How and why does the head hurt. Persistent headaches and their causes

Headache is an extremely unpleasant sensation that completely reduces a person’s performance. For some, this pathological condition appears rarely, and someone suffers from it daily. However, before starting treatment, you need to find out why your head hurts every day.

And medications bring only temporary relief, you need to consult a doctor as soon as possible. It will help determine the factors that provoked a headache. There are such reasons for the development of pain syndrome:

Incorrect work of blood vessels, in which brain activity is disturbed.
Nervous or emotional tension, constant stress.
Traumatic brain injury.
Diabetes.
Arterial hypertension.

Elena Razumovna Lebedeva, a neurologist, doctor of medical sciences, a representative of Russia in World Organization Health to create new classification headaches:

Too high intracranial pressure.
Problems with the work of the endocrine system.
A brain tumor, both malignant and benign.

Diseases of the cardiovascular system, in which the outflow of venous blood is difficult.
Migraine.

Infectious damage to the body in general or the brain in particular.
Taking certain medications that may cause headaches as a side effect.
or an abscess.
Stroke.

Pathological structure of the cranium.
Violation of the kidneys.
Psychic pathologies.
Chronic intoxication of the body, which is provoked by poisoning.
Vegetovascular dystonia.

These reasons are the main ones, but not the only ones. If you try to establish why your head may hurt on your own, then you can choose a completely wrong treatment regimen. And this is already fraught with serious consequences, because without a qualitative examination, you can miss the beginning of the development of a serious illness.

Types of headaches

If that, and sometimes also spinning, is already known, then an important parameter for determining the methods of therapy is the type of pain. So, we can distinguish the following types of headaches:

Pulsating.
Sharp, located on one side of the head or affecting the forehead, temples.
Pressive headache that covers the whole head.

Pain accompanied by nausea and even vomiting.
Pain syndrome, in which the head is also spinning.

If during a visit to the doctor the patient can accurately describe whether it is, whether there are additional symptoms, what is the duration and intensity of the pain syndrome, then it will be easier for the specialist to make a diagnosis and prescribe an effective treatment.

Features of the manifestation of headache in some pathologies

Daily headaches can bring the most mentally and emotionally stable person to depression. The fact that the ability to work in this case is greatly reduced is not even worth talking about. Therefore, it is necessary to immediately find out the causes of the appearance of such a pathological condition, and begin therapy.

It is desirable to know exactly how a headache manifests itself in a particular disease, as well as what additional symptoms may be:

Hypertension. With an increase in pressure, the head can often hurt in the back of the head. At the same time, discomfort can be very strong and last all day. Periodically, the pain syndrome subsides, but does not completely disappear. In this case, the pressure should be measured, and if it is high, then appropriate medical measures should be taken.
Diseases of the adrenal glands. In this case, not only a headache is felt, there may be other symptoms: intense sweating, fever, vomiting and nausea. The pain syndrome is bursting, localized in the back of the head. Often, and this condition can continue all day. In this case, hormonal therapy may be effective.

Chiropractor Epifanov Anton tells about headaches caused by pathologies of the spine and a sedentary lifestyle:

Osteochondrosis. It will hurt not only the head, but also the neck area. In addition, the patient quickly gets tired, his level of concentration decreases, insomnia appears. And the head is often spinning. This disease must be dealt with as soon as possible. Otherwise, the vessels going to the brain will be pinched, and the blood will flow poorly - the nutrition of the brain tissues, and, therefore, its activity will deteriorate.
Diabetes. In this case, the head may hurt constantly. In this case, the patient may not have problems with blood vessels or other of the above diseases.
Atherosclerosis. The presented pathology is characterized by the fact that cholesterol plaques are deposited on the walls of large vessels, which prevent the blood from passing freely through them. In this case, the head can not only hurt, but also spin. In addition, the patient also has other symptoms: working capacity decreases, sleep is disturbed, memory deteriorates. Headache occurs at any time of the day.

If the head hurts every day, this may be the result of an injury, both fresh and old. Even the most "harmless" bruise can cause great harm to health. For example, if at first the head hurts for only a few minutes, then over time the pain syndrome will become chronic. With a concussion, the head is usually dizzy, the person has nausea and vomiting. The patient can hardly navigate in space.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. It arises from the inability to rationally distribute the time of work and rest. This is facilitated by the rapid modern life. It should be noted that such a diagnosis can be made independently, if at the same time a person cannot find other causes of the pain syndrome. However, it is better not to do this.

These diseases should be taken very seriously. Each of them can deliver a lot of pain and complications.

