Headache: sometimes it is harmless, but when is it a serious problem?

Headache is one of the most common health problems and affects people all over the world. It is also one of the most common causes of seeking professional help, along with back pain.

Some people experience it exceptionally, for example when they have a minor infection such as a cold or flu.

Physiologically, it is also caused by excessive stress and mental strain, but also by increased physical exertion. In this case, it is not classified as a disease.

However, there are also forms of headache that persist for a long time.

And yet they have no basis in any structural defect or damage to the brain and other parts of the head, the human body. In this case, it is a primary form.

The other side consists of headaches that come with another disease as a symptom of it. Then they may indicate a more serious to significantly serious health problem that needs to be addressed immediately.

This group of headaches is referred to as secondary or symptomatic.

A non-serious trivial headache and a secondary headache must be distinguished, as the cause of the headache can threaten a person's health and life.

In this case, it is possible that other health problems occur along with the headache. Together, these symptoms lead to suspect the true cause.

Read on with us to find out:
What are primary and secondary headaches.
What does headache say by location (behind the eye, on the top of the head, in the temples, or in the temples).
Plus warning signs.

Primary headaches are distressing but not life-threatening.

Primary headaches are, of course, unpleasant and can make a person's life miserable. But there is no structural damage to the brain or other structures of the head or body behind them.

It is reported that approximately 20 percent of the population has experienced this type of pain.

They occur in recurrent and frequent episodes, like a seizure pain. They can also occur as a long-term pain that does not stop. They are caused by neuroregulatory disorders. In this case, they may occur as a single symptom.

The best known representative of this group is migraine.

Read also:
How to treat and prevent migraine? + 9 natural tips for pain relief

The group of primary forms has several representatives. These are tension headache, cluster headache or exertional pain.

Headache also hurts children...

Headaches are common even in childhood.

It is reported that they affect boys more often, especially in the pre-pubertal period. During puberty, the ratio evens out. After the age of 20, women are affected by headaches 2-3 times more often.

The main cause is migraine, which is usually triggered by hormonal changes.

Between the ages of 6-15 years, up to 78% of children suffer from headaches.

Primary headaches in the table

Name	Description
Migraine	Migraine is a common cause, even in childhood It is characterized by symptoms such as: episodic and paroxysmal pain throbbing character moderate to severe intensity usually on one side of the head, around the eye, temple area, forehead, up to the ear associated with sensitivity to light sensitivity - the sufferer requires darkness (photophobia) noise - and silence (phonophobia) smell or odour it is accompanied by a lack of appetite a feeling of nausea or vomiting (vomitus) may limit daily activities duration 4-72 hours lasting more than 72 hours = status migrainosus can be provoked by: hunger certain foods such as wine, cheese, chocolate physical exertion stress fatigue and exhaustion not enough sleep, but also too much in women, it is promoted by hormonal changes during menstruation menstrual migraine 1st day before menstruation to 4th day during hormonal changes and estrogen decline
Migraine	Divided into migraine with and without aura Migraine with aura - about 20% representation Aura comes on - a precursor to an attack visual auras are more common paresthesias - tingling, numbness or weakness of the limbs, usually unilateral a person with frequent attacks already knows a migraine is coming Migraine without aura - about 80% of cases also known as a common migraine
Tension headache	as the second most common representative of the primary form after migraine Episodic and chronic headache episodic for hours to 7 days chronic over 7 days multifactorial basis manifests as: bilateral diffuse headache (diffuse = diffuse) mild to moderate intensity cap form blunt and compressive tension and tightness pinching pressure highest intensity in the head - occipital region sometimes stiffness of the neck muscles minimal amount of secondary symptoms can also be provoked by diet or depression and psychological stress
Cluster headache	Cluster headache / Bing-Horton headache / Hermicrania angioparalytica - as another name arises suddenly - acutely headache is characterized by high intensity severe headache stabbing, sharp, drilling lasts 15 minutes to 3 hours recurs 1 to 8 times over a 24-hour period cluster - series, comes in bursts often occurs at night pain on one side of the head! behind the eye accompanying manifestations: redness of the conjunctiva Tearing swelling of the eyelid miosis - narrowing of the pupil swelling of the nasal mucosa and runny nose sweating of the forehead and face restriction of daily activities the pain is worse when lying down, so the person is agitated and more likely to walk it may be provoked by stress or alcohol
headache after physical activity and after sexual intercourse	provocative after physical activity during and after orgasm strong intensity in the forehead and occipital region, as a headache in the forehead and occipital region lasts minutes to hours when first experiencing this type of pain after exertion, a secondary cause must be ruled out cerebral haemorrhage, subarachnoid haemorrhage
Chronic daily headache	persists every day Pain attacks alternate with periods of lower intensity Risk of developing are: Long-term use of pain medication and addiction neurotic personality type and depression stress and long-term psychological overload hormonal changes after menopause

