Headache Symptoms, Risk Factors & Treatment | Diseases List A-Z

Headache

A headache is a condition where pain and discomfort occur in the head, scalp, or neck. This disease is common, and it is estimated that 7 out of 10 people experience at least one headache each year.

Most headaches are not severe and can be treated on your own by taking painkillers, drinking enough water, and getting plenty of rest.

However, some headaches require more advanced treatment due to life-threatening conditions.

Headache Symptoms

When suffering from a headache, the symptom that sufferers usually experience is pain around the head.

However, be alert if the headache is accompanied by the following symptoms:

  • Disturbances in vision.
  • Difficulty speaking.
  • Stiff neck.
  • Loss of consciousness.
  • One side of the body becomes weak or paralyzed.
  • High fever.
  • Difficulty walking.

So, if you experience symptoms of cephalgia or headaches, these are the doctors who can help treat it.

Causes and Risk Factors of Headaches

Based on the cause, headaches can be grouped into two types, namely headaches that are not related to other diseases or primary headaches, and headaches due to other diseases or secondary headaches.

1. Primary Headache

Primary headaches are headaches that have no other cause behind them but are purely caused by a problem with the structures in the head that are overly sensitive to pain.

This condition also involves the blood vessels, muscles, nerves of the head and neck.

Some common examples of primary headaches include:

  • Tension headache.
  • Migraine.
  • Cluster headaches.

Several factors that influence the occurrence of primary headaches include:

  • Disorders of the neck and head muscles.
  • Chemical activity in the brain.
  • Blood vessels or nerves.

2. Secondary Headache

These secondary headaches are usually caused by the activation of pain nerves in the head due to a disease.

Common causes of secondary headaches include:

  • Flu.
  • Ear infection.
  • Sinusitis.
  • Dental problems.
  • Excessive consumption of MSG.
  • Consuming food or drinks that are too cold suddenly.
  • Hormonal changes in women after taking birth control pills.
  • Wearing a head covering that is too tight.

Meanwhile, other causes of secondary headaches that are rare include:

  • Concussion
  • Brain aneurysm.
  • Neuralgia trigeminal.
  • Carbon monoxide poisoning.
  • Panic attack.
  • Meningitis.
  • Blockage of blood vessels in the brain.
  • Inflammation of the brain.

Recommended Headache Medication

If you have a headache, some medications can be taken to relieve the symptoms. Here are some recommendations:

  • Bodrex Herbal Headache 4 Tablets. This medicine contains tanacetum parthenium herba extract, salix alba cortex extract, paullinia cupana fructus extract which can help relieve headaches. This medicine can be taken 1-2 tablets, 3 times per day.
  • Farsifen Plus 10 Tablets. Farsifen is a drug containing paracetamol, ibuprofen, and caffeine that can be used to relieve pain from headaches, muscle pain, menstrual pain, and toothaches, and reduce fever.
  • Saridon Extra 10 Tablets. Relieves headaches and toothaches, because it contains 500 mg of paracetamol and 50 mg of caffeine. This medicine can be taken after meals with a dose of 1 tablet, 3-4 times a day.
  • Dumin 500 mg 10 Caplets. Contains 500 mg of paracetamol, which can be used to relieve pain in headaches, toothaches, and reduce fever. You can take this medicine with a dose of 1 caplet, 3 to 4 times per day.
  • Sumagesic 600 mg 4 Tablets.  A drug containing paracetamol, which works on the temperature control center in the hypothalamus, to lower body temperature, and inhibit prostaglandin synthesis, so that mild to moderate pain that occurs in the head can be relieved.
  • Sanmol 500 mg 4 Tablets. This medicine can help relieve headaches and toothaches. It contains 500 mg of paracetamol, one of which is also able to reduce fever. This medicine can be taken 1 tablet, 3-4 times per day.

Headache Diagnosis

Headaches can sometimes be a symptom of certain diseases.

Therefore, the doctor will review the medical history and perform a physical examination on the sufferer, to detect the underlying cause of the headache.

This examination should include a complete neurologic evaluation.

Your doctor will also recommend diagnostic tests if they suspect a medical condition is causing your headaches. These diagnostic tests include:

  • Complete blood count, which can show signs of infection.
  • Skull X-ray, an imaging test to provide detailed images of the bones of the skull.
  • Sinus X-ray, an imaging test that will be done if sinusitis is suspected.
  • CT scan of the head and MRI, which may be performed in cases where stroke, trauma, or blood clots in the brain are suspected.

Headache Complications

Although headaches are often considered a mild and temporary disorder, in some cases, recurring or very severe headaches can trigger serious complications.

Some complications that may occur due to chronic headaches or certain types of headaches include:

  • Persistent headaches can disrupt sleep patterns, causing insomnia or restless sleep.
  • Prolonged pain can trigger feelings of depression, anxiety, and frustration.
  • Some types of headaches can affect concentration, memory, and the ability to think clearly.
  • Severe headaches can limit daily activities, such as working, studying, or socializing.
  • In rare cases, headaches can be a sign of a serious medical problem, such as a brain tumor, brain hemorrhage, or meningitis.

Headache Treatment

Treatment for headaches varies, depending on the symptoms experienced and the cause.

However, most headaches are not a symptom of a serious medical condition and can be treated with over-the-counter medications that can reduce the symptoms.

If medication doesn’t work, there are several other ways to treat headaches:

  • Biofeedback, which is a relaxation technique to assist in pain management.
  • Acupuncture, an alternative therapy that can reduce stress and tension in the head by inserting fine needles into certain areas of the body.
  • Light to moderate exercise can help increase the production of chemicals in the brain that can make you feel happier and more relaxed.
  • Take a warm bath, to help relax tense muscles.

If after undergoing this treatment the headache still recurs frequently, contact this doctor for further treatment.

Headache Prevention

There are various ways to prevent headaches, such as:

  • Reduce caffeine.
  • Avoid headache triggers.
  • Enough rest.
  • Eat regularly.
  • Reduce stress.
  • Reduce drug consumption.