Diagnostic methods

If a person is spinning, as well as having a headache every day, it is necessary to undergo a thorough examination to establish the causes of this condition. For this purpose, the following studies are used:

ECG (to rule out or confirm heart problems). This procedure must be done if the patient has symptoms of hypertension.
MRI or computed tomography. These studies will provide an opportunity to obtain complete information about the state of the brain and determine the cause of the development of the pathological condition.

Electroencephalogram.
Dopplerography of vessels.
Complete blood count, urine test for the presence and amount of cholesterol in the body.

As for specialists, you may have to consult with such doctors: a neurosurgeon, a psychiatrist, a neurologist, a traumatologist, an oculist.

Features of treatment

If the head hurts every day, this leads to a deterioration in overall well-being, mood, and depression. Therefore, you need to fight it. However, it is forbidden to take painkillers on your own without the supervision of a doctor. This will hurt the patient even more.

In addition, some medications can themselves provoke a headache (as a side effect). If there is no opportunity to immediately consult a doctor, then you just need to stop the pain syndrome, and later undergo an examination. For this, analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are often used.

During the use of drugs, you need to pay attention to those side effects that may appear, as well as to the contraindications indicated in the instructions. It is possible to reduce the intensity of pain without the use of medications. If after the first pill was taken, the head did not stop hurting, you should not drink the second one right away. You can use other ways to relieve headaches:

A compress on the forehead, on which a few drops of mint or chamomile aromatic oil should be dripped. They help calm the nervous system. After a while, the head stops spinning and hurting.
Light self-massage of the shoulder girdle, neck and temples can also relieve a headache or reduce its intensity.

Several wonderful folk recipes you will learn from the video:

You can drink warm tea from lemon balm, chamomile, lavender.
Well warmed milk with the addition of a small amount of honey helps.
A warm bath will help relieve spasm from the muscles, relax the body, and relax.

Does your head hurt every day, starts to feel dizzy, additional symptoms appear? It is urgent to run to the doctor. This may be a signal of the development of a dangerous disease.

Prevention

In order to prevent a headache from appearing every day, it is necessary to follow some recommendations of specialists:

It is better to completely stop drinking alcohol and smoking, as these bad habits adversely affect not only the vessels, but the whole organism as a whole.
It is important to improve your diet. It is necessary to limit the intake of the following products: sauces, spices, nuts, spicy and salty foods, smoked foods, cheese, red wine, sugar substitutes.
Don't shorten your sleep time. It must be complete and last at least 8 hours. However, sleeping more than 9 hours is also harmful.

The organization of the workplace, the correct posture when working at the computer and regular breaks are the prevention of tension headaches and problems with the spine

The chin should not be pressed against the chest for too long.
While working at a computer or reading a book, you should not lower your head too much. You should also not rest your hand on your chin.

These preventive measures will help get rid of headaches on for a long time. Leave your opinion about the benefits of the article or tell us about your experience in dealing with headaches.

A headache can not only distract you from your usual activities. She is able to exhaust daily, turning life into gray everyday life. What if you have a headache every day? What reasons can cause it? How to behave in such a situation?

Headache is a common problem. It can be of different intensity, it can be caused by different reasons, both harmless and quite serious. In any case, this is the result of a violation of the normal blood circulation of the brain.

Sufficient blood flow correct operation brain, it maintains the viability of neurons, delivers them oxygen, nutrients, energy. Headache can be a symptom of oxygen starvation. Sometimes just getting enough sleep or rest is enough for the condition to return to normal.

Headaches every day can be caused, among other reasons, also by strokes, tumors. In this case, conventional pills will not relieve pain.

Headache can be acute or persistent. There are cases when it does not stop for weeks and even months.

Chronic cases

Let's figure out what causes a headache every day. If such a condition is observed constantly, from morning to evening, such cases are called chronic. Severe headaches every day can be provoked by lifestyle, environment, work. Such pain is not a symptom of another disease, but an independent manifestation.

Chronic pain can last up to 180 days. In such cases, why the head hurts every day, the doctor should help find out. He will take a detailed medical history, prescribe tests, including an MRI.

Causes

If your head hurts almost every day, the main reasons are as follows:

atherosclerosis;
hypertension;
intoxication;
diabetes;
osteochondrosis;
imbalance of hormones;
oncology.

Headaches every day for various reasons - a reason to see a doctor.

If you do not find out the exact cause, but simply drown out the pain with another pill, it will come back again.

Neck area

If the neck area is concerned, the reasons may be:

Elevated BP. Hypertension is a very common cause. Sometimes it is enough to achieve a steady decrease in pressure to forget about pain.
Neuralgia of the occipital nerves. These peripheral nerves can cause persistent pain in the back of the head.
Pathology of the cervical spine. Daily headaches can be a symptom of osteochondrosis, compression, pinched nerve. Also, such unpleasant sensations may appear after a long static load on the neck.

