What to do if a headache is very bad?

Every person at least once in his life experienced a headache. Regardless of the cause and intensity, this symptom always adversely affects daily activities. A person suffering from a headache becomes irritable, absent-minded, his performance decreases, and he cannot absorb new information. The frequent occurrence of this problem can significantly degrade the quality of life. Why does a headache and how to deal with it?

Types of headache

Not many people know that the head can hurt in different ways. It is important to be able to differentiate the symptoms that arise, since this greatly facilitates the determination of the cause and the development of a treatment regimen. The most common types of pain are:

1. The pain of stress. Every person had experienced it at least once. It occurs with an uncomfortable position of the neck or with a long static load on it. For example, if you sit at a table for a long time and write, read or work at a computer, do something. In this case, the muscles of the neck and back experience prolonged tension, which is transmitted to the tissue of the head. Such pain can be compared to a tight hoop or cap, which squeezes the head from the outside to the inside.
2. Hypertensive. Often headache occurs in people suffering from hypertension. It usually has a pulsating character, often localized in the temples or occipital region. The main way to diagnose it is to measure blood pressure.
3. Hypotensive. A lack of cerebral circulation also leads to the development of a headache. It occurs when arterial hypotension or clamping of blood vessels that feed the brain. This pain is accompanied by dizziness, and in some cases - syncopal states. For its diagnosis it is also necessary to measure blood pressure. Sometimes it is worthwhile to additionally investigate the functioning of the neck vessels.
4. Migraine. How and why it appears is unknown.This is one of the most unpleasant types of pain. It occurs suddenly, differs in that it is localized in one half of the head. This pain is accompanied by fear of light, intolerance to loud sounds and a pronounced decrease in working ability. It is very intense, poorly treated and can last for several days.
5. Cluster pains. They arise mainly in the representatives of the stronger sex. There is an opinion that men who are trying to appear strong despite their inner vulnerability and sensitivity are susceptible to cluster or beam pains. A distinctive feature of this type is the paroxysmal pain. They appear as bunches, pass in a few minutes, and then can repeat again.

Pathological conditions and diseases that can cause headaches

It should immediately be said that the brain itself has no pain receptors. Even operations on this organ can be performed without anesthesia, having previously anesthetized all the overlying tissues that neurosurgeons often do. But the membranes of the brain have a lot of pain receptors and are a powerful reflexogenic field.Also, nerve endings contain brain vessels.

It is believed that headache can be a symptom of encephalitis, but in fact it is not. Even an extensive pathological focus with many other symptoms may not hurt at all until inflammation passes to the lining of the brain. This phenomenon is also true for other diseases. This often interferes with the diagnosis of tumor processes in the brain. What diseases can cause headaches? The following deserve special attention:

1. Meningitis. It is an inflammation of the meninges with specific changes in the cerebrospinal fluid. It may be due to many causes, but most often caused by a bacterial infection. The pain is intense, accompanied by photophobia and phonophobia, muscular rigidity and specific meningeal symptoms.
2. Meningism. Subjective symptoms are similar to those observed with meningitis, but there are no changes in the spinal fluid.
3. Tumor. The development of cancer cells in the cranial cavity is not always accompanied by a painful symptom. But there are multiple signs of focal brain damage: paresis, paralysis, decreased sensitivity.
4. Concussion. It happens as a result of a head impact on a hard surface.Moreover, a slight concussion may occur with a slight impact. Often this condition is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sometimes - loss of consciousness.
5. Fracture of the bones of the skull. Such an injury is more dangerous than a normal concussion and requires urgent hospitalization. At the same time, it is not only the membranes of the brain that may not be affected, but the bones themselves and the surrounding tissues.

Headache does not necessarily indicate the above conditions, but it is worth remembering that it may be a symptom of these diseases.

Sometimes even the doctor himself cannot determine the type and cause of the headache. There are whole scientific institutions that deal with this problem. They are looking for causes, developmental processes and possible ways to treat headaches.

General recommendations for headache

These rules will help reduce headaches until the main treatment is effective. Sometimes using these simple methods, you can get rid of a headache. If this symptom occurs, do the following:

1. Get out in the fresh air or open a window. This will increase the oxygen concentration in the blood and reduce the carbon dioxide content. Even if such a technique does not relieve a headache, he should definitely reduce it.
2. Remove everything that squeezes the head. This applies to caps, bandages, hoops and even elastics for hair. Braids and tails are also worth braiding. Maximum free your head.
3. Do a little warm-up. This tip is for those who suffer from tension headaches. A few exercises on the muscles of the neck and shoulder girdle are enough.
4. Measure blood pressure. If the pain is caused by a decrease or increase, only one pill that normalizes blood pressure can solve the problem.
5. Lie down. This will help to reduce discomfort, regardless of the type of pain and the causes that caused it. It should take the most comfortable position, it is desirable to lie in a dark and quiet room.
6. Make a cold compress. Dip a piece of gauze, handkerchief, or any other cloth in cool water and apply to the forehead. Turn over when it heats up, and then repeat the procedure again.
7. Consult a doctor. If the pain does not go away for a long time or often recurs, accompanied by dizziness, nausea, or other symptoms, contact your local GP.He will designate a survey plan to eliminate all possible pathologies and select treatment tactics.

Headache medications

In fact, analgesics were invented to relieve pain. But, it should be borne in mind that they can not cope with all types of pain, besides they have a number of contraindications and side effects. You can not get involved in taking such drugs. In addition, they usually do not eliminate the cause of the symptom, but only reduce its manifestations. Headache should be removed with the following medicinal substances:

1. Paracetamol. The most famous tool that is widely used for headaches. Indeed, the drug copes with this symptom perfectly, but the doctors will prescribe it do not like. This is because paracetamol has a bad effect on the liver and there is a risk of getting hepatitis during the treatment of a headache.
2. Aspirin. Also often used for headaches. In addition to reducing the discomfort can reduce body temperature. This is a useful property if pain is a symptom of a cold.With frequent uncontrolled use, it can cause stomach ulcers and kidney failure.
3. Analgin. It acts like aspirin, but the antipyretic effect is less pronounced.
   Trigan. It is an antispasmodic that effectively fights pain caused by muscle tension and vascular spasm.
4. Solpadein. Anesthetic, anti-inflammatory and antitussive drug. Most often used for colds.
5. Ibuprofen Refers to the same group as analgin and aspirin, but less likely to cause side effects and has a more powerful analgesic effect.
6. Pentalgin. It consists of antispasmodics, stimulants and analgesics. It is a fairly strong drug, but has many side effects. Often it can not be used. In addition, it is contraindicated for athletes who are going to undergo doping control.
7. Migrenol. It is used to treat migraine. Conventional analgesics and antispasmodics rarely cope with this task. It should be borne in mind that the drug has a hypnotic effect.
8. Immigrant Its effect is different from migrenol, but this drug is also used to get rid of the symptoms of migraine.

It can be concluded that headache is a common symptom in many people. It may appear due to various reasons, most of which do not pose any threat to life and health. However, under certain circumstances it is worth going through a number of additional examination methods in order to exclude a serious pathology of the brain. Treat headaches can be a variety of methods.

Video: 8 ways to quickly relieve a headache