae, a gentle massage of the cervical-collar zone can be performed. It is quite possible to do self-massage. Massage (stroke) this area with warm hands, then wrap yourself in a warm scarf and try to sleep. To relieve severe pain, doctors recommend the use of drugs presented by Cigan, Nimesil, Oksigan or Nimesulide.
If the cause of severe pain lies in lowering blood pressure, to reduce negative symptoms, you should drink a cup of fragrant brewed coffee or strong tea, you can also have a snack with chocolate. Of the medicines for such a problem, it is worth giving preference to Citramon, Askofen, Kofalgin or Farmadol.
If severe pain in the head is the result of high blood pressure, it is advisable to lie down and place a cold compress on the head. A good effect at the same time gives the reception of soothing teas, for example, with motherwort or mint. Of the drugs, it is allowed to take Indapamide, Captopril, Enalapril or Losartan. You can drink half a tablet of the medicine. If the pain persists, or if the medicine has not given a positive effect, it is worth consulting with your doctor. Also, without consulting a specialist, one cannot do even if the pressure rises systematically.
Sometimes severe headache occurs after stress. In such a situation, doctors advise to calm down and relax as much as possible. You can lie down, turn on calm relaxing music or light a fragrant candle. A warm bath helps many people cope with such pain. To more effectively calm down during stress, it is worth drinking a sedative medicine, for example, tincture or valerian tablets, motherwort, Corvalol, Novopassit, Fitosed, etc.
If severe pain bothers you constantly?
If unpleasant symptoms occur systematically, it is necessary to make an appointment with a doctor. Only a specialist will help determine the root cause of the ailment. After all, headaches are only a symptom of some pathological conditions. To make a correct diagnosis, doctors collect an anamnesis, conduct a series of studies, ranging from a banal general blood test to complex diagnostic procedures - computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Such studies allow you to take a good look at the brain and identify the cause of headaches.
Migraine pain
Sometimes severe headaches are a manifestation of migraine. This disease is often hereditary and can occur in several family members. Painful sensations in this pathology are one-sided, aggravated by any movement and exposure to bright light. Doctors do not yet know a single way to treat migraines forever. And ordinary painkillers do not stop such symptoms at all. Special medicines will help to cope with headaches, for example, Sumamigren, Immigran, Aspecard, Zolmitripsan. Do not use them on your own without consulting your doctor. After all, you can harm your health.
What folk remedies will help to cope with a severe headache?
To relieve severe pain, you can use various traditional medicine. So a good effect is given by taking herbal teas, for example, based on mint, lemon balm or thyme. Also, to make tea, you can combine hawthorn flowers and lemon grass in equal proportions. Brew a tablespoon of the resulting mixture with a glass of boiling water and leave in a thermos for infusion. After an hour, you can strain the finished infusion and take it in half a glass several times a day.
There is evidence that freshly squeezed juices will help to cope with a severe headache. So you can combine three parts carrot juice with one part spinach juice and one part dandelion juice. Drink in small sips.
You can also combine equal parts of carrot and cucumber juice.
If your head hurts a lot and it bothers you all the time, it is better not to self-medicate, but to consult a doctor. Using a tomograph will help clarify the causes of headaches.