In the temples, pain may appear after a strong psycho-emotional stress. It can also indicate a migraine. Whiskey can hurt both at once, or separately left or right. Other reasons:

mental strain;
stress;
changes in atmospheric pressure.

With a migraine, a severe headache is often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The pain may throb in the right or left side.

Faced with such a problem, many solve it very simply - they buy an anesthetic drug. There are a lot of such drugs in pharmacies. They are released without a prescription, and numerous commercials now and then advise you to buy another miraculous drug.

If painkillers do not help, there is reason to be wary and consult a doctor. By the way, uncontrolled intake of medications can also provoke pain. More often it appears in the temples, and in medicine it is called abuse.

Forehead

Frontal headache is very common. Often, people whose activities are associated with constant mental labor suffer from it. It can also be provoked by prolonged sitting at a computer, a desk, and even communicating with people for a long time. Often this problem is provoked by eye strain or high intraocular pressure.

Programmers, office workers, and managers often turn to neurologists.

Doctors emphasize that the cause of everyday headaches can be:

toxic poisoning;
neoplasms in the brain;
infectious diseases;
vascular disease;
mental pathologies.

What to do

What should be done in such cases? It is important to understand that headaches and the causes that cause them can be different. In most cases, especially if painkillers do not help, it will not be superfluous to consult a neurologist. Often it is he who is able to make an accurate diagnosis and identify a specific cause. This is the main condition for successful and rapid treatment.

Consider the main diseases and pathological conditions that may accompany a headache.

Hypertension

One fifth of the population has an increased arterial pressure. Hypertension is fraught with vascular atrophy, ischemic stroke, therefore, such patients should measure blood pressure every day and, if necessary, reduce it with special drugs. They are selected by the doctor individually in each case.

Headache occurs when blood pressure exceeds normal pressure by 25%. When the pressure stabilizes, it passes, but in rare cases it can remain for the whole day. In this case, it is necessary to exclude the pathology of the adrenal glands (pheochromocytoma). In this case, the headache will be bilateral, bursting, it often appears in the morning and is localized in the back of the head. Such attacks are quite short (up to 15 minutes).

With frequent headaches that are accompanied by sweating, nausea, tremor, flushing of the skin of the face, it is worth checking the state of the endocrine system.

In hypertensive patients, pain may appear with a long stay in a sitting position. They are contraindicated for a long time at the computer, as the pressure can jump sharply. At the same time, not only the hemispheres of the brain suffer, but also the retina of the eyes, the heart, and chondrosis develops over time.

With osteochondrosis of the cervical region, the condition worsens also by the fact that the destruction of brain cells begins. This leads to fatigue, decreased concentration, sleep disturbances, dizziness. In such cases, in addition to medication, it is recommended to rest more, to develop a daily routine.

Well, if high blood pressure is accompanied by fever, cough, chills, sore throat, it may be a symptom of the flu, SARS.

Diabetes

With this disease, blood vessels are affected, because of which blood circulation is disturbed, all organs and systems of the body suffer. Diabetics may experience headaches as sharp blows, persistent and prolonged.

If a diabetic has increased pressure, he must take the medicine that the endocrinologist prescribed for him.

Atherosclerosis

With atherosclerosis, cholesterol is deposited on the walls of all arteries. In the vessels of the brain, blood circulation is disturbed, and pathological changes become chronic. The lumens of the arteries quickly narrow, which causes oxygen starvation of the brain. At the same time, hypertension may also appear, which will be constantly accompanied by headache attacks.

Other signs of atherosclerosis: insomnia, memory impairment, irritability, decreased performance. The pain is localized in a separate area, it is observed more often in the morning or in the evening. It may be accompanied by a feeling of a heavy head.

With such a pathogenesis, qualified medical assistance is required. Only he will be able to choose an effective systemic treatment. It can be supplemented with feasible physical activity, more often walk in the air, more rest.

Hormonal imbalance

Women are more likely to suffer from it (menopause, pregnancy, PMS, hormonal surges in adolescents). Their hormone levels are very unstable, they can change. With hormonal disorders, the legs can swell, the face, menstruation becomes painful, the woman loses or gains weight, she is sick, acne appears, stretch marks on the chest, abdomen, and constipation. With such symptoms, a thorough comprehensive examination is required.

The head hurts especially badly during the so-called menopause, when the production of sex hormones gradually stops. If a woman ignores such symptoms during menopause, she may face serious problems, up to oncology.

TBI

Traumatic brain injury can further provoke frequent headaches. Even with a mild TBI, it is still worth seeing a doctor, because it can start regular discomfort.

