Headache - one of the most common symptoms. The term includes all types of pain and discomfort, localized in the head, but in everyday life it is more commonly used to refer to unpleasant sensations in the area of the skull.
The types of headaches
There are four basic types:
- Vascular headache - usually throbbing; It occurs in all cases of vascular impedance mismatch strengthening pulse blood volume;
- Headache, muscle strain - occurs with prolonged tension or compression of the soft tissues of the head;
- Liquorodynamic headache - is divided into two types, each of which is associated with vascular tension membranes. With an increase in intracranial pressure - arching amplified by coughing, straining, it depends on the position of the body. By lowering the intracranial pressure is lost liquor "cushion" the brain; pain gets worse when standing, reduced when bending head;
- Neuralgic headache - a sharp, cutting. It is characterized by the existence of trigger zones (when pressed on which pain occurs), the spread of pain to neighboring or distant sites.
And two additional types:
- Mixed headache - a combination of the basic types;
- Psychogenic pain (central or hypochondriac headache) when you can not objectify the factors listed above.
manifestations
Tension-type headache
The most common form. The pain appears gradually during emotional stress may occur abruptly, lasts for a few days or hours.
Characteristics of pain - bilateral, localized in the fronto-occipital areas of both frontal lobes, or spilled, clutching a blunt character. Typically, patients describe their sensations shaped ( "..sdavlivaet as hoop"), and with the constant feeling of compression or compression appear dull non-intensive prolonged episodes of pain.
The patient experiences discomfort when brushing hair, wearing a headdress. The pain does not stop even at night. occur insomnia, Difficulty concentrating. Pain is not aggravated by physical activity.
The causes of tension-type headache: a combination of chronic emotional stress and musculo-tonic factor bad posture, poor posture, frequent or prolonged stressful situations associated with anxiety and anxiety, depression (70% of patients), the pathology of the cervical spine (osteochondrosis).
Headache in tumors
Tumors induce headache, gradually progressing. Pain may be either pulsatile or nonthrobbing deep, dull, "splitting".
Triggered by physical exertion, changes in head position. Typically awakening at night because of the pain. Characterized by sudden severe vomiting ( "brain vomit"). When one-sided nature of the pain in 9 of 10 patients it occurs on the same side as the tumor.
Headache hemorrhage
Hemorrhage is the beginning of a headache by type of "impact" occurred in previously healthy person; sometimes suddenly started pain is quite different from the usual pain in patients suffering from chronic headache patient.
The acuteness of the pain on the background of physical activity, high blood pressure increase the probability that the headache has arisen due to subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Headache in the temporal (giant cell) arteritis
Giant cell arteritis should be suspected in patients older than 50 years, complaining of a headache with unilateral localization in the temporal region. Characterized by pain on palpation of the temporal artery, its seal, visual disturbances, fever, pain in muscles and joints.
Headache at elevated intracranial pressure
benign intracranial hypertension - a syndrome with symptoms of increased intracranial pressure without evidence of organic brain damage or brain edema. At the heart of increased intracranial pressure, apparently, is increased secretion of liquor to the damage of its absorption. Constant and growing, "spilled" headache with maximum expression in the frontal region.
Characteristically increased pain at night or in the morning, as well as sneezing, coughing. Pain may be accompanied by nausea, dizziness, blurred vision. It may be associated with obesity, pregnancy, systemic lupus erythematosus, Use of oral contraceptives. Possible to improve the patient's condition after repeated lumbar punctures.
Headache in the syndrome of vertebral artery
Occurs when irritation plexus of the vertebral artery, usually due to spinal osteochondrosis. Pain begins in the nape area. The nature of pain: dull and bursting, stabbing and shooting. Possible spread of the pain in the eye socket. Often voznikeyut dizziness, noise, ringing in the ears. Paroxysmal pain is enhanced for a period of from 20 seconds to several hours.
Indometatsinchuvstvitelnaya headache
This type of pain is characterized by severe unilateral attacks, currently treated with indomethacin. Alcohol provokes an attack. Characterized by frequent painful attacks (40 day) duration of high intensity from 2 minutes to 2 hours. Possible remission lasting a few months or years.
Headache treatment
- Symptom Treatment involves treatment of the underlying disease.
- Psychotherapy (hypnotherapy, relaxation).
- Acupuncture.
- Physiotherapy.
- Benign intracranial hypertension - shown diuretics (furosemide, etc.).
- Vertebral artery syndrome - effective vasodilators (nicotinic acid preparations, aminophylline), novocaine blockade point vertebral arteries, treatment of osteochondrosis.
- Tension-type headache: Rest with a damp towel on the eyes in a dark room with good sound insulation, warm shower or bath, massage zadnesheynyh and temporal regions, performing relaxation exercises, aerobics, regular training.
Important! Medication prescribed by a doctor-neurologist after diagnosis.
