Who has never suffered from a headache? The causes can be numerous, but there are also natural remedies to combat headaches
Headache is a rather common pathology of which, at least once in life, we suffer more or less all. However, in the face of sporadic episodes or those linked to particular situations, there are people who suffer in a pathological manner.
Not only can the causes be different and have different origins, but there are different types of headaches related to other symptoms. Let's see then what are the types of headaches and their causes.
Headache: causes and types
Headaches are commonly referred to as headaches. This term refers to a generalized disorder that occurs between the head and the neck. The headaches are also divided between primary headaches and secondary headaches. The primary headaches are so called because of their origin: they are not symptoms due to other pathologies, but they are caused by the sum of several factors that combine with each other, including:
- genetic predisposition;
- organic factors;
The secondary headaches, on the other hand, are consequent to other disorders and are caused by traumas, other pathologies or critical health conditions. In this second case, the headache is purely the symptom. Among the primary headaches they have particular importance, both for the intensity of the pain and for the disorders related to them, the cluster headache, the tension headache and the migraine with aura.
The cluster headache is a type of headache rather rare but very painful and annoying, as explained by the professionals of the Humanitas Medical Center. It comes with:
- very intense pains located on only one side of the head;
- attacks that appear suddenly and can last between 15 minutes and 3 hours with the possibility of repeating themselves several times both on the same day and within a few days;
- well-defined collateral symptoms that mainly concern eye disorders (lowering eyelids, tearing, congestion) and nasal congestion.
The origin of this pathology is not clear but, besides a genetic predisposition, among the triggers of the headache there are stress, excessive tiredness, smoking, alcohol. Furthermore, there is a higher prevalence in male individuals.
It is possible to identify causes and types of headaches from areas where pain is located: this is the case with tension headaches. In fact this pathology occurs due to a prolonged state of involuntary contraction of some muscles of the head: for example, temples, neck, shoulders.
Among the various types of headaches temples are often involved: if it is a persistent pain but with low or moderate intensity we are probably in the case of tension headache. The causes can be different:
- stress, depression, anxiety. These disorders lead to involuntarily contracting the muscles of the head and neck, creating pain and tension;
- incorrect posture. Uncomfortable and incorrect positions, perhaps kept for a long time, affect the spine and force the body to compensate with consequent neck and head tension.
As for the symptoms, it is a bilateral disorder that affects the occipital area: in general, all types of headache in the neck are part of the headache. The type of pain is not pulsed but constricting and although it is generally not very intense it can last from less than an hour to several hours.
Migraine with aura
Migraine with aura, as explained by the specialists of the Humanitas Clinic, differs from that without aura not only for the presence of scintillating scotomas and other visual disturbances, but also for symptoms that may include nausea, loss of appetite, photosensitivity , numbness. Within an hour of the onset of the aura, other symptoms appear and, in particular, pain. It is a throbbing pain with a variable intensity from moderate to severe, localized on only one side of the head.
The left side headache can be accompanied by more or less evident speech disorders, while with the right side headache this disorder almost never occurs: in fact the left hemisphere controls the language in most people. Even for these types of headaches the causes have not yet been fully discovered. If in some cases there seems to be a familiarity, it can be noted that some conditions worsen this pathology which has a prevalence over the female sex. In particular: stress, hormonal imbalance, excessive consumption of certain foods such as cocoa, coffee, eggs and cheese, excessive physical tiredness, excessive reduction of the hours of sleep.
Among the various types of headaches, the cervical one mainly affects the terminal part of the vertebral column with painful reflexes on the head and neck. This disorder can be mild or very debilitating, so as to have repercussions on working and family life. It affects women more frequently than men with an incidence of 8 female cases against 1 male.
This pathology can have both causes related to the contraction of the cervical muscles due to stress, anxiety or incorrect postures, and causes resulting from trauma.
Among the most common symptoms are visual disturbances, dizziness, nausea, photophobia and constipation.
Remedies for treating headaches
If the headache has a primary cause, undoubtedly it is very important to follow a healthy life: a good diet rich in fruit and vegetables and without too many excesses, both in quantity and in quality, is the basis for feeling good, therefore also for to prevent more serious pathologies. Sport not only helps general well-being, but also combats stress and anxiety. Even a regular wake-sleep rhythm promotes a good balance of the whole body and is a remedy for headaches.
In the event that this is not sufficient, in addition to the classic analgesics, which should be taken under medical observation, supplements such as magnesium and natural remedies such as ginger can be useful. In recent years good results have also been achieved through acupuncture.