TBI can have a different character:

injury;
concussion;
brain compression.

When bruised, tissues swell, a hematoma appears. After one hour or a few hours, the pain goes away and no longer bothers. With a concussion, pain can be observed for several days, with movement it becomes stronger, dizziness may appear, nausea, weakness, ringing in the ears. With severe concussion, it can paralyze limbs, speech is disturbed.

If a person loses consciousness, this may indicate compression of the brain caused by bleeding from TBI.

Fatigue

Oddly enough, but fatigue can also lead to non-passing. A therapist can help in this situation. Most likely, the cause was stress, overwork, inability to alternate work and rest. It is enough to stop overworking, succumbing to stress, being nervous, so that the condition improves.

If no pathologies are identified, simple rules can help restore the body to tone:

While working, take regular deep breaths (several). This is a great way to oxygenate your blood.
Try to keep your back straight, so the shoulder area will be unloaded.
Learn to relax in the evenings, forgetting about problems at work.
Watch less TV and take a walk outside.
To sleep better, take a bath, then you are guaranteed a good night and deep sleep.

Stress

A person cannot be completely stress-free. One way or another, he constantly lies in wait for us. Small stresses, oddly enough, are even beneficial for the body. They keep our neural connections in good shape, make us think about every situation and try to avoid annoying mistakes. But constant stressful situations are dangerous for the body. They provoke excessive production of adrenaline, exhaust all forces, lead to disruption of sleep, cardiovascular activity, etc.

Stress can cause persistent headaches. It may be preceded by muscle tension, respiratory failure, etc. Psychologists advise avoiding unpleasant conversations that can lead to such a negative reaction. This does not always work out, because stress happens not only at work, but also in the family. Here it is important to understand for yourself what is more important: to prove your case or to maintain your health and well-being of people close to you.

It is stress in the family that is considered the most difficult. They can lead to completely unexpected negative consequences. A person after talking in a raised voice with loved ones can get a stroke, a heart attack, so a headache is not the worst option. Psychologists advise avoiding a showdown, leaving the room for a while, distracting yourself with something pleasant, or just drinking a cup of water. This will dilute the cocktail of hormones and adrenaline in your blood, reduce the degree of stress.

Eye strain

Such a problem is often faced by people of mental labor or those who are forced to constantly work at a computer. But even incorrectly selected glasses or watching movies in 3D can cause such pains. The thing is that excessive eye strain affects the eye muscles, leading to painful sensations.

Sleep disorders

Lack of sleep is extremely harmful to the body. Good sleep helps to restore strength, relieve mental stress. Do not work until late at night or do household chores. Try to stick to a reasonable mode. Sleep should take at least six hours, and eight is better.

Long-term use of certain drugs

We have already mentioned that the frequent use of painkillers can lead to the opposite effect - they will provoke headache attacks. Such attacks can last up to two weeks, and after the patient takes the next portion of the analgesic, it intensifies.

In order for the discomfort to pass, it is enough just to stop taking the analgesic, which the body is fed up with. Sometimes doctors may also prescribe a course of antidepressants.

Obesity

Excessive weight can cause a whole range of diseases. One of the symptoms of the onset of the disease may be a headache.

The most dangerous diseases

Among the most dangerous diseases that are accompanied by pain in the head are meningitis, glaucoma, and cancer.

Meningitis

When the membranes of the spinal cord and brain become inflamed. If you do not resort to immediate treatment, there may be fatal outcome. Cerebral edema begins, intracranial pressure rises, pain receptors are intensely irritated.

A sure symptom of meningitis is a bursting and very severe headache, the location of which is difficult to determine. It is accompanied by high sensitivity of the skin, nausea, vomiting. Even those patients who have fallen into a coma can feel intense pain when the doctor touches their skin on the head.

Glaucoma

With glaucoma, the optic nerve is affected, not only pain in the head appears, but also general weakness, nausea. It is important to consult a doctor at the first symptoms, because glaucoma leads to irreversible blindness.

Crayfish

With brain cancer, a headache is sure to annoy. It is observed at night or in the morning, since the neoplasm is capable of releasing many toxins that disrupt normal blood circulation. With stagnation of blood, swelling of the brain begins. Another symptom is sudden vomiting, often not preceded by nausea.

If you do not provide medical assistance, the condition of such patients worsens. Hallucinations, confusion, inappropriate behavior may appear, the headache intensifies.

People's secrets

Do not abuse painkillers. They will relieve discomfort at first, but over time can lead to the opposite effect. The body becomes fed up with the drug.

