What are headaches?
Headaches describe a range of conditions that cause pain in your upper neck or head. There aren't any pain nerves in your brain, so headache pain comes from the tissues and structures surrounding it.
When the tissues around your brain become inflamed, it can result in the pain of a headache. The sensation may be:
- Sharp
- Achy
- Throbbing
- Mild
- Intense
There are numerous types of headaches, some of which can be severe and disabling.
What types of headaches are there?
Your headache may be primary, secondary, or neuralgic.
Primary headaches
These are headaches that occur as a condition in themselves without being a symptom of another disorder. Examples include stress headaches, migraines, and cluster headaches.
Secondary headaches
Secondary headaches are a symptom of another condition, such as a cold, flu, ear infection, glaucoma, or meningitis.
Cranial neuralgia
Neuralgia is pain from a faulty or damaged nerve. The main nerves that cause head pain are the occipital nerve in the back of your head and the trigeminal nerve in your face.
Dehydration and stress are both common causes of headaches. While tumors can cause severe pain, they're a more unlikely reason for you to experience headaches.
How is my headache diagnosed?
To diagnose the type of headache you're experiencing, our providers take a history of your symptoms. They perform a physical and neurological exam to look for signs of any condition that may be causing your headaches.
The more details you can provide about the characteristics of your headache, the better, so note:
- When your headaches occur
- How often they occur
- Symptoms that accompany your headaches
Identifying any triggers for your headaches can also be very useful.
What are headache triggers?
Very often, there's no definable cause for headaches. However, if you note everything you were doing, eating, feeling or any other possible influences on your condition, you might spot some common themes.
For example, people who suffer from migraines sometimes find that their attacks occur after they've been drinking red wine, eating preserved meats, or at times of severe stress.
If you can identify your triggers, you might be able to avoid them and reduce the frequency of your headaches.
What treatments are there for headaches?
Medications are often the primary treatment for headaches. In some cases, over-the-counter painkillers are sufficient.
However, you might need prescription medications for migraines that help to reduce the severity of your headaches and prevent attacks.
Relaxation techniques and hot or cold compresses can also be helpful for treating headaches.
If headaches affect your quality of life, call Pinnacle Pain and Spine or book an appointment online today.
