The medical definition of “headache” is pain in the head, which is located in the front, side, back of the head, and neck.
Common types of headaches are migraine, tension, cluster, sinus, TMJ, and neck, and are the major reason that people miss school or work are headaches. Tension headaches are most common type of headaches, and migraines are the second most common cause. Most people consider tension headaches a combination of tension and migraine.
There are many different causes of headaches. Each type of common headache pain varies in intensity, location, for example, the top, back, or front of the head, and duration. Stress and anxiety may trigger some people's headaches, and some seem to have no apparent cause.
Many diseases and conditions can cause a headache, for example, brain tumors, cancer, TMJ, drug abuse, infections and dehydration (toxic headaches).
Besides head and neck pain, other signs and symptoms that help diagnose types of headaches are the quality of the pain whether it is sharp, dull, constant, intermittent, or pounding. Other symptoms of headaches may include, dizziness, numbness or weakness, changes in vision, difficulty with balance, eye, ear, or facial pain, cold-like symptoms, fever, sensitivity to light or sound, and nausea and/or vomiting.
Headaches are common and most people experience at least one in their lifetime; however, usually, they don’t have a serious cause. Headaches can affect anyone, of any race, socioeconomic status, age, and gender.
Some types of headaches need emergency treatment. The symptoms and signs of headaches. Ultimately, the cause of the headache is the determining factor in deciding the best treatment.
Headache is caused by irritation or injury to pain-sensing structures of the head. The structures that can sense pain include the scalp, forehead, top of head, the muscles of the neck and head, major arteries and veins in the head, the sinuses, and the tissues that surround the brain. The brain has no sensory nerve endings so the brain itself cannot "hurt."
Headache may occur when these structures suffer compression, spasm, tension, inflammation, or irritation.
Research into the mechanisms of various headache types is ongoing. The causes of mild tension-type headache are not yet completely understood. A common theory involves nerve endings in the head that are irritated by tight muscles in the neck, face, and scalp, along with irritation to the arteries and veins nearby.
The events that trigger mild headache vary widely among people who get headaches. Each person seems to have his or her own pattern. Common headache triggers include:
Other causes of headache include:
Whether a headache is perceived as mild is often subjective. In addition to tension headaches, migraine headaches, and cluster headaches, there are other types of headaches commonly experienced. Some are mild, some may be more severe. These other headache types include:
Mild headache symptoms are unlikely to need immediate medical attention. These symptoms include mild head pain that is aching, squeezing, or band-like, on both sides of the head, generally above the level of the eyebrows.
These headaches can occur often and may appear at predictable times. People who have these types of mild headache often know the triggers and symptoms of their headaches because the pattern repeats itself for each episode.
Common headache types include the following:
Consult a doctor about your headache and find out what can be done for pain relief in these situations:
Although headaches are very common, they may be a sign of serious disease that warrants immediate medical attention. Go to an emergency department if any of the following symptoms occur:
Doctors usually recommend over-the-counter pain medications for mild headache. If these medications do not adequately treat your headache, consult a doctor for further recommendations.
When you have no serious symptoms, testing is not necessary with mild headaches. Blood tests are usually not helpful because the results are almost always normal unless other symptoms are present. Without injury, X-rays or CT scans are usually not necessary. Even with an injury to the head, X-rays or scans are often not needed. Physical examination in mild headache is generally normal, except for possible tenderness of the muscles of the scalp or neck.
Some homeopathic, naturopathic, herbal, and other home remedies may be helpful in alleviating symptoms of a mild headache, for example, consuming drinks with caffeine, essential oils, avoid foods that are high in histamine, B-complex vitamins, cold compresses, magnesium, and drinking lots of water to avoid getting dehydrated.
However, use of those remedies that are not tested for safety or regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can be potentially dangerous and are not recommended. Without FDA regulation there is no control over the quality, dose, or ingredients. Scientific studies that document safety and effectiveness are not required prior to the sale of these unregulated products.
Although relatively safe, over-the-counter pain medicines all have potential side effects. Inappropriate use may have serious consequences. Always read the label and follow the recommended dosage.
Even nonprescription pain medicines can be dangerous if taken improperly or if taken for headache that is caused by certain diseases (such as bleeding or stroke). Potential problems include overdose, overuse, cross-reactions with other medications (especially with blood thinners such as warfarin [Coumadin]), and toxic effects on various organs (especially the liver).
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a safe and effective pain reliever and should be considered a first-line treatment of headache. Although acetaminophen has few cross-reactions with other medications, avoid taking with alcohol and sleeping medicines (barbiturates and benzodiazepines such as diazepam [Valium]). Unless advised by a doctor, people with liver diseases such as cirrhosis or hepatitis, and heavy drinkers, should avoid acetaminophen.
If acetaminophen alone is inadequate, some people report the addition of caffeine to the acetaminophen provides more relief from pain (Excedrin) and is a reasonable choice for those people who can tolerate caffeine well. Acetaminophen is generally safe for pregnant women to take who have a headache. If you have constant or persistent headache with pregnancy, consult your doctor.
Aspirin is another common pain reliever. Its most common side effects are stomach upset and increased risk of bleeding. Aspirin is a type of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug or NSAID. People with stomach ulcers or on blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin) should not take aspirin. Alcohol use increases the risk of bleeding. Heavy drinkers should not take aspirin because of the risk of bleeding from stomach irritation or ulcer formation. People older than 60 years and those with kidney problems should not take aspirin unless advised by their doctor.
Aspirin is commonly prescribed by doctors after a stroke without bleeding and can prevent another stroke. Taking aspirin for undiagnosed severe headache may be dangerous. The severe headache could come from a bleeding stroke and taking aspirin may make the bleeding worse.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs known as NSAIDs include such medications as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen sodium (Aleve, Naprosyn). These medications are often used for headache.
The side effects are similar to those of aspirin. It is important not to take aspirin and other NSAIDs together because the side effects are additive -- meaning they build on each other and become worse than one taken alone. The same warnings about age, kidney disease, stroke, and alcohol problems apply to other NSAIDs as well as to aspirin.
Mild headaches often reoccur. The pattern of pain is expected to be the same for each episode of the headache. If there is a change in location, duration, severity, or if other symptoms occur with the headache, you should seek medical treatment.
Headaches can be annoying and debilitating. Make an effort to identify any behaviors that may trigger or contribute to your headache pattern.
Any pain medication taken on a long-term basis can cause headache when suddenly stopped. This is called rebound or withdrawal headache. If you take more medication to relieve the pain, the headache-rebound-headache cycle continues.
Caffeine withdrawal can cause mild headache. Options are to avoid caffeine entirely or to continue moderate use to avoid withdrawal. If you choose to stop chronic caffeine use and get caffeine withdrawal headaches, they should last no more than a few days.
Alcohol use can cause headache and dehydration especially after consumption of large quantities (binge drinking).
Nicotine in tobacco products has been shown to cause headache. Avoiding these products may decrease the number of headaches as well as greatly improve overall health.
For stress-induced headache various forms of stress reduction can be helpful as can biofeedback and meditation.
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Tension headaches can be acute or chronic, and are the most common type of headache. Signs and symptoms of tension headaches include mild to moderate intensity of pain on the top and back of the head, and neck pain. Other symptoms of tension headaches are tight, or pressing mild-to-moderate head pain that can be on both sides of the head. Usually, the pain radiates from the neck and the back, and around the sides of the head.
