Headache: A Pain in the Neck

Almost everyone has had a headache and some people get them regularly.

So are headaches dangerous?

You may say a headache is a headache, does it really matter what is causing it! The answer to this is YES it most certainly does matter.

However the majority of headaches are harmless and are caused by:-

Tension - I tend to suffer from this type on a regular basis and they occur as a result of stress. It is recognisable as a stiff neck and possibly sleep disturbances and then subsequent tiredness. The best treatment for this is to eliminate stress and make more time for yourself and promote well being through practices such as yoga and other exercise.

Migraine- There are several stages to a migraine attack and they are represented by different symptoms including feeling more tired than usual, food cravings, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, nausea and possibly vomiting. The best option here is to avoid stress, particular foods, caffeine, alcohol, smoking, skipping meals and dehydration as these are all thought to be involved in initiating an attack.

Eye strain usually occurs in people with poor eyesight when they tense their eye muscles to see more clearly. Therefore if you are experiencing this I would suggest getting your eyes tested as you may need prescription glasses.

Dehydration- This is another common cause of headaches and one people are not aware of. Many people do not consume the recommended fluid intake per day and as a result they suffer from frequent headaches accompanied by fatigue. Additionally this is the type of headache one will get after a consuming large alcohol intake. In order to avoid this I would suggest drinking 2 litres of water per day.

Low blood sugar- Headaches are a major symptom accompanied by weakness, mood swings and dizziness. Eating something sugary should raise your blood sugars and remove the symptoms, but if you expect you are suffering as a result of low blood glucose levels your local clinician warrants a visit.

Inflammation of the sinuses is accompanied by pain in the cheeks and nose as well as a headache.

All of the above can also be treated with painkillers such as aspirin and ibuprofen.

Now I will consider the headaches which are more serious in nature and require urgent medical attention, as they can be fatal. There are five main causes:-

Meningitis – I have seen an example of this first hand and it was very important to act quickly. It can be caused by a virus or bacteria. The patient had many symptoms including stiff neck, extreme sensitivity to light and touch, severe headache, nausea, rash and confusion. Hospital monitoring and antibiotics are treatments used here.

Encephalitis – This has similar symptoms to meningitis and sometimes is mistaken for the flu. It has the potential to become fatal if left untreated.

Cerebral Aneurysms – Can occur in combination with high blood pressure and are sometimes but not always identifiable by symptoms such as unconsciousness, nausea, vomiting, severe headache, and visual problems. They become fatal when an aneurysm bursts and leads to a haemorrhage.

Other causes are high blood pressure and brain tumours.

Finally and most importantly if you suffer from frequent headaches do not hesitate from visiting your local clinician for appropriate diagnosis and advice.