Headache is one the most common medical complaints. Nearly everyone has experienced a headache at some point in their lives. It is usually a mild condition that is not serious and doesn’t cause any long-term or significant health problems. Many people worry about headaches and fear that it could indicate something more serious. We all know the old saying, “It’s not too-mah!” It’s a joke, but what does headache really mean? Are they more serious? Yes.
Headache
Headache can be linked to serious medical conditions. But, the vast majority of headaches are not serious. Although millions, if perhaps billions, of people experience headaches in their lifetimes, only a small number will ever have a more severe, related condition. How do you know what to do? What does that headache actually mean? This is a difficult question to answer. There are actually doctors who dedicate their entire careers to headaches, its causes, and its treatment.
Although there is no one-size fits all solution, this article will provide you with some information about the most common headache causes and types, from the benign and most common to the more serious. This article will discuss some of the differences between types of headaches. This is not a comprehensive list of all possible causes of headaches.
Headaches Types
There are many more. It begins with the most common causes, and then moves on to more uncommon causes. This article does not contain medical advice. Every patient is unique. Only your physician can advise you on the best treatment for your situation. Consult your doctor if you have headaches or are concerned about them. Tension Headache or a similar variant is the most common type of headache.
Although the exact cause of headaches is unknown and may vary from patient to patient and patient to patient, this benign condition is often associated with stress, muscle tension, spasms of the neck, facial, or head muscles. Although their severity, location, and characteristics may vary, they are almost always harmless, and don’t indicate a more serious problem. This is the most common headache that you will experience if you are stressed, tired, or overworked.
Tension Headaches
Tension headaches are not associated with other neurological symptoms. Other symptoms should be considered. The paranasal nasal sinuses are mucosa-lined cavities in the bone of skull and face. They surround the nasal passages in a number of ways. The nasal passages have openings that allow mucous to flow out of them. If a sinus becomes blocked, its contents may not be able to escape. This can lead to pressure buildup. This can be caused by allergy (allergic rhinoitis or hay fever), or infection like a cold or sinus infection.
Pressure buildup inside a sinus can cause pain. Some sinuses, such as the large maxillary ones, are located in the face. However, most are located at the base of your skull. This pain can be described as a headache. These sinus headaches can happen to anyone with a “stuffed” nose. However, patients with chronic sinus problems and recurrent infections can often experience severe pain.
Migraine Headache
A migraine headache is a type of headache that is thought to have vascular or neurologic origins. They are more common in women, and can sometimes occur in patients who are experiencing regular periods. Although they are usually described as causing pain only on one side of the skull, they can sometimes cause pain on both. Other neurological symptoms are often associated with headaches. Many patients report feeling a “aura” before the headache starts.
Although these symptoms can vary, most patients have some indication that a headache is imminent. Sometimes, they may experience focal neurological symptoms like a scatoma (a temporary blindness in their field of view) or other visual changes. Photophobia, which is the inability to see bright lights, is another possible condition. Many patients also experience nausea and vomiting. These neurological effects are not common in tension headaches and can help distinguish migraines. Some symptoms of migraine, such as nausea, vomiting, and photophobia, can be confused with more serious headache conditions like subarachnoid hemorhage and meningitis. Before a headache is classified as migraine, it is important to rule out other serious conditions.
Cluster Headache
Cluster headaches are a rare neurological form of headache that has yet to be explained. These intensely painful attacks usually affect one side. They are often described as a dull or stabbing pain behind the eye. It can occur suddenly, and then it will remit. Cluster headaches can cause severe pain and can be one of the most painful conditions a person can experience. They also have symptoms that appear to be related to the autonomic nervous systems.
These symptoms include ptosis (a drooping of the eyelid on the same eye), tearing, runny nostrils, redness of one’s eyes, facial redness, swelling, and/or sweating. All of these symptoms occur on the same side that the headache. Some patients report that certain triggers can cause attacks such as alcohol intake or heat exposure.
Meningitis
Meningitis refers to an infection of the brain, the meninges and the fluid around the brain and spinal cord called the cerebrospinal liquid. It can be caused either by bacteria or viruses. Although the bacterial form can be more serious and can cause severe neurological injury or death, it is still possible to get the symptoms from both. Both can cause headaches as one of their most common symptoms. Any movement of the neck or head can be very painful due to the severe inflammation and infection of the brain’s coverings. It is usually accompanied by severe headaches, with or without back pain.
A patient will often have a stiff, painful neck, also known as nuchal rigidity. They have to keep their neck rigid even when they are lethargic, or unconscious because it is so painful. Photophobia can also occur, along with migraines, subarachnoid hemorhage, or seizures. If not treated promptly, the symptoms of bacterial meningitis can quickly escalate into a rapidly deteriorating level consciousness, coma, and eventual death.