Headache: causes, types and symptoms, diagnostic methods. What to do if you have a severe headache What to do for a headache
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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.
Our expert - Phytotherapist Svetlana Olkhovskaya.
Headache is a serious symptom, so it is better not to take this phenomenon lightly and undergo a comprehensive examination by a therapist and a neurologist. You will probably need to check the condition of the cervical spine, and maybe the vessels of the brain. But if specialists do not find any neurological pathologies in you, you can try to cope with the trouble on your own.
Prohibited
But first, about what not to do if you suddenly have a headache:
● Take pills. This is not the best solution, especially if they are abused. The fact is that most analgesics and many vasodilators have an echo effect, that is, over time they themselves begin to provoke an attack of pain.
● Drink alcohol. It dilates the blood vessels and at first, indeed, it becomes easier, but then the condition worsens.
● Drink coffee. If you have high blood pressure or have a tendency to atherosclerosis, even one cup of coffee can hurt. However, for hypotensive patients, on the contrary, a couple of sips of coffee will be a salvation. For those who constantly take horse doses of this drink, an extra dose will not help, but will only make it worse.
● Smoking. Nicotine causes a sharp vasospasm, from this the pain will become even more intense.
● Pamper yourself with delicacies. It is known that the so-called "gourmet migraine" can be provoked by hard cheeses, legumes, chocolate, nuts, cocoa, citrus fruits, spices, red and sparkling wines, crabs, smoked meats.
It's time to take over your head!
And now about what you should do to cope with the attack yourself.
1.
The easiest way is to do nothing, but just lie down, close your eyes and relax in complete silence, wait 10-15 minutes until it passes by itself. In most cases, the method works.
2.
Make a head massage with light stroking movements from the forehead to the back of the head. Next, walk from the top of the head down to the ears and from the top of the head to the back of the head, smoothly descending to the neck. Don't forget to massage your neck too.
3.
Ventilate the room well or, if time and weather permit, go for a walk in the fresh air.
4.
Darken the room and humidify the air with the help of appliances or simply by hanging wet rags on the radiator.
5.
Take a warm (but not hot) bath by adding a few drops of essential oils to the water: lavender, lemon, peppermint, marjoram. Fragrant foam and sea salt are welcome! Alternatively, standing under a hot shower will help relieve spasmodic headaches caused by muscle spasm at the back of the neck and head. You can do mustard foot baths - they reduce blood pressure in the brain.
6.
Make cold compresses - they constrict blood vessels in the painful area and reduce pain pulsation. A bag of ice cubes wrapped in a towel should be applied to the forehead, temples or back of the head for about 10-15 minutes.
7.
Spread whiskey or the occipital region with menthol ointment (an ordinary Vietnamese balm will do) or essential oil (citrus or rosemary).
8.
Drink a glass of still water. Often cramps arise from dehydration of the body, which can occur not only on a hot day, but also, for example, after a workout in the gym.
9.
Eat something warm: soup, porridge. Irregular eating often leads to headaches. This is likely due to fluctuations in blood glucose levels.
10.
Listen to calm, pleasant music or watch an interesting humorous program. Laughter not only tones blood vessels, but also contributes to the production of endorphins, pleasure hormones, which have an analgesic effect.
11.
If your head hurts quite often, and examinations do not find any neurological disorders in you, try wearing a string of natural yellow amber around your neck all the time. It is believed to ward off migraines.
Medications from the fridge
Traditional medicine knows many ways to help a sick little head. Some recipes contain quite exotic ingredients, such as bear fat. But still, most of the recommendations are quite feasible.
Since ancient times, our savvy ancestors used various natural substances to treat headaches. And most of them were edible: cabbage leaf, apple cider vinegar, honey, potatoes and other products. Well, what are we worse? We open the refrigerator and see what delicious things we have there that can also become healing?
1.
Take a cabbage leaf, briefly dip it in boiling water, cool it and apply it to the forehead, temple or back of the head - where it hurts. You can also boil potatoes in their skins and apply mashed warm potatoes directly in their skins to the forehead and temples. And another excellent remedy is lemon peel, peeled from white pulp.
2.
Drink freshly brewed black or green tea with a few mint leaves, generously adding sugar, and honey is even better. Honey contains potassium and magnesium, which relax the arteries, allowing it to improve blood flow to the brain. These same elements are rich in apple cider vinegar. Dilute a teaspoon of vinegar in a glass of boiled water and drink - it should feel better.
3.