Headache = cephalea = cephalalgia.
In English = headache.

Secondary form of headache = symptomatic

This group is referred to as symptomatic. This is because the headache occurs as a symptom of another disease. It also occurs after trauma and head injury.

Secondary headache (symptomatic) is a symptom of another disease or injury.

In this case, it is necessary to think of structural damage to the brain or other organic cause of the disease of the organism.

Secondary pains can be benign. Sometimes, on the contrary, they are a symptom of a serious disease that threatens the health and life of a person.

In the worst cases, they end in death.

They occur less frequently than primary forms. Their risk of development increases with age.

The headache should be investigated and a search made for the primary cause and another disease.

Headache as a symptom goes along with other symptoms. It arises after an accident, after an epileptic seizure, because of an infection in the body, but also because of an infection in the brain or a tumour. It is associated with strokes.

It can be accompanied by an increase in body temperature, dizziness, vomiting, rise in blood pressure, disturbances of consciousness and changes in the psyche, as well as other neurological problems such as speech problems or limitations in limb mobility.

The secondary type of headache may occur as the first or only symptom of the disease.

The table lists some causes of secondary headache

Name	Description
Post-traumatic pain	arises from injuries to the head and cervical spine concussion brain contusion post-traumatic intracranial haemorrhage epidural hematoma lucid interval, improvement after unconsciousness and subsequent deterioration with time, hours associated other neurological problems such as impaired mobility and weakness of the side of the body, even paralysis subdural haematoma acute or chronic other symptoms are also associated
Cerebrovascular disease	in cerebrovascular disease and in stroke (stroke) Subarachnoid hemorrhage - SAH acute severe and intense pain peaks within seconds to minutes overwhelming pain, thunderclap headache most common than a ruptured cerebral aneurysm - vascular aneurysm associated symptoms vomiting stiff neck disturbances of consciousness often in the nape of the neck after physical activity heavy physical activity and lifting loads sexual intercourse strenuous work in the prone position intracerebral haemorrhage - ICH acute headache nausea and vomiting neurological symptoms according to the area of bleeding - focal neurological manifestations cerebellar haemorrhage acute headache neck stiffness postural and mobility disturbances impaired consciousness and brain stem symptoms for oppression ischaemic stroke less common symptom lower pain intensity than with haemorrhage neurological other symptomatology is in the foreground depending on the site of hemorrhage venous thrombosis common symptom intense headache
Brain tumour	A common symptom of brain tumors is headache 60-70% of cases non-specific features may not be permanent worsens with tumor growth, both in intensity and frequency until it is permanent association of other neurological disorders disturbances of consciousness convulsions vomiting transient blindness weakness of the limbs pain aggravated by change of position or physical exertion specific localisation and slow growth of the tumour = headache may not be present
Infection of the brain	neuroinfection, meningitis, encephalitis, purulent or serous forms sudden deterioration in health and dramatic course within 24 hours high intensity, severe pain associated symptoms fever disturbance of consciousness - confusion, disorientation, drowsiness, unconsciousness general symptoms of infection, flu-like symptoms, body, muscle, joint pain vomiting small blood bruises on the skin - petechiae, like pinheads meningeal symptoms sensitivity to light - photophobia stiff neck - neck opposition death if left untreated
Headache and cervical spine pain	pain spreads from the cervical spine to the back of the head and other parts of the head from the neck, through the back of the head, behind the ear to behind the eye, but also headache at the top of the temple after neck congestion, colds, after violent head movement, for work load, bad position while lying down or sleeping cervicocranial syndrome sometimes with dizziness cervicogenic pain read also the articles 3 symptoms that accompany cervical spine pain How the cervical spine and vertigo are related
Hypertension	in high blood pressure as a common symptom along with other difficulties typical of hypertension beware of hypertensive crisis and untreated hypertension - risk of complications of stroke, MI, even death headache is also present in hypotension = low blood pressure
Other	Other causes of headache include: aortic disease and carotid artery disease inflammation of the upper airways and sinuses - sinusitis temporomandibular joint disorder and tooth pain nerve inflammation and neuralgia, for example trigeminal neuralgia inflammation of blood vessels - arteritis temporalis - inflammation of the temporal artery, Horton's disease hormonal changes sleep apnoea glaucoma after alcohol carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide poisoning

