Headaches are pains of different types, intensity and localization in the area of the head as a result of circulatory disorders and diseases in the head area or diseases of the whole organism. Depending on the type of headache, it can be attributed to various causes.
How do headaches develop?
The bony human skull houses, on the one hand, the brain as the supreme instance of all functions of the organism and other structures that serve the blood supply and protection of the brain. The brain itself consists of millions of interwoven nerve cells and is surrounded by connective tissue protective sheaths, the so-called meninges. Blood is supplied to the brain via the carotid arteries, which feed a fanning vascular system outside and inside the bony skull with numerous cross-connections. The neurons of the brain are not sensitive to pain per se. The universally recognized symptom of headache is perceived by irritation of specific pain receptors located in the meninges and along the vascular pathways supplying the brain.
Causes and triggers of headache
Headaches are among the most common complaints of all. They can lead to a severe impairment of well-being. The spectrum of causes of headaches ranges from circulatory disorders of the head or tension caused by mental overload to diseases of the eyes and ears to brain tumors, with vascular causes leading the way at about 80 percent. For their part, headache medications can also be the triggers of headaches if they are taken regularly over a long period of time.
Overview of headache causes
The following is an overview of the most common causes of headache. Primary headache:
- Vascular headache, including migraine.
- Tension headaches
- Headache as an expression of psychological conflict situations (conversion headache).
- Cranial nerve neuralgia
Symptomatic headaches:
- Inflammatory diseases of the brain
- Vascular malformations of the brain
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Epilepsy
- Diseases of the bony skull
- Diseases of the vessels supplying the brain
- Diseases of the eyes, sinuses, ears, teeth and jaws.
- Diseases of the cervical spine
- Brain tumor
Headache in general diseases:
- Hypertension
- Allergies
- General infections with fever
- Anemia (anemia)
- Poisonings
- Drug abuse
Headache treatment
For the treatment of primary forms of headache such as vascular headache, tension headache or conversion headache, the following main procedures are available:
- Drug therapy
- Relaxation training
- Homeopathy and acupuncture
- Psychotherapy
We present these forms of treatment in more detail below.
Therapy through medication
Numerous substances with varying degrees of analgesic effect are known, although substances from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics such as acetylsalicylic acid, indometacin or paracetamol are mainly used for headaches. The efficacy of the substances in individual cases must be tested individually. However, because of the not insignificant side effects, chronic use of analgesics poses a health risk.
Relaxation training against stress
Relaxation training includes, for example, autogenic training or yoga.In the development of almost all forms of primary headache, psychological factors such as stress, chronic overload in professional or private life or emotional tension play a significant role. Accordingly, any form of relaxation training that contributes to psychological stabilization and self-control is recommended as a supplement to painkilling medication during an attack.
Homeopathy and acupuncture
If the above treatment options for headaches prove ineffective, non-traditional alternative methods such as homeopathy and acupuncture can achieve amazing results in individual cases. In this regard, a visit to a specialist is recommended.
Psychotherapy against headache
If the causes of the headache are rooted in unconscious psychological conflicts, the procedure of choice is psychotherapy. Basically, successful psychotherapy always requires the patient’s willingness to face his own conscious or unconscious problems and conflicts. 10 tips against headaches
Treatment of cluster headaches
If the usual analgesics show no effect, triptans have proven effective for treating severe cluster headaches. However, in cardiovascular disease, the use of triptans or alternatively ergotamine-containing drugs, which are now rarely used, is not recommended. In cases of severe pain without response to the above-mentioned preparations, local anesthetics, which must be injected into the involved nerve node of the trigeminal nerve, sometimes help. Neuralgia headaches, in turn, require special drug treatment, and may be treated with antidepressants or even neuroleptics. If all medications fail, in rare cases an attempt may be made to eliminate the pain-conducting nerve fibers by surgery, thereby curing the pain syndrome. In symptomatic headaches secondary to diseases inside or outside the skull, therapy is primarily directed against the underlying problem, but may of course be combined with analgesic preparations. The same applies to headaches that occur in the context of general diseases.
Headache: preventive measures
If certain trigger situations or factors for the headache are known, an appropriate avoidance strategy is of course recommended. If the causes of the headache are rooted in psychological overload, stress or emotional tension, one should at least attempt to find a more stable and relaxing rhythm of life through physical and mental compensation programs.