Look into the kitchen and look for rosemary among the spices. This herb is good not only as an addition to fish or meat, but also as a cure for migraines. It prevents some headaches related to stress. Rosemary helps to resist spasms of blood vessels. The best way to use it is to brew it like a tea. Pour one teaspoon of dried rosemary leaves into a glass of boiling water, cover, let steep for 10 minutes, strain and drink.
4.
Many medicinal herbs effectively relieve headaches. For example, tea from lavender leaves and flowers is useful for this scourge. An excellent analgesic property has a common chamomile. You can also make a mixture of equal amounts of peppermint, oregano, and fireweed. For 1 st. a spoonful of the mixture - half a liter of boiling water. Insist, wrapped for 30 minutes, strain. Take 0.5-1 glass. But it is dangerous for pregnant women to take herbs.
5.
With frequent migraines, you need to change your diet and lean on foods rich in vitamin B2 (riboflavin).
Most often, brain cells in people who suffer from headaches receive an insufficient amount of the necessary components, and hence energy. Therefore, you need to periodically “feed” your brain cells with vitamin B2. It is found in liver, yeast, rose hips, eggs, milk, pulses, spinach, apricots, dark green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, and cabbage. A good "cure" for migraine is a fresh apple.
Despite the fact that poor diet, stress and fatigue are the main causes of headaches, dental problems can also be the cause of headaches. Headaches are based on malocclusion and an incomplete set of teeth. In the event that the headache is localized in the area of the eyeballs, you notice pain in the masticatory muscles, grind your teeth, feel clicks in the jaw joints, suffer from pain or ringing in the ears, neck or lower back pain, feel dizzy, consult a dentist .
Important
Headache is not a trifle, Dutch doctors warn. They argue that it may be a sign of focal lesions of the brain, which can be detected with careful examination. After checking about 300 people who complained of headaches, as well as 140 people from the comparison group, on magnetic resonance imaging, scientists identified 60 foci of cerebral infarction in 31 participants in the experiment who complained of migraine. At the same time, in patients with headache, heart attacks were detected seven times more often.
First you need to find out the possible cause of the headache and eliminate it:
- colds and acute respiratory viral infections - you should take drugs that relieve cerebral edema and analgesics (paracetamol, analgin, aspirin, tempalgin, sedalgin);
- diseases of the cervical vertebrae - massage of the cervical-collar zone, therapeutic exercises of the muscles of the neck and shoulder girdle help well. Of the drugs, sigan, oxygan, nimesil, nimesulide will help;
- low blood pressure - sometimes it's enough just to make yourself a cup of coffee or strong tea, eat a chocolate bar or drink hot cocoa. If it does not help, you can swallow two tablets of citramone, askofen, cofalgin, farmadol;
- high blood pressure - if you are convinced that you have high blood pressure, and these have arisen for the first time - you need to exclude coffee drinks, Coca-Cola and salty foods, alcohol from the diet. Be sure to lie down, put a cold compress on your forehead. It is good to drink soothing tea, you can add motherwort, mint. Of the drugs will help indapamide, captopril, enalapril, losartan. Such a pill should be taken once, you can start with half, but no more than one! In the absence of effect and with recurring headaches, it is better to consult a doctor and not take any self-treatment. You can drink pressure-lowering pills only after measuring blood pressure with a tonometer;
- stressful and psycho-emotional situations - in this case it is better to lie down, try to calm down and relax, light a fragrant candle, turn on light music. You can drink a sedative: tincture of valerian, corvalol, motherwort, novopassit, phytosed.
What to do with persistent headaches?
What to do with a headache if it torments constantly? The answer to this question is unequivocal: you should consult a doctor to determine the root cause of the problem. After all, the head hurts not just like that, but as a result of something. The doctor can measure your blood pressure, examine the fundus, check intraocular pressure. In addition, he can ask you some leading questions that will help him clarify the situation:
- how common are headaches?
- concretization of pain: in what part of the head is pain observed?
- daily dependence of pain: when does it hurt? Morning, evening, night?
- What other symptoms appeared along with the pain in the head?
- Does he feel sick during an attack?
- Are there any visual problems at the same time?
- Is there a feeling of weakness, is your head spinning?
- Does harsh light irritate you?
- What medications have you taken recently or are you currently taking?
- Have you recently had a cold or the flu?
- Have you received a head injury?
- maybe nervous or conflicted?
- do you have depression?
- What do you think is the cause of your headache?
In unclear situations, when it is not possible to determine the cause of the headache, an MRI or computed tomography procedure may be prescribed. These are photographs of various parts of the brain that provide complete information and help identify the problem.
What to do if you suffer from headaches?
Recurrent and severe headaches can be caused by migraine attacks. Often migraine is hereditary, it can occur in one family in several people.
