What is a headache?
A headache is any type of discomfort or pain around the head, face, or neck area. In many cases, your head hurts because the nerves, muscles, or blood vessels throughout your face, scalp, or brain are irritated, inflamed, or not functioning properly.
The American College of Physicians reports that seven out of 10 people suffer from at least one headache a year, and 45 million Americans suffer from chronic headaches.
Headaches vary greatly in regard to the severity and location of the pain and the duration. Because of the range of possible causes of headaches, a correct diagnosis is important.
Most headaches are not a cause for concern, but headaches that are due to a serious underlying disorder require urgent medical attention. If you develop an excruciating headache or a headache that does not respond to medication, seek immediate medical attention.
Certain types of headache and headaches associated with specific symptoms, such as a severe or sudden headache associated with a stiff neck, fever, convulsions, confusion, or pain in the eye or ear, may warrant urgent medical attention. A persistent headache in a person with no previous history of headaches and recurring headaches in children are also cause for concern.
A severe headache that wakes you in the night or a severe headache on waking up in the morning can also indicate a severe brain condition that may have occurred during sleep. If there is any doubt, seek professional medical help as soon as possible.
What are the different types of headaches?
Headaches can range from the occasional tension headache to migraine with auras. While there are many types of headaches, the three main types include:
Although most headaches are harmless and last only a few hours, a headache can be a symptom of a serious disease, disorder or condition affecting the neck, eyes, brain, jaw or teeth. Headache can be a symptom of numerous conditions ranging from the common cold, flu, and stress to severe conditions such as meningitis, stroke or a brain tumor.
CAUSES
What causes headache?
The most common types of headaches (tension, migraine and cluster) are often caused by certain triggers in the body or environment that ultimately affect the pain-signaling nerves in the brain. Current research suggests that certain brain chemicals that are released under various conditions alter the way the brain manages pain signals. In addition, if people in your family have a pattern of headache, then you may have an increased risk for headaches at some point in your life. Headache can also be a symptom of severe conditions, such as meningitis, stroke, or a brain tumor....
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