To begin with, you can apply a regular cold compress or a simple cabbage leaf to your head. Such folk remedies may help in some cases. Aromatherapy can also have a positive effect. To relieve headaches, aromatic oils of chamomile, lavender, rose, marjoram, lemon are used. You need to take a drop of oil on the pads of your fingers and gently massage the temples for several minutes.

With regular attacks, it is necessary to visit a doctor. Unfortunately, it often happens that a patient suffers from a headache for months, regularly takes painkillers, and at this time a dangerous disease develops inside the body.

The worst case is if the patient ignores the manifestations of a malignant tumor. It is able to grow very quickly, creating many metastases throughout the body. At the same time, modern medicine can quite successfully fight the manifestations of cancer and prolong the patient's life for 2-5 years, achieving a stable remission.

In addition to taking an anamnesis and examining the patient, the following measures can be assigned to make a diagnosis:

brain;
lipidogram;
UZDG vessels of the neck, head;
analysis of blood composition.

An additional consultation with a narrow specialist (psychiatrist, neurosurgeon, ophthalmologist, etc.) may be required.

In some cases, for example, with the development of a tumor, it is very important not to waste time. Therefore, you should not delay going to the doctor if you notice that you are constantly worried about your head. Resist the temptation to just take another pill - in case it helps. Such frivolity can cost you dearly!

Half of all cases of persistent headache are easily eliminated. It is enough to adjust the daily regimen, nutrition, monitor pressure, avoid stress, and exercise. If a person is weather sensitive, on difficult days you need to rest more, avoid overwork, complex brain activity, and stressful situations. Men should avoid physical activity. These tips help not only adults but also children. If the pain does not go away, it is not necessary to treat it separately, but the cause that caused such a symptom.

Navigation

Headache is the most common signal of the body about the presence of physiological failures or organic problems in it. Even his one-time appearance deserves attention. People who have a headache regularly or severely need to undergo a thorough diagnosis and identify the causes of the symptom. In 10-20% of cases, the sign turns out to be one of the secondary consequences of serious violations in the functioning of the organs. Such situations require the immediate initiation of adequate therapy. Otherwise, there is a high risk of developing chronic diseases or emergency conditions that can lead to a decrease in the quality of life, disability, and death.

Why does my head hurt

Pharmacies offer drugs for cephalalgia that are different in price, composition, type of action and rules for use. In some cases, they quickly relieve discomfort, in others they do not give the desired result. The effectiveness of funds depends not so much on their quality, but on the appropriateness of a particular situation. The mechanism of development of pain in the head is different, it is under it that the medicine must be selected.

There are five common causes of the symptom:

muscle strain - the result of prolonged physical exertion or being in an uncomfortable position;
decrease in the functionality of cerebral vessels - pathological narrowing or expansion of blood channels, increased permeability or stretching of their walls. Excessive blood density, atherosclerotic plaques, swelling of tissues, tumors, blood clots increase the risks. They interfere with normal blood flow, which disrupts metabolic processes;
violation of the circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid - most often the result of compression of certain parts of the brain by a cyst, hematoma, tumor, displaced bone;
failures of a neuralgic nature - appear when nerve fibers are irritated (infringement, squeezing, malnutrition, infection);
the action of psychogenic factors - the consequences of mental disorders in the form of depression, apathy, stress, genetic diseases, chronic fatigue.

One-time or regular pain in the head can occur under the influence of another two hundred factors. This list includes smoking, drinking alcohol, eating unhealthy foods and caffeine.

Cephalgia is the result of prolonged exposure to heat, in conditions of high humidity. Often a headache occurs due to a lack or excess of sleep, wearing incorrectly selected glasses, contact lenses. The danger is strict diets, head injuries, hypothermia, slagging of the body.

Symptoms

Headache manifests itself in different ways. Its intensity, localization, character are influenced by provoking factors, the mechanism of development, the stage, and the features of the course of the pathology. An experienced doctor is able to make a preliminary diagnosis, based only on the specifics of the clinical picture.

The type of pain in the head depends on the causes of cephalalgia:

vascular - most often the patient is tormented by pulsation or aching sensations. They are accompanied by dizziness, a decrease in the quality of vision. The symptom intensifies with a change in body position, physical activity, inclinations;
liquorodynamic - pain rolls in waves, reminiscent of pressure from the inside. Complemented by nausea, dizziness, weakness, general deterioration of well-being;
neuralgic - acute and sharp cephalgia of a local nature. Often, when you press on the affected area, the sensations intensify, become cutting or piercing, unbearable. The sensitivity of the skin in the problem area increases or decreases. The symptom does not respond well to conventional analgesics, may persist for several days or weeks;
tension - constant, moderate or weak, aching. Accompanied by irritability, dizziness, neck ache. Quickly disappears after a light massage of the collar zone or rest;
psychogenic - capable of acquiring the most different kind, be supplemented by obsessive states, a decrease in mental abilities.