Migraine pain can pulsate and be one-sided, reaching a peak with physical and motor loads. Attacks may last for one or more days.
A person with a migraine becomes sensitive to light, sharp taste, smell, or sound. Sometimes nausea and even vomiting may occur.
Migraine attacks can be triggered by lack of sleep, the peculiarities of the menstrual cycle in women, changes in weather and atmospheric pressure, stressful situations or overwork.
- Sumamigren is an effective remedy for migraine, it helps half an hour after taking it. Take half or whole tablet (100 mg), but not more than two tablets per day;
- Immigran is an anti-migraine drug based on sumatriptan. Can be used in tablets and spray. Single dosage - 50 mg or 100 mg, taken no more than twice a day;
- Aspecard - is sold in regular tablets of 0.1 g, or in effervescent soluble. Take half or whole tablet up to five times a day, dilute the effervescent tablet in a glass of water and drink;
- Zolmitriptan - take 2.5 mg, once a day. If there is no effect, you can take already 5 mg, but not earlier than after 2 hours. The drug is periodic: the greatest effect is achieved at the first symptoms of a migraine.
What to do with a terrible headache?
What to do with a headache, when you are reluctant to take pills, and a banal cold compress does not help?
You can try folk remedies, because they really help many:
- if the pain in the head is associated with PMS, you can apply slices of chopped onion to the temples, lightly massaging the skin with them;
- an aromatic lamp with lemon oil helps a lot: you can simply spread the lemon skins around the apartment and breathe in their aroma;
- you can brew mint or lemon balm tea and make a cold forehead compress out of it;
- brew and take tea from thyme;
- pour the same number of hawthorn flowers and lemon grass into a thermos, pour boiling water over it. Such an infusion should be drunk 0.5 cups several times a day;
- ginger tea gives a good effect, you can add oregano and lemon to it;
- by the way, lemon can also be used separately: cut off the "peas" from the lemon and attach them to the temples with the soft side, for at least 20 minutes;
- a relaxing and analgesic effect is provided by taking a hot bath with the addition of lemongrass and lemon balm oils. To enhance the effect, before the procedure, you can brew a cup of special oriental tea: a glass of boiling water should be poured over an anise star, half a cinnamon stick and a pinch of cumin. Tea can be drunk immediately or directly while taking a bath. After the procedure, you should not immediately run on business: relax and rest for at least another half an hour to consolidate the effect;
- useful for getting rid of headaches to drink freshly squeezed juice from carrots, spinach and dandelion (3:1:1);
- carrot-cucumber juice is also effective;
- elderberry flowers can be poured with boiling water at the rate of 1:10, insist for half an hour and drink a third of a glass before meals, you can with honey;
- at elevated pressure, it is useful to brew 2 tables in a thermos. tablespoons of viburnum berries in 0.5 liters of boiling water, drink as tea during the day. You can also cook viburnum jelly;
- it is good to apply a fresh cabbage leaf to the head, you can fix it and leave it overnight.
Folk remedies can be used both separately and in combination with traditional therapy methods, as well as for the prevention of seizures.
What to do with a terrible headache?
Headache, in addition to analgesic drugs, is well stopped by distracting procedures, namely physiotherapeutic methods.
Hot or cold compresses can be used depending on the type of migraine. Good reviews from the use of hot baths: foot and hand, you can gradually heat the water to 45 ° C. The duration of such baths is about 20 minutes. Relieves seizures as well as a contrast shower.
During the period of pain relief, it is possible to use diadynamic currents on the upper cervical sympathetic nodes. Exposure is used daily for four days, then every other day.
The use of electrophoresis of the collar zone with antispasmodics or sedatives is carried out in a course of 10-14 sessions.
Darsonvalization is a therapy technique carried out with a high frequency pulsed current. The exposure lasts about 8 minutes, the treatment lasts for two weeks.
A good effect is observed from hirudotherapy procedures and from sessions of manual massage of the cervical-collar zone. Professional massage provides relaxation of spasmodic muscles and relieves fatigue, relieves pain in the head, relieves nervous tension, and normalizes the blood supply to the head. It is useful in destabilizing blood pressure, osteochondrosis, and has a beneficial effect on the movement of blood in the collar region.
A positive effect on headaches is the use of acupressure, which has a calming effect. Each specific point is massaged for five minutes; symmetrical points are massaged simultaneously. Here are the most important points to influence during headache attacks:
- the first point is located on the outer side of the forearm, just above the wrist. This point should be massaged while sitting, alternately on the left and right hand;
- the second point is located in the temporal region, near the border of hair growth. The point is massaged simultaneously on two temples;
- the third point is located near the outer corner of the eye, and is also massaged on both sides.
