Headache
Headache :
Headaches are a common health problem most people experience them 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. A headache can affect any part of the head, and pain may be present in one or several locations. Headaches can cause various types of pain, and 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.
Primary headaches
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:
- specific areas of the brain
- blood vessels
- muscles
- nerves
- brain chemicals
Common types of primary headaches include cluster and tension headaches.
Secondary headaches
These are symptoms of underlying medical conditions. The cause of a secondary headache may be:
- pregnancy
- systemic conditions, such as an infection
- hypothyroidism
- giant cell arteritis
- a stroke
- a brain tumor
Secondary headaches can result from serious health issues. It is important to seek medical advice if any headache:
- is severe or disruptive
- is persistent
- occurs regularly
- does not improve with medication
- occurs alongside other symptoms, such as confusion, a fever, sensory changes, or stiffness in the neck
Symptoms
The characteristics of a headache and the effects on daily life can vary. A headache may:
- affect one or both sides of the head
- radiate from a central point
- involve sharp, throbbing, or dull pain
- have a vise-like quality
- come on gradually or suddenly
- last from under an hour to several days
Diagnosis
A doctor can usually diagnose a type of headache after asking the person about:
- their symptoms
- the type of pain
- the timing and pattern of attacks
In some cases, the doctor may perform or request tests to rule out more serious causes of head pain. The tests may involve blood samples or imaging, such as a CT or MRI scan.
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