A headache is pain or discomfort in any part of the head. Although it is usually temporary, it can sometimes become chronic and negatively affect quality of life. The underlying causes of headache are quite diverse. Dehydration, stress, sleep disorders, dietary factors and some health conditions can cause headaches. Some simple methods and lifestyle changes can be effective in relieving headaches.
It is important to pay attention to these factors and develop healthy living habits to prevent and alleviate headaches. Increasing hydration, controlling caffeine consumption, practicing stress management techniques and adopting regular sleep habits can significantly reduce headache complaints. In addition, caution should be exercised in the use of painkillers and a health professional should be consulted when necessary. These simple but effective methods can help you get rid of headaches and lead a healthier life.
A headache is a throbbing, compressive and distinct discomforting condition that occurs in a certain part of the head. A headache may come on gradually or suddenly and last for several hours or several days.
Headaches are caused by interactions between your brain and the nerves and blood vessels in your head. How a headache develops is not fully understood by the medical community. The known process is as follows; during a headache, some nerves that affect the blood vessels become activated and send pain signals to the brain, initiating the headache.
Depending on the cause, headache is categorized into two groups: primary headache and secondary headache. In primary headache, there is no health problem behind the headache. In secondary headaches, the cause of headache is specific health problems.
Causes of headache include migraine disease, coughing, exercise, alcohol consumption, certain foods containing processed meats containing nitrates, sleep disorders or insufficient sleep, posture disorders, skipping meals, a stressful lifestyle, coronavirus.
What Causes Headache?
Headache is a common health problem that can be caused by a variety of reasons. The causes of headaches can vary from person to person and can be caused by many different factors. These factors include stress, diet, sleep patterns, hormonal changes and health problems.
Stress and Lifestyle Factors
Emotional states such as stress, anxiety and depression brought on by everyday life can often lead to severe headaches. Overwork, irregular lifestyle and insufficient rest can also trigger the condition.
Nutrition and Dehydration
Insufficient water consumption, irregular and unhealthy eating habits can cause headaches. Certain foods such as caffeine, alcohol and processed foods can also trigger headaches
Sleep Disorders
Sleep disorders such as insufficient sleep, irregular sleeping hours and sleep apnea can lead to headaches. Poor quality sleep can increase headaches by negatively affecting the body’s rest and regeneration processes.
Eye and Jaw Problems
Eye problems such as eye strain, improper use of glasses and prolonged staring at a screen can cause headaches. Similarly, teeth clenching, overuse of the jaw muscles and temporomandibular joint disorders can also trigger headaches.
Hormonal Changes
Especially in women, hormonal changes can cause headaches. Hormonal fluctuations such as the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, menopause and birth control medications can trigger headaches.
Other Health Problems
Other health problems such as sinusitis, high blood pressure, infections, migraines and chronic diseases can also cause headaches. In these cases, treating the underlying health problem can also help reduce the headache
The answer to the question of why a headache occurs includes many factors. Other factors that cause headaches are as follows.
- Migraine disease
- Coughing
- Exercise
- Consuming alcohol,
- Eating certain foods that contain nitrates, such as processed meats,
- Sleep disorders or insufficient sleep,
- Posture disorders,
- Skipping meals,
- A stressful way of life,
- Coronavirus disease,
- Not drinking enough water,
- Dental health problems,
- Infections in the middle ear,
- High alcohol consumption,
- High blood pressure,
- Influenza, i.e. flu and flu-like illnesses that cause high fever,
- Medicines used to treat other health problems,
- Excessive use of pain medication,
- Mild head injuries,
- Pressure on the head with a helmet, tight headgear or goggles,
- Consumption of very cold food,
- -Being in an excessively noisy environment,
- Exposure to bright light,
- Acute sinusitis,
- Arterial ruptures (carotid or vertebral dissections),
- Non-stroke blood clots in the brain,
- Brain aneurysm
- Arteriovenous malformation of the brain,
- Brain tumor
- Inhaling carbon monoxide gas,
- Chiari malformation
- Head trauma
- Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis),
- Inflammation of the inside of the arteries,
- Glaucoma,
- Intracranial hematoma (a collection of blood inside the skull),
- Meningitis
- Consumption of monosodium glutamate, also known as Chinese salt,
- Panic attacks and panic disorders,
- Pseudotumor cerebri, idiopathic intracranial hypertension,
- Stroke
- Toxoplasmosis
- Trigeminal neuralgia,
- Inflammation and congestion in the sinuses,
- Spinal cord problems cause headaches.
Headaches are caused by a combination of genetic factors, abnormal conditions in the brain, dysfunctional or overactive pain receptors, environmental triggers and a neurological condition called sensitization.