If the headache occurs only occasionally and is not very intense, then you can use conventional pharmaceutical preparations or folk remedies. Constant and prolonged headaches require the consultation of a doctor who will find the cause of this not entirely pleasant condition. We hope that we have answered the question: "What to do with a headache?". Take care of your health!
Headaches are one of the most common ailments in humans. Barely feeling this symptom, many are in a hurry to take various painkillers, most often in the form of tablets. However, sometimes situations arise in which the head hurts, the pills do not help, and most people do not know what to do, what to do.
The reason nothing helps is that headaches are often just a symptom of more serious illnesses. In this regard, it is necessary to deal not with the consequences, but with the source of the problem, that is, with the cause of the disease.
There can be many prerequisites for the appearance of a headache - from simple overwork to problems requiring surgical intervention. Most often, a headache does not go away for the following reasons:
- stressful condition caused by conflicts or excitement;
- excessive physical activity;
- rheumatism in the neck;
- excessive use of alcohol or tobacco;
- drops in blood pressure;
- allergies or poisoning;
- drug exposure;
- weather dependence.
It is not difficult to cope with most of these factors - it is enough for a person to change their lifestyle a little, to respond more calmly to difficulties and to balance the diet.
However, in some cases this will not be enough and you will need to take specialized drugs or the help of a qualified specialist. The latter is especially important, since self-medication can lead to a deterioration in the condition or the loss of precious time for medical care.
Doctors note that a headache may be one of the symptoms of the following health problems:
There are also types of headaches that are not associated with other pathologies. These include:
- migraine;
- cluster headache.
As you can see from the list, the diseases are serious. That is why if the head hurts a lot (and especially if) and the pills do not help, an early diagnosis is necessary in order to prevent complications in the future.
Migraine
This disease is characterized by a long duration - from several hours to several days and often has a hereditary character. Women are the most affected by the disease. The causes of migraine are mainly sleep problems, hormonal changes, unbalanced nutrition and vascular pathology. With a migraine, the pain is usually throbbing in nature and focused on one side of the face.
You can recognize the disease by the symptoms that precede it:
- irritability;
- isolation;
- vomiting or nausea;
- aversion to bright light and noise.
In order for the headache to go away, some changes in the diet are needed. So, experts recommend giving up alcohol, coffee, citrus fruits, smoked products, chocolate, eggs and cottage cheese. It is best to immediately contact a specialist when symptoms appear and undergo a complete diagnosis of the body, based on the results of which a further course of treatment will be proposed. If this is not possible, then the following folk remedies can help:
- lemon peel, which is applied to the temporal areas;
- freshly squeezed potato juice;
- tincture based on clover leaves;
- blackcurrant juice, take 3-4 times a day;
- massage of the temporal areas using peppermint oil.
cluster pain
The disease resembles the previous one, but differs in a smaller area of the painful area. As a rule, it occurs in one point of the head. It is most common in athletic men. Characteristic features of the patient's appearance, as a rule: a square face, a split chin and bright eyes. This type of headache does not occur in children.
Cluster pain is more acute than migraine. In addition, there is a burning sensation of the head in the area of the eyebrows and pain in the eyes. The pain may eventually spread to the ears, jaw, or temples. The duration of pain varies from several tens of minutes to several hours. In some cases, seizures may disappear for a long time. The symptoms of the disease are as follows:
- irritability;
- eyes watery and redden;
- pallor;
- nausea;
- nasal congestion;
- sweating.
A possible cause of pain is a change in the hormonal background associated with impaired functioning of the hypothalamus.
Brain tumor
This neoplasm appears in the brain tissues and can be both malignant and benign. The latter can be cured without surgery. A malignant tumor grows very quickly and metastasizes. Therefore, the disease is difficult to treat, especially in the later stages.
With this disease, pain is felt constantly, and during movement it only intensifies. The most severe pain occurs in the morning and at night due to the accumulation of excess fluid in the tissues. The nature of the pain is pressing, throbbing.
In addition to the headache itself, other symptoms gradually appear:
- bouts of vomiting;
- dizziness;
- vision problems;
- impaired coordination of movements;
- numbness of the limbs;
- memory impairment;
- loss of consciousness;
- persistent signs of fatigue.
Treatment carried out at the initial stage has a much greater chance of success than in the later stages. Why is it recommended not to delay visiting the attending physician. Sometimes the patient's life depends on it. As a rule, radiation therapy and certain medications are prescribed. In some cases, surgery cannot be avoided. Treatment based on folk remedies does not help here. The maximum that can be achieved is to ease the symptoms.
