Definition of Headaches

What are headaches?

A headache or cephalalgia is pain anywhere in the region of the head or neck. It can be a symptom of a number of different conditions of the head and neck. Headaches can result from a wide range of causes both benign and more serious. Brain tissue itself is not sensitive to pain as it lacks pain receptors. Rather, the pain is caused by disturbance of the pain-sensitive structures around the brain. Nine areas of the head and neck have these pain-sensitive structures, which are the cranium (the periosteum of the skull), muscles, nerves, arteries and veins, subcutaneous tissues, eyes, ears, sinuses and mucous membranes. There are a number of different classification systems for headaches. The most well-recognized is that of the International Headache Society.

Bruxism is a common cause of headaches

Headache is a non-specific symptom, which means that it has many possible causes, including fatigue and sleep deprivation, stress, the effects of medications and recreational drugs, viral infections and common colds, head injury, rapid ingestion of a very cold food or beverage, dental or sinus issues, and many more. Treatment of a headache depends on the underlying cause, but commonly involves pain killers. Some form of headache is one of the most commonly experienced of all physical discomforts.

 

Headaches can be Classified as Primary or Secondary

Primary headaches

These headaches occur independently and are not caused by another medical condition. Examples of primary headaches include migraines, tension-type headaches, and cluster headaches. Migraines may be preceded by visual disturbances, loss of peripheral vision, and fatigue. Cluster headaches can be triggered by alcohol, weather changes, and smoking.

Secondary headaches

These headaches are caused by another condition, such as TMD, an infection, a sports injury, or tumor.

Headaches often follow a concussion

Reoccuring headaches are a typical symptom of a concussion, and can occur within seven days of a head injury. Post-concussive headaches can feel like tension-type headaches or migraines, and can be mild to moderate or severe. They may take the form of cluster headaches or tension-type headaches.

They can also have a pulsating quality that worsens with activity.

Other symptoms of a post-concussive headache include:

• Sensitivity to light and noise
• Nausea
• Sudden dizziness
• Abnormal vomiting
• Insomnia
• Poor concentration
• Fatigue

How are headaches treated?

Trigger Point Injections can help relieve headaches

Your pain management team will figure out the best treatment based on:

1. Your age.
2. Your overall health and medical history.
3. How impacted your daily life is by your headaches.
4. How well you can handle specific medicines, procedures, or therapies.
5. How long the condition has existed and how long it is expected to last.
6. Your opinion, availability, or preference for headache treatment.

The goal of all headache treatment is to stop headaches from occurring or to minize their impact. Effective headache management depends on finding what type of headache you have and the best treatment for you. If your pain management physician suspects migraine or tension-type headaches and the neurological exam is normal, no further testing may be needed. However, if it is not a primary type headache, then other tests may be done to find the cause.

“Headaches can occur as a result of many conditions. There are a number of different classification systems for headaches. The most well-recognized is that of the International Headache Society, which classifies it into more than 150 types of primary and secondary headaches. Causes of headaches may include dehydration; fatigue; sleep deprivation; stress;[4] the effects of medications (overuse) and recreational drugs, including withdrawal; viral infections; loud noises; head injury; rapid ingestion of a very cold food or beverage; and dental or sinus issues.” – Headaches on Wikipedia

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