Headache
What is a headache?
Headache is a common health problem that most people experience at some time. Factors that lead to headaches may be:
- Emotional, such as stress, depression, or anxiety
- Medical, such as migraine or high blood pressure
- Physical, such as an injury
- Environmental, such as the weather
Frequent or severe headaches can affect a person’s quality of life. Knowing how to recognize the type of headache and its cause can help a person take appropriate action.
What are the causes of a headache?
A headache can affect any part of the head, and pain may be present in one or several locations. Headaches also cause various types of pain. Classifying the pain can help a doctor reach a diagnosis. Doctors also categorize headaches based on whether an underlying health condition is responsible for the pain. In other words, a headache may be primary or secondary.
Primary headache
A primary headache is not a symptom of an underlying illness. Instead, these headaches result from problems involving the structures of the head and neck. A primary headache may be due to overactivity of — or problems in — pain-sensitive structures in the head, including:
- Specific areas of the brain
- Blood vessels
- Muscles
- Nerves
- Brain chemicals
Common primary headache disorders include migraine, cluster, tension, and medication overuse headaches.
Secondary headache
This form of headache is a symptom of an underlying medical condition. The cause of a secondary headache may be:
- Pregnancy
- Hypertension
- Systemic conditions, such as an infection
- Hypothyroidism
- Giant cell arteritis
- Stroke
- Brain tumor
According to an article in Practical Neurology, secondary headaches that occur during pregnancy are often caused by underlying conditions like eclampsia and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). Secondary headaches can result from serious health issues. A 2019 study lists red flags that are considered life threatening and require immediate attention:
- Neurological symptoms like seizure, loss of consciousness, and confusion
- Fever
- Thunderclap headaches
- Headache worsened by coughing, sneezing, or exercise
- Headache occurring in those with a history of tumors
- Being above 50 years old
It is also important for a person to seek medical advice if their headache:
- Is severe or disruptive
- Is persistent
- Occurs regularly
- Does not improve with medication
- Occurs alongside other symptoms, such as confusion, fever, sensory changes, or sudden neck stiffening
What are the treatment options for a headache?
Rest and pain relief medication are the main treatments for headaches.
Options include:
- Over-the-counter pain relief medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- Prescription pain relief medications
- Preventive medication for specific conditions, such as migraine
- Other treatments for underlying conditions
It is crucial for a person to follow their doctor’s guidance to prevent medication overuse headaches.
Treating medication overuse headaches involves reducing or stopping the medication. A doctor can help develop a plan to ease off the medication safely. In extreme cases, a person may need a short hospital stay to manage withdrawal safely and effectively.
