HEADACHE

It is a pain or discomfort in the head , scalp or neck. Serious causes of headaches are rare. Most people with headaches can feel much better by making changes in your lifestyle , learning ways to relax , and sometimes by taking medications.

                                               CAUSES

The exchange of common head aches are probably caused by muscle tension in the shoulders , neck , scalp and jaw. This type of headache is called a tension headache.

• It may be related to stress , depression , anxiety , head injury or hold the head and neck in an abnormal position.• Tends to be on both sides of the head . It often starts in the back of his head and spread forward. The pain may feel dull or squeezing , like a tight band or vice . You may feel pain and stiffness in the shoulders , neck and jaw.A migraine involves severe pain that usually occurs with other symptoms such as vision changes , sensitivity to noise or light or náuseas.

Con a migraine :

• Pain may be throbbing, pounding, or pulsating . It tends to begin on one side of the head and can be spread to both sides .• You may have an " aura" , a group of warning symptoms that start before your headache. The pain usually gets worse as you try to move from one place to another.• Migraines can be triggered by foods such as chocolate, certain cheeses , and monosodium glutamate ( MSG). Caffeine withdrawal , lack of sleep and alcohol can also trigger them.The rebound headaches , headaches that keep coming back can occur due to excessive consumption of analgesics. For this reason, you can also get headaches from excessive consumption of drugs. People who take pain medications more than 3 days a week on a regular basis can develop this type of headache.Other types of headaches:

• Cluster headache : is a severe headache and extremely painful happens several times a day for months and then disappear for a similar period . The headache lasts less than an hour and tends to occur at the same times every day.• Sinus headaches cause pain in the front of the head and face. This type of headache is due to inflammation in the sinus passages behind the cheeks , nose and eyes. The pain is worse when you bend forward and when you wake up in the morning.• Headaches may occur if you have a cold, flu , fever, or premenstrual syndrome.• Headache due to a condition called temporal arteritis. It is the inflammation and swelling of an artery of the head area , temples and neck.Rarely, a headache can be a sign of a more serious cause such as:

• Bleeding in the area between the brain and the thin tissue that covers (subarachnoid hemorrhage)• Very high blood pressure• Brain infection like meningitis or encephalitis , or abscess• Accumulation of fluid inside the skull that leads to brain swelling ( hydrocephalus)• Accumulation of pressure inside the skull appears to be a tumor, but it is not ( brain tumor)• carbon monoxide poisoning• Lack of oxygen during sleep ( sleep apnea)• Problems with blood vessels and bleeding in the brain, such as arteriovenous malformation (AVM ) , cerebral aneurysm or stroke

                                         HOME CARE

There are steps you can take to manage headaches at home, especially migraines or tension headaches . Try to treat the symptoms immediately.When migraine symptoms begin :

• Drink water to avoid dehydration , especially if vomiting .• Rest in a quiet , dark room .• Place a cool cloth on your head.• Use any relaxation technique you have learned.A daily headaches can help you identify triggers. When a headache occurs, write down the following:

• The date and time of beginning .• What we ate in the last 24 hours.• The amount of time you slept the night before.• What you were doing and where it was just before the headache started .• How long the headache lasted , and what stopped him.Check your journal to your doctor to identify triggers or pattern of headaches . This can help you and your doctor to create a treatment plan . Knowing your triggers can help you avoid them.Your doctor may have already prescribed medications to treat your headache. If so , take the medicine according to the instructions.For tension headaches Try acetaminophen , acetylsalicylic acid ( aspirin ) or ibuprofen. Talk to your doctor if you are taking painkillers three or more days a week .

WHEN TO CONTACT A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL

Some headaches can be a sign of a more serious disease. Seek medical attention immediately for any of the following:

• It is the first headache you have ever had in your life and it interferes with your daily activities .• The headache comes on suddenly and is explosive or violent.• Headache is "the worst ever " even if you regularly suffer .• Also presented slurred speech, change in vision, problems moving your arms or legs , loss of balance , confusion or memory loss with your headache .• The headache gets worse over a period of 24 hours.• fever, stiff neck , nausea and vomiting with your headache is also presented.• The headache occurs with a head injury.• The headache is severe and just in one eye with redness in that eye.• You have more than 50 years and the headaches just began .• Your headaches are associated with vision problems, pain when chewing or weight loss .• have a history of cancer and develop a new headache.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE

The doctor will take a medical history and perform an examination of the head, eyes , ears , nose , throat , neck and nervous system .The doctor will ask many questions to learn about your
headache . Usually, the diagnosis is based on history of symptoms.
Some of the tests include:

• Blood tests and a lumbar puncture if you may have an infection .• CT or MRI of the head if you have any warning signs or have been having headaches for a while.• X-ray of the sinuses.• Magnetic resonance angiography or CT scan.