What is a Headache?
When a person has a headache, several areas of the head can hurt, including a network of nerves that extends over the scalp and certain nerves in the face, mouth, and throat. The muscles of the head and the blood vessels found along the surface and at the base of the brain are also sensitive to pain because they contain delicate nerve fibers. The bones of the skull and tissues of the brain itself never hurt because they lack pain-sensitive nerve fibers. The ends of these pain-sensitive nerves, called nociceptors, can be stimulated by stress, muscular tension, dilated blood vessels, and others triggers of headache. Vascular headaches (migraines are a kind of vascular headache) are thought to involve abnormal function of the brain's blood vessels or vascular system; muscle contraction headaches appear to involve the tightening or tensing of facial and neck muscles; and traction and inflammatory headaches are symptoms of other disorders, ranging from brain tumor to stroke to sinus infection. Some types of headache are signals of more serious disorders: sudden, severe headache; headache associated with convulsions; headache accompanied by confusion or loss of consciousness; headache following a blow on the head; headache associated with pain in the eye or ear; persistent headache in a person who was previously headache free; recurring headache in children; headache associated with fever; headache that interferes with normal life. Physicians will obtain a full medical history and may order a blood test to screen for thyroid disease, anemia, or infections or x-rays to rule out a brain tumor or blood clots. CTs, MRIs, and EEGs may be recommended. An eye exam is usually performed to check for weakness in the eye muscle or unequal pupil size. Some scientists believe that fatigue, glaring or flickering lights, the weather, and certain foods may trigger migraine headaches.
Migraine Headache
Migraine headaches are one of the most common problems seen in the emergency department and in the doctor's office. It is a type of headache that appears to originate in the blood vessels of the head.
Migraine headaches typically last from 4-72 hours and vary in frequency from one per week to one per year. Migraine affects about 15% of the population. Three times as many women as men have migraines. Over 80% of people with migraine have other members in the family who have migraines.
Different types of migraine:
- Common migraine accounts for 80% of migraines. There is "aura" before a common migraine. An aura is a symptom that appears before the headache. Most often an aura is a visual disturbance (seeing outlines of lights or jagged light images).
- Classic migraine presents with an aura and is usually much more severe than common migraine.
- Status migrainous is a persistent migraine that does not go away by itself.
Is there any treatment?
A staggering range of potential migraine medication exists. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, you may be advised to take over-the-counter analgesics, prescription medications designed to quickly relieve symptoms, or even long-term medication to prevent headaches from developing.
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