In each of the cases, a special therapy is required, selected by a specialized doctor. If you suddenly have a headache, you can try to cope with it folk ways or taking analgesics. If there is no effect or if the symptom recurs soon, you should seek medical help.

The most common causes of headaches

Doctors identify dozens of factors, the action of which can lead to the appearance of cephalalgia. This list includes not only diseases of the head, but also pathologies of distant localization. Five conditions are worth mentioning separately - they account for about 95% of all cases of a symptom. Do not self-diagnose, even when the clinical picture is obvious. Some diseases proceed according to a similar scenario, but require different approaches to treatment. It is better to initially visit a specialist and strictly follow his instructions.

Tension headache

If for no apparent reason the head hurts for a long time and obsessively, this diagnosis should be considered first of all. Sensations occur in the afternoon or after a long stay in an uncomfortable position. They look like pressure due to tight hair or tight headgear. Most often, the pain covers the cranium like a hoop. Initially, only one side of the head or the frontal part hurts, gradually the symptom spreads around the perimeter. It is complemented by dizziness, decreased mental activity, impaired attention.

To get rid of the problem, it is enough to breathe fresh air, relax, drink soothing tea. Prolonged, persistent sensations indicate a violation of blood flow. In this case, it may be necessary to take medications to protect nerve cells, increase brain activity, improve circulation (nootropics, neuroprotectors).

Migraine

A neurological disease of a vascular nature is more often diagnosed in women of childbearing age. It manifests itself in the form of cephalgia, nausea and vomiting at the peak of sensations, an increased reaction to external stimuli. The head usually hurts on one side, the sensations are pulsating, intense, intensified due to loud sounds, pungent odors. Attacks last from 2-4 hours to 3 days. In a quarter of the cases they are preceded by an aura. Depending on the specifics of the case, the head hurts every few months or up to several times a week. Therapy requires a comprehensive, aimed at alleviating the patient's condition and preventing subsequent exacerbations.

Histamine headache

The disease is also called Horton's or cluster cephalgia. It is especially susceptible to middle-aged men, strong physique, drinking alcohol, with an impressive history of smoking. The pain has a one-sided localization, gives to the eyeball, lasts from 15 minutes to 2 hours. Sensations are sharp, sharp, burning. They do not allow a person to do their usual things and react poorly to taking drugs of any type. The onset of an attack may be preceded by lacrimation, nasal congestion, dull pain in the head, drooping of the upper eyelid in one eye.

Occipital headache

With the localization of cephalalgia in the back of the head, there is a high probability of a violation of the process of blood flow to the brain. Often this is due to problems in the cervical spine. The picture in this case is complemented by dizziness, soreness and crunching in the neck, decreased skin sensitivity, numbness of the fingers. The patient's head hurts mainly in one place, but the sensations are given to the ear, jaw, eye or shoulder from the affected side. The symptom increases during the day and intensifies over time. It is exacerbated by sudden movements, tilts, turns of the head.

The therapy involves the fight against pathological changes in the spine with the help of chondroprotectors, massage, physiotherapy, exercise therapy. Additionally, the patient is prescribed medications to normalize the functioning of the cerebral vessels, protect nerve cells from toxins, and improve circulation in tissues.

Arterial hypertension

At high blood pressure the head can hurt in different places.

Cephalgia is bursting or pulsating, constant or growing. It is accompanied by nausea, flies before the eyes, reddening of the face, changes in the frequency and quality of breathing, increased heart rate. To confirm the diagnosis, it is enough to measure blood pressure. Treatment is carried out strictly under the supervision of a doctor. The fight against arterial hypertension is not limited to taking medications. Be sure to introduce changes in the diet, measures are taken to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood.

Diagnostics

Features of the manifestation of diseases allow the doctor to make a preliminary diagnosis. Then various methods of research are applied, which are designed to confirm or refute the suspicions. Only after that a treatment regimen is developed, aimed not at cephalalgia, but at its cause.

Diagnosis of headache may include the following activities:

MRI and/or CT;
Ultrasound of the vessels of the brain and neck;
EEG, REG;
x-ray of the head and neck;
lumbar puncture.

General and biochemical blood tests are mandatory. They help to evaluate the composition of biological material, its viscosity, cholesterol level, and exclude the presence of infection in the body.

Drugs that can treat headaches

If possible, you should consult your doctor before taking any medication. When the head suddenly hurts, it is better to start the fight against the symptom with the safest and most affordable approaches - rest, a walk in the fresh air or airing the room, tea with lemon and sugar. A good effect is given by massage of the head and collar area, inhalation of aromatic oils or rubbing them into the temples.

