Causes of frequent headaches in women and men

1 Hormonal changes

Female representatives under the age of 30 are rarely concerned about headaches caused by hormonal changes. The first prerequisites for the onset of climacteric changes appear 10-15 years before the onset of menopause. The overall level of hormones decreases gradually, so weak headaches can simply become frequent, occurring 1-2 times a week. It happens that the pain in the head occurs a day or two before the onset of menstruation, and then no longer disturbs.

In this case, you can take a light sedative drug: tincture of motherwort, Novopassit, Persen, Biopassite. If the pain does not let go, try to drink one of such antispasmodics as No-shpa, Spazmalgon, or analgesics - Paracetamol, Analgin.

2 Pregnancy

Headache in pregnant women is a frequent manifestation of toxicosis, especially in the first trimester. This is explained by cardinal hormonal changes and weak intoxication. You can not take medicines for pregnant women, but you can perform respiratory gymnastics, drink more pure water, walk in the fresh air.

If a frequent headache worries the expectant mother in the second half of pregnancy, this can be a disturbing bell. Firstly, the headache causes high blood pressure, and for pregnant women this is dangerous, because the blood supply to the fetus worsens, partial placental abruption or premature birth may occur. Secondly, the pain in the head can be a sign of late gestosis and pre-eclampsia, which poses a direct threat to the life and health of the mother and future baby. In any case, a recurring headache should be urgently reported to your gynecologist. The doctor will prescribe a number of additional tests and make a decision about treatment at home or in the hospital.

3 Under or over pressure

Often headaches occur in women who are prone to low blood pressure. Because of low blood pressure, the blood supply to the brain deteriorates, so he experiences oxygen starvation and sends signals of discomfort. Someone to cope with the problem, just drink an extra cup of coffee, because caffeine increases blood pressure, or take a few drops of tincture of magnolia vinegar, eleutherococcus, ginseng. It is possible that the cause can be eliminated with the help of systematic physical exertion: aerobic exercise, dancing, fitness, or just long walks with quick steps. By the way, men are much less likely to have a headache due to low blood pressure.

An obtrusive headache in the neck and neck associated with increased pressure is most often a response to nervous tension or stress. However, the systematic increase in pressure and the associated compressive or pulsating pain in the head are the reason for contacting a doctor. Hypertensive illness is treated with appropriate medications, and only the doctor can prescribe a suitable drug in your case, since the cause of hypertension can be the pathology of the heart, kidneys or blood vessels.

6 Diseases that lead to the disease

• Head and neck injuries

If you recently hit your head, got into a car accident or you had a whiplash injury, it is possible that this caused frequent headaches. It happens that cephalgia suddenly intensifies a few weeks or months after the injury, so it is difficult to establish the cause of the pain. In any case, diagnosis and treatment are required under the supervision of a neurologist.

• Headache for brain tumors

The neoplasm that presses on the brain causes frequent headaches. Severe pain occurs after sleep and with physical stress: coughing, sneezing, tilting or defecation. These symptoms can be observed in a large number of neurological diseases, as they are a consequence of structural damage to the brain and central nervous system. Unfortunately, in some cases, the symptomatology is manifested when the disease is already in the advanced stage.

• Inflammatory diseases of the brain( meningitis and meningoencephalitis)

With inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord, frequent pains in the head are supplemented by fever, impaired consciousness, painful sensitivity to light and sounds, rigidity of the neck muscles. The patient is unable to tilt his head to his chest and unbend his legs in his lap. Such diseases require hospitalization and treatment in a hospital.

• Infectious diseases not related to the brain

Bacterial and viral diseases that develop in any part of the human body can begin with a headache. A little later, she joins other symptoms: chills, fever, weakness, drowsiness, lack of appetite.

Often inflammations are associated with pathologies of the oral cavity, teeth, eyes, ears, nose. They cause pain not only in the place of development of the inflammatory process, but also in the head. Angina, rhinitis, sinusitis, otitis, conjunctivitis, pulpitis and other diseases are accompanied by an obsessive headache.

• Cervical osteochondrosis

People who have a sedentary job, or those who spend a lot of time at a computer, for sure noticed that they occasionally have attacks of headache, localized in the cervico-occipital region. Pain can spread to the temples or forehead. Sometimes cephalalgia for a long time does not let go, so that without anesthetic drugs can not do.