Sometimes the pain appears due to intoxication. You can get poisoned, for example, by the fumes of toxic substances contained in clothing or furniture. To remove the pain, it is enough to get rid of problematic household items. However, the most common cause of headaches is food poisoning. If you suspect this disorder, you must:
- wash the stomach;
- take activated charcoal;
- drink a laxative.
These measures will help to remove harmful substances from the body, as a result, the pain will decrease or completely stop. In case of poisoning, headache pills do not help. In case of alcohol poisoning, it is advised to drink a little orange juice or mineral water.
Pressure drops
Unstable blood pressure, in addition to headaches, can lead to dizziness or even a stroke. If this problem occurs, be sure to contact a specialist. Having found the cause of the blood pressure drops, he will prescribe the appropriate drugs.
In some cases, a headache is added to the toothache over time. Of course, first of all, you need to solve the problem with your teeth by visiting a good dentist. Decoctions based on the following herbs will help:
- fragrant mint;
- Linden;
- sage;
- chamomile flowers;
- yarrow.
Before taking the tincture, it should be cooled to room temperature, as too hot or cold liquid will only aggravate the symptoms.
stress and depression
Stressful and conflict situations, excitement, depression almost always lead to a headache. The main thing in this case is to calm down, try to get rid of the problem and relax. Sometimes it will be enough to take a mild painkiller and valerian tincture. But the main thing is to sleep well.
As a preventive measure, it is necessary to ventilate the premises more often, change the working position every half hour, and also do exercises. Head massage helps a lot. It will not be superfluous to seek psychological help from a specialist. After seeing a psychologist, a person sometimes completely reconsiders his views on problems. In especially advanced cases, antidepressants or sleeping pills may be prescribed.
If the result is positive, appropriate medications and measures will be prescribed. An attempt at self-treatment can lead to sad consequences, as some remedies can worsen the situation.
Treatment Methods
It is not always necessary to rush to take medications with a headache. It can be addictive and in some situations will only make the pain worse. The best solution would be to do a light head massage, namely the forehead, temples and back of the head. Then it is advisable to go for a walk in the fresh air. Herbal tea with the addition of mint or motherwort will have a beneficial effect on the condition. But drinking coffee is not recommended.
When working, you need to change positions more often, use table lamps if necessary, and ventilate the room more often. Upon returning home, you should take a contrast shower and drink a cup of honey with milk. If all this does not help, then you need to take painkillers. However, remember that this should not be done more than once a week, so as not to be addictive.
- the head should not be supercooled, so you need to wear a hat or other headgear;
- try to find out the cause of the disease by consulting a specialist;
- try not to get depressed and maintain a positive attitude no matter what;
- healthy sleep is the key to your health;
- do not forget about periodic walks in the fresh air;
- with severe pain, avoid sudden movements and unpleasant odors;
- take painkillers less often.
Folk remedies
With a headache, hawthorn and oregano with the addition of lemon help well. The decoction is prepared by adding a tablespoon of one of the herbs, lemon and a spoonful of honey (optional) to a container of boiling water. Next, you need to let the remedy brew, and then take it 50 ml 15 minutes before meals 2-3 times a day. A popular folk remedy is taking baths with infusions of aromatic herbs and lemon balm.
Conclusion
If you suffer from frequent headaches and conventional pain medications do not help, you should definitely make an appointment with your doctor. Correct and timely treatment with the use of suitable drugs will help to avoid problems and complications in the future. Of course, most often pains appear due to stress and overexertion, but it’s still not worth the risk, because your health is at stake, and in some cases even life.
It is difficult to find a person who has not experienced a headache at least once in his life. To cope with it, people usually drink pills, but some prefer to wait if the discomfort can be tolerated. Obviously, painkillers eliminate the symptom, but do not affect the cause. In order to get rid of frequent headaches, you need to find what causes it.
Mechanism
A similar question will certainly arise if the head hurts a lot, but there are no obvious reasons for this. It happens that a person is healthy, feels good, did not abuse alcohol the day before, and his head seems to be squeezed by a vise. Pain can be felt in any part of the head - from the forehead to the back of the head. Often its source is in a completely different place, but echoes will be felt in the head. To understand the real cause of the ailment, it is necessary to find a location, as well as to understand the nature of the sensation.