If you still have a severe headache, you can use the following drugs:

NSAIDs - Ibuprofen, Aspirin;
analgesics - "Paracetamol", "Pentalgin";
antispasmodics - "No-Shpa", "Baralgin";
hypotensive - only after measuring blood pressure and preferably those that were previously prescribed by a doctor;
nootropics - Piracetam, Phenibut.

Specialists have developed a simple and affordable program for the prevention of cephalgia. To never have a headache, it is enough to lead healthy lifestyle life, walk a lot in the fresh air, play sports, observe the daily routine and stop eating harmful foods. You should also be attentive to your health, timely address complaints to doctors. You can not self-medicate - it is recommended to coordinate the intake of any drugs with a health worker.

It is difficult to find a person who does not have a headache at least from time to time. A one-time occurrence of a symptom is not a reason for panic. Unpleasant sensations after a hard day or stress indicate the body's need for rest and relaxation. Sometimes colds or colds begin with cephalalgia. inflammatory diseases. With pain in the head, the body reacts to poisoning with toxins, slagging, change weather conditions. The main thing is not to grab the pills every time, even if it is not clear what caused the symptom. Independent experiments pose a great risk to the body and complicate the process of making a diagnosis for doctors.

Aching headache is a common problem that worries people different ages. The reasons may be: overwork, vascular disorders, diseases of the nervous system. Painkillers are often used for aching headaches. However, in a chronic course, the problem requires complex treatment.

Causes of aching headaches

Various problems in the human body lead to aching pain in the head (cephalgia). The main ones are:

Overexertion of the muscles of the face.
Osteochondrosis, myogelosis.
High or low blood pressure.
Trigeminal or occipital neuralgia.
Allergic processes or reaction to products, pungent odors.
Psychological stress.
vascular disorders.
Inflammatory processes in the paranasal sinuses, inner ear.
Taking certain medications.
Weather change.
Intoxication (alcohol, drugs).
Hormonal diseases and pregnancy.

Physical stress and osteochondrosis

Physical tension occurs when the muscles of the face are tense for a long time. Mimic muscles compresses the nerves and blood vessels, which causes pain.

Osteochondrosis is a dystrophic process that provokes neck muscle tension (myogelosis). In addition to tense muscles, pathological formations, such as hernias, osteophytes, put pressure on the nerve plexuses and blood vessels. Compression of the arteries leads to a lack of oxygen in the brain, which in many cases provokes unpleasant symptoms.

intracranial hypertension

Increased pressure of cerebral fluid in the ventricles of the brain, liquorodynamic disorders, often cause cephalalgia. This syndrome can occur when kidney function is impaired, craniocerebral trauma, pathologies in the structure of blood vessels or the brain cavities themselves, through which cerebrospinal fluid circulates. Intracranial hypertension is manifested by nausea or vomiting, and sometimes convulsive seizures.

Allergy

Intolerance to certain foods and substances in the air can cause migraines. It is characterized by excruciating pains, usually localized in one half of the head. Often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. It is preceded by a specific aura.

Migraine

What is happening in the moment in the head? With migraine cephalgia, the vessels dilate under the influence of biologically active substances. Migraine provocateurs are often ripe cheeses, fish (especially mackerel), seafood, chewing gum with Aspartame sweetener, red wine. The reasons may also be allergies to pollen, dust, pungent odors.

Nervous tension, neuralgia

Trigeminal and occipital neuralgia can also lead to unpleasant symptoms. Inflammation of the nerves provoked can be hypothermia, a herpes infection.

Psychological stress is a provocateur of cephalalgia. Anxiety, anger, or fear release stress hormones such as adrenaline, norepinephrine, and cortisol. These substances, being in small doses of blood, provoke vasospasm, from which oxygen saturation of the brain suffers. The result is aching cephalgia.

Hypertension and vascular problems

The main cause of cephalalgia is problems with arteries, veins, capillaries, which are caused by a disorder in the functions of the autonomic nervous system. Neurocirculatory dystonia in the presence of provoking factors (a sharp change in the weather, stuffy atmosphere, lack of sleep) can cause discomfort.

It's no secret what causes discomfort in the head. But these symptoms are only a small part of the manifestations of this disease. Essential hypertension and symptomatic hypertension become the causes of encephalopathy with the development of organic disorders of blood vessels and brain tissue. The walls of blood vessels supplying the brain are impregnated with blood plasma proteins and lose their elasticity.