People suffering from cervical osteochondrosis, feel a painful stiffness in the muscles of the back and neck, as well as restricting the movements of the neck. Pain provokes a long stay in a static pose, sleep on an awkward cushion, work related to the slopes and turns of the head to the sides. At some point, there may be a jamming of the nerves or compression of the artery that feeds the brain with blood, which causes an attack of headache. Osteochondrosis occurs in many people, but not all cause cephalalgia, so the doctor is not limited to just an X-ray or MRI of the spine.

• Headache caused by medication use and the effects of chemicals

Among the side effects of certain medicines, there is a headache. This applies to nitroglycerin, caffeine, codeine, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, contraceptives, etc. Frequent headaches in women taking hormonal contraceptives can be observed during treatment or after their withdrawal.

A frequent consequence of drinking alcoholic beverages is a headache. Frequent pains occur in workers of chemical industries, systematically inhaling carbon monoxide, benzene, chlorine, phenol, formaldehyde and other chemicals. The use of insecticides and repellents to control cockroaches, mosquitoes, mites and other insects can cause frequent headaches in adults and children.

When a child has a headache, he feels uncomfortable and expresses his dissatisfaction in every possible way. However, the baby can not say what exactly bothers him, and parents do not always correctly interpret crying and whims. Unpleasant sensations in a crumb can cause a bracelet against mosquitoes, which you put on his arm, or a fumigator installed in the room.

4 Vascular problems

Migraines cause episodic or frequent attacks of very intense unilateral headache. It may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Such symptoms of migraine, as light and phonetic, increase pain, like walking and other activities. Usual pills for headaches with migraines do not help. It is advisable to lie down peacefully in a quiet and dark place, and it is better to try to sleep.

People with migraine headaches say that a headache attack begins with a flash of light or the appearance of bright spots in front of the eyes. As if a person sees an aura around objects. To treat ailment must specialist, as the prescription of medicines is necessarily preceded by professional diagnostics.

5 Psychogenic etiology

Tension pain is a common cause of frequent pain in the head. They can be provoked by a long stay in an uncomfortable position, depression, a stressful situation or the effects of chronic stress. To the pain of tension, easily excitable people are inclined. Psychogenic pain pulls its head like a hoop or crushes, as if a helmet has been put on it. This constant pain does not have a clear localization, it does not increase with physical stress and can be very strong or moderate.

7 Diagnostic measures

Treatment directly depends on the cause of frequent headache, and for its clarification, instrumental and other types of examinations are required. Computed tomography uses X-rays to get an idea of ​​the physical state of tissues and their density. CT is performed in the diagnosis of craniocerebral injuries, with lesions of the bones of the face and skull, tumors, circulatory disorders, aneurysms, otitis, sinusitis, osteochondrosis, spinal hernias, etc. This method of examination is used for diagnosis in people with screws, braces, cardiac stimulatorsand other metal implants embedded in the body tissues, since MRI is contraindicated in these cases.

Magnetic resonance imaging uses radiofrequency radiation and provides information on the chemical structure of tissues. MRI is performed for patients whose bodies are unable to tolerate the introduction of radiopaque substances. The procedure is indicated for brain tumors, inflammatory diseases of the brain tissue, lesions of the spinal cord, as well as for multiple sclerosis, stroke and the definition of the stage of the oncological disease.

Magnetic resonance angiography helps to assess the functional and anatomical features of blood vessels in a selected area. During the procedure, contrast preparations are not administered. MRA is performed to search for aneurysms, vasoconstriction, vascular malformations and atherosclerotic changes.

Blood pressure monitoring is performed in patients with headaches, the cause of which may be latent hypertension. During the day, the device monitors fluctuations in blood pressure, which helps to correct the treatment regimen.

In addition to these methods, laboratory blood tests will be needed to confirm inflammation and identify infection. Inspection of the ocular fundus by an ophthalmologist is recommended almost always. Hypertension, glaucoma, atherosclerosis and many other diseases, accompanied by a headache, have a negative effect on his condition.

To make sure there are no abnormalities of the throat, nose, ears and mouth, it is necessary to undergo an examination with an otorhinolaryngologist and dentist.

Frequent headaches never appear just like that, so do not suppress them with anesthetic medications. You only relieve symptoms for a while, but the disease remains and continues to develop, harming the body. Please note that frequent intake of analgesics can cause headaches by itself.