HEADACHE

Headache is the pain anywhere in the region of head and neck. Headache is a symptom caused by several condition raised from head and neck.

Brain tissue in non-sensitive to pain as it does not have pain receptors. Pain is caused by pain sensitive areas around head and neck like muscles, nerves, arteries, veins, subcutaneous tissue, eyes, ears, sinuses etc.

Headache Types

Depending on the cause and origin headache is classified into 2 types. 1 primary headache,2 secondary headaches.

PRIMARY HEADACHE:

These are the most common headaches. Migraine, tension headaches, cluster headaches, hemicrania continua are included in this category. Tension headaches are most common arises due strain in muscles of head and neck.

Pulsating pain in head, pain in eyebrows, band like tightness in upper part of the neck, nausea, sometimes vomiting are associated in this primary headaches. this pain lasts for 3hr to 3 days.

According to old theories these headaches are intracranial vaso constriction is responsible for aura of migraine. New theory tells that neuronal hyper excitability of cerebral cortex especially occipital cortex causes the migraines.

People who have family history of migraines will suffer from migraines frequently.

SECONDARY HEADCHE:

Headaches may be caused by problems elsewhere in head and neck. Some of them are not harmful.

  • Thunder clap headache is caused by subarachnoid haemorrage.it is caused by stroke in which blood accumulates around the brain.

  • Headache with fever neck stiffness is caused by meningitis.

  • Headache that worse by strain and change of position is due to increased intracranial pressure arises due to brain tumor or idiopathic intracranial hypertension, or cerebral venous sinus thrombosis

  • Headache with visual disturbances is caused by giant cell arteritis in which blood vessel wall is inflamed and obstructs the blood flow.

  • Headache, dizziness, vomiting sensation with muscular weakness is because of angle closure glaucoma.

  • headache nausea vomiting is sometimes caused by corbo monoxide poisoning.

TRIGGERING FACTORS FOR HEADACHE:

  • Weather changes temperature changes. Like extreme sunlight and rain. extreme cold exposure

  • Strong odors such as perfumes, paint smells

  • Tight hair accessories like bands, clips, hat

  • Energetic exercises including sex

  • Poor posture in daily activities

  • Red wine and alcoholic drinks causes headache.

  • Skipping meals or Overeating.

  • Smoking and taking coffee

  • Mental stress, grief, excessive thinking depression

  • Due to drugs like contraceptive pills.

  • Lack of proper sleep.

DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES:

  • Electro Encephalogram (EEG)

  • CT BRAIN PLAINE

  • CT BRAIN WITH CONTRAST to identify any aneurysms

  • MRI

  • CBP ESR

  • SERUM ELECTROLYTES

MIGRAINE

Migraine is chronic neurological disorder. Moderate to severe pain with autonomic nervous symptoms. Usually one sided headache, pulsating one lasts for 2 hr. to 72 hr. Associated with nausea vomiting and photophobia. Most of the people who suffer from migraine have aura before attack, like visual sensory disturbances or motor disturbances. usually aggravated by physical activity.

CAUSE FOR MIGRAINE:

Underlying cause for migraine is unknown. but it is related to be mixture of genetic and environmental factors. psychological conditions depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder are the triggers for migraine.

  • Stress

  • Hunger

  • Fatigue

  • Anxiety

  • Pregnancy

  • Perimenopause

  • Depression

  • Oral contraceptive pills

Migraine Headache

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: migraines are usually self-limited. recurrent severe headache with autonomic nervous symptoms. Migraine which lasts for 72 hrs called as STATUS MIGRANOSUS.

There are 4 possible phases to migraine are there. although not all phases are to be experienced.

  • PRODRUME PHASE: This phase occurs in 6- percent of migraines. This lasts for 2hr to 2 days. alternation of mood, irritability depression, euphoria, fatigue, stiffness in neck, sensitivity to smells ,light are seen

  • AURA PHASE: This phase last for few minutes. Vision, sensory, motor disturbances are seen. Blurred vision, zig zag lines in vision are seen. Feeling or sensation needles are pricking in head and nose region are seen.in motor disturbances alteration in speech, weakness in limbs are seen

  • PAIN PHASE: This phase lasts for 2hrs to 3 days. pain is associated with nausea, vomiting, vision disturbances. sensitive to smell, light, sounds. unilateral or bilateral headache. Pain is mild to moderate.

  • POSTDROME PHASE: The effects of migraine lasts for few days after the main headache is ended known as postdrome phase. Head feels sore. weakness. Not feeling refreshes.

DIAGNOSIS:

  • Check for cbp hemoglobin

  • CT brain plain or contrast

  • MRI brain

  • EEG

MANAGEMENT:

  • Avoid stress, anxiety, over thinking

  • Doing meditation. pranayamam, breathing exercises

  • Taking nutritional diet rich in B12, Magnesium

  • Head massage

HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES:

  • Head pain from strong odors: belladona, lyco, coffea, ignatia, phos

  • Periodical headache: nat mur, apis, sangunaria, china, sepia, silicea.

  • Headache in pregnancy: bell, gels, nux vomica, verat alb, sepia

  • Headache from reading: nat mur, sepia, calc, tuberculinum

  • Migraine with constipation, nausea: lac defloratum

  • Headache from riding carriage: ignatia, sepia, cocculus, kalicarb

  • Headache in school girls: calc phos, acid phos, nat mur, lac caninum, puls

  • Headache from noises: bell, theridion, itric acid, ignatia, lac caninum.

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