A headache is a term used to describe aching or pain that occurs in the head, face, mouth, or neck. It is one of the most common symptoms experienced in today's society. In fact, up to 40 percent of people worldwide are thought to endure at least one severe attack per year. It is also thought that 90 percent of men and 95 percent of women have experienced at least one of them during their lifetimes.
They are such a common complaint that they can almost be considered a normal part of living. It does not matter if you are a child
(see Headaches in Children) or are pregnant
(see Pregnancy Headaches) -- or whether you live in the country or the city. You have most likely experienced head pain.
What hurts when you have a headache? The bones of the skull and tissues of the brain itself never hurt because they lack pain-sensitive nerve fibers. 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. Also sensitive to pain (because they contain delicate nerve fibers) are the muscles of the head and blood vessels found along the surface of the brain, as well as at the base of the brain.
The ends of these pain-sensitive nerves, called nociceptors, can be stimulated by stress, muscular tension, dilated blood vessels, and other triggers of headaches. Once stimulated, a nociceptor sends a message up the length of the nerve fiber to the nerve cells in the brain, signaling that a part of the body hurts. The message is determined by the location of the nociceptor. A person who suddenly realizes, "My toe hurts" is responding to nociceptors in the foot that have been stimulated by the stubbing of a toe.
A number of chemicals help transmit pain-related information to the brain. Some of these chemicals are natural, painkilling proteins called endorphins (Greek for "the morphine within"). One theory suggests that people who suffer from severe head pain and other types of chronic pain have lower levels of endorphins than people who are generally pain-free.
What Are the Different Types?
There are many different types of head pain. Sometimes healthcare providers will separate these types into primary or secondary headaches. They primary type is not caused by an underlying condition. The most common types of primary headaches include:
The secondary type is caused by an underlying condition. There are many conditions that can cause this type
(see Types of Headaches for a list).
Other times, they will be separated into acute, subacute, or chronic headaches
(see Causes of Headaches). You may also see them separated into vascular, muscle
contraction (tension), traction, and inflammatory types.
Head Pain and Other Symptoms
A headache is a symptom, just like a fever or
diarrhea. Head pain can vary in:
- The type of pain (throbbing, dull, sharp, etc.)
- Where the pain is located
- How long they take to peak from when they first occur
- How often they occur and how long they last
- When they occur (season, month, menstrual cycle, week, hour of day).
Other symptoms can occur. These other symptoms can give healthcare providers clues into what is causing the pain.
(Click Headache Symptoms for other symptoms that can accompany headaches and for information that explains when headache symptoms can be serious.)
Not all headaches require a trip to the doctor's office. In fact, most of them can be treated with medications or other treatment options. However, some types of head pain are signals of more serious disorders and call for prompt medical care.
These more serious symptoms can include:
- A sudden, severe headache
- A sudden headache associated with a stiff neck
- Headaches associated with a fever or convulsions, or accompanied by confusion or loss of consciousness
- Headaches following a blow to the head, or associated with pain in the eye or ear
- Persistent headaches in a person who was previously headache-free.
If you do visit your healthcare provider, he or she will begin by asking a number of questions about the pain, such as how often you have headaches or where the pain is located. He or she will also ask about other symptoms that you may experience. Your healthcare provider will also perform a physical exam to look for signs of conditions known to cause headaches. If your healthcare provider is unsure of the diagnosis, he or she may also order tests to rule out other, more serious causes.
What Are the Treatment Options?
The treatment your healthcare provider recommends will depend on the cause of the pain. Treatment options will also depend on the frequency and severity of the headache, as well as the level of disability it causes. Some people with mild, infrequent headaches may do fine with over-the-counter medications. Other people may need more powerful medicines to treat moderate-to-severe attacks. Finally, others may have headaches so frequently that preventive treatment is recommended.
In general, your healthcare provider may recommend one or more treatment options, including:
Final Thoughts on Headaches
If you suffer from headaches and none of the standard treatments help, do not despair. Some people find that their pain disappears once they deal with a troubled marriage, pass their certified board exams, or resolve some other stressful problem. Others find that if they control their psychological reaction to stress, the pain disappears.
Add this article to your Favorites
Email this article
Print