In any case, an early professional examination and search for the cause of the headache is necessary. Otherwise, if neglected and in the presence of a serious illness, there is a risk of impaired health and even death.

Warning signs = red and yellow flags for headaches

When a headache occurs, multiple characteristics and associated signs should be noted. It is not always a trivial headache.

Significant issues in headache:

what is its character, is it dull, sharp, throbbing
the intensity of the pain, it is a subjective characteristic of pain sensitivity and perception
is it a first pain or a recurrent pain
whether it lasts for a short period of minutes or hours, or for a long period of days or months
localisation of pain
the speed of onset, whether it was gradual or violent
course and associated complaints
what provoked the pain
how often it recurs in a day or month
atypical course of the pain compared to the past
the presence of other diseases
how the pain responds to the administration of a pain-relieving drug
current treatment

Warning signs = red flags and yellow flags in the table

Red Flags	Yellow flags
Serious warning signs	Manifestations that raise suspicion = look for secondary form
First pain in a person over 40 (some publications over 50) Intense and severe pain at first experience pain described as not experienced before change in the nature of the pain emergence of new pain significant increase in intensity worsening headache increasing pain intensity with vomiting sudden onset of pain sudden onset of pain after physical exertion after coughing after a sneeze after pressure on the rectum, induced by the Valsalva manoeuvre visual disturbance association of symptoms drowsiness, impaired consciousness, behavioral changes, confusion, disorientation collapse meningeal symptoms fever other neurological symptoms, such as impaired mobility, weakness and paralysis of a limb body spasms headache after head and cervical spine injury cancer present blood medications, anticoagulant treatment, warfarin, etc. HIV	headache waking from sleep pain occurs in the same location changes in position significantly affect the intensity of the pain

Read also the articles:
Headache
Headache in pregnancy
How to tell a migraine from a common headache
Head spinning
What can head spinning in pregnancy mean?
How to recognize a concussion in children
Vomiting
Unconsciousness

alphamedical.sk - Headaches in children
webnoviny.sk - Tips and tricks to get rid of headaches
my.clevelandclinic.org - Headaches
medicalnewstoday.com - What is causing this headache?
migrainetrust.org - Headache

Headache, migraine, vertigo,

Bc. Lukáš Tóth

Healthcare worker

The secondary medical school in Nitra gave me the basis for my career in the field of health and diseases. Thanks to it, I worked for 2 years in the traumatology clinic and outpatient clinic at the Nitra Hospital. Since 2006 I was employed in the emergency medical service, where I stayed until 2017. I completed my bachelor's degree at the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra in the field of emergency health care. The bachelor's degree allowed me to continue my mission as a paramedic. In the meantime, I got a job at the emergency line 155. I have been working in pre-hospital health care until today. I had an interest in people, health and even diseases in my childhood, which gave me the prerequisite to pursue this topic in adulthood. Studying and acquiring new information in practice provided me with a great basis for writing professional texts, in the form of articles that can be understood by ordinary people. Thus, my interest in the Health Portal has a solid foundation in years of practice and personal interest. Similarly, I am also interested in healthy eating, nutrition and overall healthy lifestyle. I fill my free time with family and sports.

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