Painful sensations are the reaction of receptors to temperature, chemical or mechanical influences. If the head hurts very much, then the likely cause is narrowing of the vessels inside or outside the skull, but in order to determine it accurately, one should also carefully monitor other deviations from the normal state of the body. Nausea, vomiting, weakness, fever and dizziness, in combination with the main problem, can signal specific problems and serious ailments.
Causes
There are a lot of phenomena that provoke pain in the head. These include weather changes, serious illnesses, the consequences of injuries, and the use of medications or drugs. Below is a list of the most common reasons.
- High blood pressure is the most common cause of headaches. Vessels respond to jumps in the lower pressure bar. With changes in blood pressure by 20-30% of the initial values, the vessels of the brain narrow, and as a result, the person feels very bad.
- is another common source of discomfort. Despite the fact that the phenomenon is far from new, scientists have not been able to fully understand the direct changes in the body that cause migraines. But it is known that hormonal disruptions often contribute to the manifestation of this disease. Most often, migraine is called a female disease, since the female body is more prone to malfunctions. This can occur during breastfeeding or pregnancy. For some people, it can be caused by stress, poor diet (mainly diets), and sleep problems. A harbinger of a migraine is an increased sensitivity to light and sound.
- Men's disease - the consequences of alcohol abuse. It's no secret that after a fun evening with alcohol, the state of health in the morning in most cases is far from normal, and a headache is an invariable companion of a hangover. It's called cluster syndrome. It should be noted that this syndrome does not always have a short-term effect and is easily treated. In some cases, pain can haunt a person for several weeks, and if it is started, a pituitary tumor can result. Cluster syndrome is accompanied by suffocation in sleep, tearing and nasal congestion. The sensations in this case are quite strong and have a paroxysmal character.
An interesting fact: women are less susceptible to this phenomenon and not only because they drink less.
- Cervical osteochondrosis can provoke pain in the head every day for a very long time. If you do not engage in treatment, then gradually nausea, vomiting, a slight increase in temperature in the patient will increase. Blood pressure may rise and excessive sweating is often observed.
- Headaches also haunt women in position. This is due to the fact that the body works for two and sometimes does not cope with the tasks. As a result, women are constantly exposed to debilitating discomfort. The worst thing is that it is not recommended to resort to painkillers during pregnancy, and the pain can be quite severe. The positive point is that this condition does not affect the fetus in any way.
- Change in intracranial pressure. Here, pain will appear, both with a decrease and an increase in pressure. Similar problems can occur after a blow to the head, brain tumors, hematomas. Accompanied by drowsiness, dizziness and nausea. In some cases, vision may deteriorate.
- Sinusitis. A disease in which inflammation of the sinuses occurs. The process is accompanied by difficulty in breathing, accumulation of pus in the sinuses, cheeks around the nose and under the eyes become inflamed. Often the body temperature rises to high values. If the disease is started, then it can develop into a chronic form or aggravate the condition.
The reasons listed above are far from the only ones, but they are common. Pain can also be caused by pathological processes in the brain, drug overdose, magnetic storms, stress, lack of sleep, and a host of other reasons. What to do if your head hurts a lot, we will consider in the following sections.
Kinds
- Tension pain. Every person has experienced this type at least once in their life. in this case? It occurs if the neck has been in an uncomfortable position for a long time or has been tense. It usually appears after sleeping in transport, when there is no normal support for the head, and also after prolonged work at a table or computer. The muscles in this case are tense for a long time. The pain is like the pressure of a tight hoop.
- Hypertensive. A type of pain that occurs in people with hypertension (persistently high blood pressure). In this case, the discomfort resembles a pulsation in the occipital lobe or temples. An easy way to understand its nature is to measure the pressure.
- Hypotensive. In this case, we are talking about reduced pressure, which causes certain processes in the body, which causes pain. With hypotension, the vessels of the brain narrow, which impairs blood flow and oxygen supply to the brain. Often accompanied by weakness and dizziness.
How to get rid
The modern pharmacology market offers a huge number of drugs that help with severe headaches. All of them act on the same principle, that is, they act on the foci and soothe them. Tablets may vary in effectiveness. Strong painkillers should not be taken frequently.
The most common drugs are No-Shpa, Pentalgin, Nurofen, Citramon. Such drugs should always be in the home first aid kit, since a headache is not predictable and it is impossible to guess when it will make itself felt. However, you do not need to resort to pills for any discomfort. Over time, the body gets used to their action and you will either have to increase the doses or look for stronger remedies. It is worth remembering that there are no completely safe drugs, they all negatively affect different organs. The kidneys and liver are most affected by drugs. Sometimes the benefits of relieving discomfort are much less than the consequences for internal organs.
At the first sign of a headache, you can try to bring it under control. For this, there are certain exercises that can help.
