Headache is pain in any region of head or neck including nerves, blood vessels, and muscles that cover them. Headaches can be caused due to variety of underlying factors, some of them could be even fatal. Treatment depends on underlying cause however usually starts with a pain reliever pill. Headaches due to tension, dehydration, overuse of computer that occur once a while can be treated with over the counter medicines, but recurrent headaches require doctors consultation.
Headache is pain in any region of head or neck including nerves, blood vessels, and muscles that cover them. Headaches can be caused due to variety of underlying factors, some of them could be even fatal. Treatment depends on underlying cause however usually starts with a pain reliever pill. Headaches due to tension, dehydration, overuse of computer that occur once a while can be treated with over the counter medicines, but recurrent headaches require doctors consultation.
One of the most common type of recurrent headache people experience is migraine. There are many different triggers that can cause migraine. Women are most affected than men. Changes in hormone levels, sleep patterns, lifestyle cause migraines. Migraines are now considered as brain disorders caused due to vasodilation of cranial nerves that emerge from brain. Vasodilation is widening of blood vessels which results in low supply of blood to the brain.
Migraines that cause visual disturbances where patients might experience flashes of light, zigzag patterns, blind spots which will interfere with activities like reading, writing and driving.
Spinal headaches are caused by leakage of spinal fluid from the dura mater surrounding the spinal cord. The leakage decreases the pressure exerted by spinal fluid on brain and spinal cord causing headache. Most spinal headaches proceed after a spinal anesthesia or lumbar puncture involving puncture of tough membrane surrounding spinal cord. It usually appears within 48 hours of lumbar intervention and doctors attention is required if the pain gets worse.
Stroke or Ischemic stroke is caused when artery that supplies fresh blood to the heart gets blocked. When the artery is blocked, the brain cells do not get enough energy and they eventually die. Arteries block due to formation of clot either in the brain itself or developed somewhere else and reaches brain through bloodstream. Immediate medical attention is required to prevent from permanent loss of motor function. People above 50 years and women are at more risk of developing stroke.
Sudden headaches associated with weakness or numbness in one side of arm or leg, difficulty in speech, itching associated with nerve damage are the warning signs of stroke.
When headaches are experienced more often and getting worse with blurred vision, seizures, stiff neck, numbness in hands, arms and legs and in cases of presumed migraine.