Inflammatory processes

Colds, as well as inflammation of the paranasal sinuses (frontal sinusitis, ethmoiditis, sphenoiditis, sinusitis) lead to heaviness in the head. The accumulation of purulent exudate in the mastoid process of the temporal bone (mastoiditis), problems with teeth and gums (periodontitis) can cause aching cephalalgia. After recovery, the discomfort disappears.

Medications

If the head aches, then the problem may be in the medications taken. Provocateurs are drugs such as:

dopamine agonists.
Oral contraceptives.
Non-hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Medicines for migraine.
Cardiac nitrates: Nitroglycerin, Sodium nitroprusside, Isosorbide mono- and dinitrate.

Dopamine agonists such as Bromocriptine (Dostinex), Mastodinone act on receptors in the hypothalamus like the hormone dopamine, which dilates blood vessels. This can trigger a migraine.

Oral contraceptives containing analogues of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone can also cause migraines, exacerbation of sensitivity to allergens.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Paracetamol, Citramon, Aspirin, can cause overuse pain, as they are often taken for migraine and can cause it to worsen. Such drugs can cause small hemorrhages of the capillaries of the brain.

The action of anti-migraine agents, triptan derivatives, ergotamine, cause narrowing of pathologically dilated vessels. However, in case of an overdose, they can cause severe spasm, the consequence of this is spastic cephalalgia.

Antianginal drugs used to treat angina attacks sometimes cause migraine-like symptoms by dilating the arteries.

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Diagnosis and treatment

Chronic aching pain is a serious symptom of disorders in the body, a reason for contacting a neurologist.

Examinations to be completed:

Ultrasound of the brain (more informative than CT and MRI).
Rheoencephalogram - checking the condition of arteries, veins, capillaries of various calibers.
Electroencephalogram.
General analysis of blood, urine.

Treatment is prescribed by a neurologist after a detailed examination. For spasms, apply: Cavinton, Stugeron (Cinnarizine), (Nicergoline). These drugs are contraindicated in migraine, cluster pain.

With migraines, they take Sumatriptan, ergotamines. Dosage must be accurate to avoid spasm. Taking migraine vasodilators, such as Cavinton, Cinnarizine, worsens symptoms, so they are contraindicated.

There are several types of headaches: severe, throbbing, pressing, dull, bursting, etc. The following are the main dull pains in, as well as a few tips for these unpleasant sensations. Dull and monotonous pain spreads throughout the head, most often it occurs in the late afternoon. The reason for this is usually overvoltage, causing in the vessels of the brain. To improve well-being, massage the back of the head, lightly massage the temples and knead the neck muscles. After that, take a comfortable position, close your eyes, relax and imagine that you are somewhere on vacation, and all the problems and worries are far and away. this moment doesn't concern you at all. Spend 12-15 minutes in this state. Aching dull pain in the head is accompanied by weakness, possibly dizziness, appears closer to the middle of the day of minor physical activity. Most likely, the reason is that you are weather dependent. Your body is very sensitive to changes in atmospheric pressure, changes in temperature and wind direction, which contributes to the formation of vasospasm. Determine your blood pressure using a tonometer or by the nature of the headache: when it is low, it occurs in the temporal region, and when it is high, it occurs in the back of the head. With reduced pressure, it is recommended to lie down a little with raised legs, and with high pressure, on the contrary, with a raised head. Do a massage (suitable for any change in pressure). Touch the center of your forehead with the pad of your right index finger. Then vertically raise your finger above the hairline by 1 cm, press on the indicated point and hold your finger in this position for 2-3 seconds, then gently lower your finger to the point between the eyebrows (above the bridge of the nose), press again and hold for 2-3 seconds. Do this massage for 1 minute, then break for 3 minutes and repeat again. If you do not feel better after 10-15 minutes, call your doctor. Dull pressing pain occurs in the left or right side of the head, sometimes accompanied by pain in the eyes, while your face turns pale or red. The cause is irritation of the trigeminal nerve, which occurs due to overwork, excessive excitement, sometimes when the weather changes. Create a twilight in the room and take a comfortable position. Bring along a small terry towel and a bowl of hot or cold water(for redness of the face, cold water is needed, otherwise hot). Wet a towel, wring it out and, putting it on your face, leave it for 5-7 minutes. Then wet the towel again, wring it out and place it on your face. Repeat this procedure for 30-40 minutes. Dull pain in the head in the morning. The reason for this may be lack of sleep or caffeine addiction. Try to increase your sleep time, and reduce the number of cups of coffee you drink to 1-2 per day. If the methods are without drug treatment If they don't help you, see your doctor and get tested. Depending on the severity of your condition, an experienced doctor will prescribe the necessary medications or prescribe herbal tinctures.