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You are here : 3-RX.com > Medical Encyclopedia > Diseases and Conditions > Headache
      Category : Health Centers > Headache

Headache

Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors | Symptoms & Signs | Diagnosis & Tests | Prevention & Expectations | Treatment & Monitoring

A headache is a painful sensation in the muscles, the skin, or one of the organs in the head or near the brain.

What is going on in the body?

Causes of headaches commonly fall into four categories:

  • vascular headaches, which are caused by conditions affecting the blood vessels. A migraine is a common form of vascular headache.
  • tension headaches, usually brought on by muscle tension
  • inflammatory headaches, which are causd by infections or lesions such as tumors
  • headaches associated with abnormalities of cranial nerves, or cranial neuralgias. The cranial nerves supply the face, head, and neck.
  • There are no nerve endings in the brain itself. Therefore, a headache is a painful sensation in the muscles, the skin, or one of the organs in the head or near the brain. The pain can be confined to a small area or it can cover the entire head.

    Some headaches are preceded by auras, which are sensations that things are not quite right. These auras can involve unusual sounds, smells or visions.

    Most headaches are benign, which means they are self-limited and not likely to be serious. However, some headaches are serious and require extensive evaluation.

    What are the causes and risks of the condition?

    Headaches have a wide variety of causes.

    Vascular headaches include:

  • migraine headaches of all types
  • classical migraines, which are throbbing headaches that usually begin with an aura
  • ophthalmoplegic migraines, which are severe headaches usually felt around the eye
  • cluster headaches, which are severe, one-sided headaches that occur in groups
  • headaches associated with hangovers from excessive alcohol intake, or exposure to other drugs and toxins
  • Tension headaches are caused by stress or by abnormalities in the neck, muscles, or bones. They can also be caused by conversion disorders, which are psychological problems that cause symptoms similar to those accompanying an actual physical condition.

    Inflammatory headaches are caused by:

  • lesions such as brain tumors
  • meningitis, which is an infection or inflammation of tissue covering the brain and spinal cord
  • bleeding into or around the brain, which occurs with a subdural hematoma, epidural hematoma, or subarachnoid hemorrhage
  • autoimmune disorders, or diseases in which the body produces chemicals that attack its own tissues
  • arteritis, which is an inflammation of the wall of an artery
  • Cranial neuralgias involve severe pains in or about the face or scalp, and are caused by abnormalities of the trigeminal or glossopharyngeal nerves. The trigeminal nerve controls sensation in the face, cheek, and jaw. The glossopharyngeal nerve controls the throat and vocal cords.


       

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    Headache: Symptoms & Signs

    Author: James Broomfield, MD
    Reviewer: Eileen McLaughlin, RN, BSN
    Date Reviewed: 07/12/01



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