Headache May Be Sign Of Serious Problem

There are many causes of a headache and each person may be affected by different triggers in different ways. The degree of pain and how long it lasts will also vary from person to person, but one of the important things to remember is that a headache can be a symptom to other, possibly serious health problems. There are some medical procedures as well as some medications that are known for causing pain, and the associated headache can be understood when they occur.

Medically speaking, a headache is pain located in the head above the ears and eyes, however it can also extend down into the neck and upper back. The two classifications of headache are considered to be primary, in which the pain originates in the brain and secondary, for which the pain in the head is the result of another medical problem such as a sinus infection. There are some patients that experience pain when atmospheric pressure changes abruptly and mistake this pain as being caused by sinus problems.

In most patients, pain of a headache can be alleviated with over the counter painkillers but for those suffering secondary pain, the underlying cause will have to the eliminated before the pain diminishes.

Medications Can Cause Pain In The Head

There are medications used to dilate arteries, nitrates for example that are used for chest pain in heart patients. The sudden opening of the arteries can cause a severe headache, but patients understand this is a normal reaction to using the medication. Those who undergo a lumbar tap to test spinal fluid may also suffer severe pain if they do not remain in a reclining position for at least one hour following the test. When the spinal fluid is drawn out a small bubble of air remains in the spine. If a person sits up to quickly, the air rises to the top of the spine and feels as though it explodes into a headache.

Probably the most common cause of a headache is tension, which affects nearly everyone at one time or another. Usually accompanied by self-induced stress over a situation than manifests itself by pain the upper back and crawling into the back of the head. A tension headache will usually affect both sides of the brain, but is rarely debilitating and most can work through this type by using over the counter pain medication. The frequency in which a person suffers from a headache can indicated the need for testing to determine the cause of the recurrence and how it should be treated.

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