- If you feel unwell, you can take a contrast shower, and then lie down in a ventilated room. At this point, you do not need to read or watch anything, it is best to just close your eyes and enjoy the silence. Cold compresses applied to the place where the pain is felt the most help quite well.
- If the cause is high pressure, then you first need to get rid of spasms (there are special drugs). The head should be tied with a tight bandage, and also take a reclining position for 15-20 minutes. It is recommended to place the legs in a hot bath, this contributes to the outflow of blood and the elimination of spasms.
- If the pain is weak and does not cause much discomfort, then you can finally get rid of it by walking in the fresh air or airing the room. The influx of oxygen helps relieve tension and get rid of discomfort.
- In some cases, pain can be triggered by head jewelry and even a hairstyle. If an unpleasant feeling occurs on the surface of the head, as if the skin is hurting, then you need to remove the elastic band, hat, headband, undo the braids and massage a little.
- With tension pain, or rather for its prevention, it is recommended to periodically knead the neck and limbs. A small 5-minute exercise can make you feel much better.
The above tips are good for mild pain and in cases where it occurs infrequently. But what should a person do if the head hurts often or constantly, and the level of discomfort is very strong. In this case, do not self-medicate and hope for the best. It's time to turn to a specialist.
When a doctor's consultation is required
It was said above that some types of pain can be completely overcome at home and without the help of drugs. But there are situations in which ignoring the question of the causes of poor health can lead to dire consequences. In which case it is vital to visit a doctor:
- Numbness of the hands, difficulty in trying to speak, visual and coordination disorders after the onset of a headache are the first harbingers of a stroke. You should immediately call an ambulance.
- Any physical activity, even the smallest cause pain in the head. This is a sign of a serious illness. It is necessary to consult a doctor who will collect an anamnesis and be able to make a diagnosis, as well as draw up a treatment regimen.
- Painful sensations do not stop for several days.
- If a person smells non-existent smells, his perception of colors has changed, auditory hallucinations have appeared, food is disgusting, and tastes are not felt correctly - these are possible signs of epilepsy or a brain tumor.
- Headache appeared after a minor blow or trauma to the head.
The head is a complex mechanism with finely organized work. If failures occur in it, then this should not be neglected, since the consequences can be the most critical, up to death. Cases are known when an outbreak of severe head pain ended in death. At autopsy, a neglected tumor was found, which physically could not grow asymptomatically. This means that all the signs were simply ignored by the patient.
Another reason why you should not neglect a visit to the hospital is the connection between all human organs. It has long been proven that pain in certain parts of the body can indicate diseases of the internal organs. Problems with the spine often respond in the head. In such cases, it is pointless and dangerous to save yourself with pills, because the source is not treated in any way, and will again cause a problem.
Prevention
It is no secret that avoiding pain is much easier than curing it. However, the majority still prefers to pull to the last. People who care about their health and do not want to take medicines once again should follow a few simple tips.
- Maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
- Quality and long sleep. 8-9 hours of sleep is considered normal. Doctors do not recommend oversleeping or developing the habit of sleeping a few hours less than the recommended norms. To improve the quality of sleep, it is best to always go to bed and get up at the same time.
- Proper nutrition. Eating fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamins is a great way to always feel good. Don't overeat before bed and don't go to bed on an empty stomach. In addition, you can not consume a lot of caffeine, this leads to problems with pressure.
Folk methods of treatment
Sometimes situations happen that for one reason or another you cannot take pills, or they are not at hand, and the pain is so severe that it is impossible to endure it. In this case, traditional medicine can help. It is not based on scientific research, but has stood the test of time, and sometimes turns out to be more effective and safer than drugs.
- Warm decoctions based on herbs and flowers tone up the body and, among other things, save you from discomfort. Chamomile, lemon balm, mint, oregano are well suited. It is believed that even just adding these plants to black tea can significantly improve well-being.
- With severe discomfort, it is recommended to rub the whiskey with lemon zest or peeled garlic.
- For the prevention of headaches, potato juice helps well, as well as obtained from spinach or viburnum.
- A good remedy is tea with ginger or cinnamon.
- Buckwheat peel can be used as a filler for a pillow. In the old days, it was a good way to prevent headaches.
- It is believed that massaging the earlobes helps to significantly reduce discomfort.
- You can attach twisted grape or cabbage leaves to the source. The method was known in ancient Greece.
- Folk medicine can be made from propolis and alcohol: 4 teaspoons of propolis are mixed with alcohol. The therapeutic dose is 45 drops per glass of water.
