What Is A Headache?
A headache is characterized as pain in any area of your head. There are different types of headaches that vary in symptoms. Some may occur on one or both sides of the head, be isolated to a particular region, or extend across the head from one point. A headache may appear as a sharp pain, a throbbing sensation, or a dull ache. Headaches can develop gradually or at once and may last from a couple of minutes to days. Headaches can be a very irritating condition to deal with. Different types of headaches include:
- Tension Headaches: This is the most common type of headache characterized by mild to moderate pain. It is often described as feeling like a tight band around the head. The causes of these headaches are not completely yet understood.
- Cervicogenic Headaches: If your headache is related to a problem in your neck, there is a significant probability it is a Cervicogenic Headache (CH).
- Migraine Headaches: A migraine is an intense, throbbing headache that may be accompanied by nausea or dizziness. A migraine can last from hours to days.
- Post Whiplash Headaches: These headaches are related to damaged joints or discs in your neck from a sudden and hard movement. It may result from inflammation of ligaments and soft tissues.
What Are The Causes Of Headaches?
Headache symptoms can help your doctor determine its cause and the appropriate treatment. Most headaches aren’t the result of a severe illness, but some may result from a life-threatening condition requiring emergency care.
Headaches are generally classified by cause:
Primary headaches: A primary headache is caused by overactivity or problems with pain-sensitive structures in your head. Chemical activity in your brain, genetics, the nerves or blood vessels surrounding your skull, or the muscles of your head and neck can play a role in these headaches. Tension and migraine headaches tend to be primary headaches since these types of headaches are not a symptom of an underlying disease.
Some primary headaches can be triggered by lifestyle factors, including:
- Alcohol consumption
- Diet
- Sleeping schedule
- Poor posture
- Skipped meals
- Stress
Secondary headaches: A secondary headache is a symptom of a disease that can activate the pain-sensitive nerves of the head. Cervicogenic and post-whiplash headaches are examples of secondary headaches, as they are symptoms of other conditions. There is actually a wide range of conditions that vary in severity that may cause secondary headaches such as:
- Viral and bacterial infections
- Hangovers
- Dental problems
- Brain tumor
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
How Are Headaches Treated?
Millions of people suffer from chronic pain. Major headaches can definitely interfere with your everyday life. If you are ready to seek treatment for pain relief, MVM Health in Pennsylvania can offer the following treatments:
- Sphenopalatine Ganglion (SPG) Block Injection Technique: This numbing medicine injection is applied to the deep area in your face around a bundle of nerves called the sphenopalatine ganglion. This injection can be used to diagnose or treat problems linked to these nerves.
- Botox Injections for Chronic Migraine: Chronic migraine may be treated with Botox injections in your head and neck. The injections can help stop migraines before they start.
- Epidural Blood Patch
- Trigeminal Nerve Block
- Trigeminal Nerve Radiofrequency Ablation
Looking for Pain Relief?
If you are living with chronic pain and find that it is affecting your enjoyment of day-to-day life, it may be time to seek treatment and pain management. MVM Health: Pain, Vein, and Wellness services LeHigh Valley, Scranton, Wilkes Barre, and surrounding communities. Reach out to us today to request an appointment. The experts at MVM Health would be glad to offer guidance and a variety of treatment methods for chronic pain. Call 570-445-2200 to request an appointment.