How to Treat Headache?
To treat a headache, it is important to first determine the type of pain. Simple headaches can usually be relieved by resting, spending time in a dark room and drinking plenty of water. Applying cold or hot compresses can also provide relief. Over-the-counter painkillers, especially ibuprofen or paracetamol, can be effective in relieving headaches.
Tension Headache
The treatment of tension headache varies from person to person, depending on the severity and frequency of symptoms. Treatment is often aimed at relieving the pain and preventing it from returning.
- Painkillers: Painkillers are recommended for mild or moderate headaches.
- Muscle Relaxants: In cases of prolonged, tension and stress-induced muscle stiffness, muscle relaxants can be used to treat the headache.
- Stress Management Techniques: Methods such as stress management and deep breathing exercises are used in the treatment and prevention of tension headaches.
- Regular Exercise: Regular physical activity can be effective in reducing the frequency and severity of headaches.
- Regular Sleep Habits: Improving sleep patterns and quality can significantly improve headaches.
- Massage and Physiotherapy: Massage and physiotherapy sessions can be used to reduce muscle tension in the neck and shoulder areas.
- Psychotherapy: Especially for stress-related headaches, cognitive behavioral therapy and similar psychotherapy methods contribute to treatment.
Migraine Treatment
Migraine headache treatment aims to reduce the severity of the pain and reduce the frequency of attacks. Treatment can include both solutions for acute migraine attacks and methods to prevent attacks. Migraine headache treatment methods are as follows:
Acute Migraine Treatment: During a migraine attack, NSAIDs, triptans, ergotamine derivatives and antiemetic drugs are used to relieve pain and reduce associated symptoms.
Preventive Migraine Treatment: Medications such as beta blockers, antiepileptic drugs, antidepressants and CGRP antagonists are used to reduce the frequency and impact of migraine attacks.
Lifestyle Changes and Management of Triggers: Adequate sleep, a regular exercise program, a healthy diet and drinking enough water to meet the body’s needs are regulated. In addition, the consumption of certain foods or stress intensity that trigger migraine is identified and ways to avoid them are developed.
Behavioral Therapy: Learning and applying stress management techniques using methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy reduces the effects of migraine and contributes to the treatment of migraine headaches by prolonging the frequency of attacks.
How to Treat Cluster Headache
Cluster headache treatment is used to treat particularly severe and recurrent headaches. Headache treatment follows two pathways to manage acute attacks and to relieve migraine headaches in the long term.
- Acute Treatment: In acute treatment, attacks are quickly relieved by administering pure oxygen to the patient at a high flow rate. Drugs with the active ingredient Triptan are given to the patient by injection or as a nasal spray and migraine pain is relieved. Drugs containing the active ingredient octreotide help to treat cluster headache in some people.
- Preventive Treatment: Drugs with heart rhythm regulating properties can be used in the preventive treatment of cluster headaches. Corticosteroids and some antidepressants are also used in preventive cluster headache treatment.
- Lifestyle Changes and Avoiding Triggers: Avoiding triggers such as alcohol and smoking and paying attention to sleep patterns are other headache treatments.
- Neural Stimulation Methods: These methods are applied in some cases, such as non-surgical vagus nerve stimulation.
These treatment methods are determined by the doctor, taking into account the individual needs of people with cluster headaches and the characteristics of the headache.
How to Treat Neuralgia Type Headaches
In the treatment of neuralgic headaches, a nerve pain-oriented approach and treatment is applied. Headache treatment includes medication, surgical treatment, lifestyle changes and supportive therapies.
- Drug Treatment: Anticonvulsants are usually used to relieve nerve pain. Antidepressants may be recommended to manage pain and regulate nerve function. Painkillers are added to headache treatment during periods of high pain.
- Surgical Methods: Microvascular decompression is performed to reduce the pressure reflected on the nerves. One of the headache treatment methods used is neural stimulation. In this method, headache is tried to be treated by applying electrical impulses.
- Lifestyle Changes and Supportive Therapies: For headache treatment, physical therapy and exercise therapy are applied to provide pain management and support nerve function. When necessary, psychological support and methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy can be used to cope with pain.
These treatment methods are customized according to individual needs and the characteristics of the headache.
Treatment of Secondary Headaches
Treatment of secondary headaches includes interventions to address the underlying health problems. First, it is important to diagnose the cause of the headache. Treatment usually involves medication, surgery or lifestyle changes, depending on the source of the pain. For example, antibiotics may be used for infectious headaches and surgical interventions may be required in serious cases such as tumors. In addition, regular follow-up and doctor control ensure the effectiveness of the treatment process.