- Acupressure and acupuncture also greatly help treatment and prevention.
headache during pregnancy
Getting rid of a headache is pretty easy. In the case of pregnant women who are contraindicated for all 9 months of drugs, everything is much more complicated. At the same time, due to the situation, women in position are subject to migraines much more often, and their sensations are stronger.
Frequent headaches in pregnant women occur in the first and last trimesters. The reason lies in the fact that in the first three months the girl is faced with serious hormonal changes, and in the last - her gait and posture change due to the weight of the abdomen. This leads to muscle tension and discomfort.
Already in the first months it is necessary to change your lifestyle and habits. First of all, you need to establish a sleep pattern. An important point is nutrition - drinks and food should be consumed in normal quantities. Spicy, salty, smoked, as well as various canned foods from the diet should be eliminated. Another important factor is the emotional state. If possible, stress and strong emotions should be avoided.
Nevertheless, if you couldn’t save yourself, you can use the tips suggested in paragraph folk methods. In extreme cases, resort to aromatherapy, acupuncture, acupressure. If the doctor allows, then you can drink homeopathic medicines. In some situations, the doctor will allow pain medication.
Pain in childhood
Children are the second category of persons in whom it is difficult to treat a headache. The problem here is not that the number of permitted drugs is limited (although this is also), but that the child will not be able to accurately describe where and how he hurts. To eliminate periodic pain, doctors advise taking drugs based on paracetamol. If the discomfort is permanent, then it is best to contact a pediatrician. He will conduct a comprehensive examination and prescribe treatment. The most common causes of malaise are problems with the spine (curvature, poor posture) and migraines.
In general, migraine, as a phenomenon, has become obsolete several decades ago. Doctors have found successful ways to deal with it, but in the modern world there are more and more cases of the disease in adolescents and middle school children. Doctors also note that in most cases, migraine itself ceases to disturb the child after puberty.
How to deal with migraines
Migraine is a disease that differs in intensity and duration over time. However, there are ways to prevent suffering.
- At the first sign (irritation from light and noise), you should try to avoid any irritating factors. You can go into a room with the lights off, turn off your phone, put earplugs in your ears, and just lie down with your eyes closed for a while.
- When pain approaches, you should try to sleep. During sleep, migraine symptoms are not felt, and it can go away on its own.
- At the first pulsation in the temples, you need to calm your breathing or do breathing exercises.
- A cool shower or a cold towel on the forehead, back of the head, neck will help relieve pain.
- A small amount of caffeine can help to cope with an impending illness: tea, coffee or a little chocolate will do.
- Essential oils help a lot. They need to smear whiskey.
There are many folk recipes that will help you cope with migraines.
- Herbal tea from lemon balm, mint and ginger. You can add a few drops of valerian tincture.
- Tea made from raspberry leaves or stems. Both fresh shoots and dried ones are suitable.
- Infusion of oregano. To prepare it, a tablespoon of oregano should be poured with a glass of boiling water. After 30 minutes, the resulting drink is drunk in small sips.
- Bath with valerian decoction. A glass of dried plant is boiled over low heat in two liters of water for at least half an hour. After that, the decoction is added to the water. You need to lie in the bathroom for no more than 10 minutes.
- An egg is broken into a glass and poured with hot milk. Drinking such a drink every morning, you can forget about migraine attacks.
- An unusual remedy made from oranges, honey, wine and horseradish. Half a kilogram of oranges is crushed along with the peel. In the resulting mass, you need to add 100 grams of horseradish ground into porridge and pour a glass of honey. The mixture is poured with a liter of white wine and cooked in a water bath for 60 minutes. After that, the drink must be filtered. Take the remedy should be 3 times a day for a third of a glass. It improves well-being and promotes vasodilation.
Medications
Sometimes folk recipes do not help or people are afraid of this method of treatment. Then you have to turn to proven medicines for help. Popular headache pills:
- Paracetamol. A well-known drug, but despite this, doctors do not recommend abusing it, as there is a danger of harming the liver.
- Aspirin. The tool is suitable if a person has a cold. In addition to relieving discomfort, it brings down the temperature. With frequent use, it can provoke the development of stomach ulcers.
- Analgin. The drug is similar to aspirin, but does not affect the stomach and other organs as much.
- Trigan. An excellent helper for spasms caused by muscle tension. Belongs to the class of antispasmodics.
- Solpadein. It relieves pain, inflammation, and also helps with coughing.
- Pentalgin. A powerful painkiller, but it has a detrimental effect on the internal organs. Used in an emergency. Prohibited for use by professional athletes, as it contains stimulants in its composition.