Headache

From Freepedia

A headache (medically known as cephalalgia) is a condition of mild to severe pain in the head; sometimes upper back or neck pain may also be interpreted as a headache. Headache is the second-most common form of local pain. (The most common is molar pain, i.e. toothache in one or more of the flat-crowned teeth used for grinding food.)

Headaches have a wide variety of causes, ranging from eyestrain to inflammation of the sinus cavities to life-threatening conditions such as encephalitis, brain cancer, meningitis, and cerebral aneurysms. When the headache occurs in conjunction with a head injury the cause is usually quite evident; however, many causes of headaches are more elusive. The most common type of headache is a tension headache. Some people experience headaches when they are hungry or dehydrated (severe dehydration is the cause of the headache during a hangover, since alcohol is a diuretic).

It is common to take over-the-counter painkillers such as aspirin, paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve headaches. However, when taken too frequently, painkiller medications may actually cause headaches.

Contents

Pathophysiology

The brain tissue, the dura mater and the skull bones are not sensitive to pain. The basal part of the meninges and the great blood vessels, arteriae as well as sinuses, do have pain perception. Headache often results from traction to or irritation of the meninges and blood vessels.

Causes

There are many different causes of headache. They can be broadly classified in the following three categories:

  • Intracranial, e.g. meningitis, tumours
  • Extracranial, e.g. tension headache
  • Psychogenic, e.g. vital depression

Types of headache

External Links

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