If you have been experiencing a sharp pain over your head and face for too long, do not ignore it. Persistent headaches are often characterised by a throbbing sensation that intensifies over time. The worst happens when such pain spreads to other body parts and disrupts your well-being. Worry not – read this blog to know the common causes of constant headaches and take charge of your health from now on! But before that, let’s get acquainted with the headaches one commonly faces.
How many types of headaches one can experience?
Tension headache
This is the most common type of headache that adults and teenagers face. Often associated with mild discomfort, it generally resolves on its own.
Migraine headache
Such a headache lasts from several hours up to a few days. It may be associated with other symptoms like:
- Sensitivity to light, chaos, and smells
- Feeling of nausea
- Reduced appetite
- Stomach troubles and abdominal pain
When a child suffers from migraine, symptoms such as paleness, dizziness, blurred vision, fever, and an upset stomach may appear. In extreme cases, digestive issues like vomiting occur.
Cluster headache
Cluster headaches are the most painful headaches. A person experiencing them may feel an intense burning and piercing sensation around the eye region. Other symptoms associated with such a condition are reddening of the eyes, reduction in pupil size, stuffy nose, etc. Cluster headaches typically last for a couple of weeks to about three months. During an attack, an individual may not be able to remain still and can suffer for several minutes to hours.
Chronic daily headache
Such a type of headache remains for more than a month. These headaches last for a short period but, in extreme cases, may remain for several hours. The common symptoms are as follows:
- Chronic migraine
- Chronic tension headache
- Persistent headache daily
- Hemicrania continua
Sinus headache
This headache is characterised by profound pain in the cheekbones, forehead, and associated regions. As the name suggests, it involves the sinuses (or head cavities). When they get inflamed, symptoms similar to flu and cold arise, such as runny nose, swollen face and eyes, fever, etc.
Post-traumatic headache
It usually starts two to three days after a head injury. Here are some symptoms to expect.
- A dull pain, worsening over time
- Vertigo
- Feeling light on the head
- Inability to focus
- Memory issues
- Frequent feeling of running out
- Grumpiness
These headaches may persist for up to a few months. However, if they resolve on their own, visit a private doctor in London without delay.
Constantly facing a headache? Possible reasons explained!
Here’s a list of common causes of constant headaches. They are as follows:
- Inflammation and other medical problems with blood vessels surrounding the brain: When the blood vessels surrounding the brain get inflamed (in case of strokes), they swell up and stretch the nerves around them. This, in turn, sends pain signals to the central nervous system.
- Inflammation of the meninges (meningitis): Meninges are thin membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. When they get inflamed, severe headaches and flu-like symptoms are triggered.
- Infections: These include symptoms of common cold and fever. Also, sinus infections (sinusitis) play a significant role in bringing headaches. However, leaving these symptoms unnoticed may contribute to severe consequences in the long run.
- Chronic stress: Emotional and physical stress are significant factors contributing to persistent headaches. Additionally, people nowadays tend to follow a sedentary lifestyle, which gives rise to unhealthy habits like smoking and drinking. All these directly affect overall health and degrade sleep quality. Moreover, poor posture and overuse of sleep-inducing medicines deteriorate headaches.
- Surrounding environment: Certain components like extremely delightful smells, pungent odours of chemicals, allergens, chaos, flashy lights, etc., may trigger headaches for some people. Also, passive smoking plays a negative role here.
- Genetic predisposition: Headaches, typically migraines, tend to run in families. The majority of children and teenagers (90%) experiencing migraines have at least one member in their families suffering from the same. When both parents have migraine, there is a high chance that their offspring will develop it in future.
- Too high or too low intracranial pressure: Changes in intracranial pressure (ICP) can trigger headaches. When the pressure is exceptionally high, a large quantity of cerebrospinal fluid accumulates around the brain. Consequently, it pressurises the optic nerve, leading to symptoms of severe and persistent headaches. In extreme cases, vision problems may arise. Contrarily, when pressure drops, either due to leaking meninges or any other reason – the brain sags down and stretches the nerves around it. This generates excruciating pain in the head, known as orthostatic headache. Such a condition is often associated with double vision, dizziness, etc.
- Brain tumour: A growing tumour presses on healthy neural cells and may obstruct the flow of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. This increases intracranial pressure and leads to a persistent headache. Symptoms worsen when an individual tries to sneeze, cough, or bend their head. Additionally, certain tumours release cytokines that indicate inflammation and, in most cases, may deteriorate a persisting headache.
- Traumatic brain injury: Upon getting a brain injury, the production of neurotransmitters (also known as chemical messengers) is disrupted, thus causing miscommunication between brain cells. Moreover, in cases of internal brain bleeding, the blood vessels get ruptured, causing blood to spill over the organ. This increases the brain’s pressure, gradually causing it to swell up. Moreover, such a condition limits oxygen supply to the cerebellum, giving rise to symptoms of constant headaches, nausea, and, worst, facial paralysis.
How do you know which type of headache you have?
There is no clear-cut line to know which headache you have. The best you can do is to keep a record of the signs and symptoms that you experience. Moreover, you can consult a health specialist immediately and get tested for potential triggers!
Diagnosing headaches
- The first step involves talking to a doctor. The doctor examines you on a physical level and then asks questions specific to your health. Be honest with your answers, as they are crucial in preparing your treatment plan.
- Next, a series of diagnostic assessments are performed. The most common techniques to assess the brain are CT scans and MRIs. Sometimes, an EEG might also be prescribed. However, in extreme cases, your doctor may provide a specialist referral to a headache specialist.
How do doctors treat a headache?
Before treating a headache, the doctor may suggest multiple diagnostic tests to evaluate the underlying conditions for your headache. For example, hypertension, neck and jaw problems, etc. If required, he may also refer to other experts such as ENTs, neurologists, ophthalmologists, physiotherapists, etc. Typical treatments that the doctor prescribes are:
- Aspirin
- Counselling programmes
- Stress management techniques
- Relaxation therapies such as massage
- Dietary changes
- Acupuncture or chiro pathy
Conclusion
Headaches can suddenly appear with a sharp pain over the head and face. Since they vary widely in type, intensity, location, and frequency, knowing the symptoms and causes is of the utmost importance. However, it is always best to see a medical professional. Several private healthcare clinics offer affordable diagnostic testing facilities for persistent headaches. Thus, if you have been constantly facing a headache for extended periods, visit a private doctor in London as soon as possible!
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