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Headaches
There are over 300 entities that can cause Headaches. The primary headache disorders are those associated with conditions such as:
- Migraine Headaches
- Tension Headaches
- Cluster Headaches
Secondary causes of Headaches are those originating from an illness that causes headache such as:
- Intracranial disease
- Infections
- Stroke
- Toxin
- Bleeding
- Trauma
- And many others
TYPES
- Migraine Headaches: Characterized by episodic, but in its progressive form, daily head pains. The Headaches are usually associated with:
- Neurological
- Autonomic
- Psycho physiologic events
- There are 2 kinds of migraine Headaches
- Common migraine (migraine without aura)
- Classic migraine (migraine with aura) 30% of migraine sufferers have both types
- Migraines can be an inherited disorder
SELECTED FEATURES ACCOMPANYING THE HEADACHE OR MIGRAINE
- Gastrointestinal
- Visual disturbances
- Motor disturbances
- Sensory disturbances
- Brainstem features
- Fluid retention / polyuria
- Autonomic disturbances
MIGRAINES IN CHILDHOOD
Approximately 39-70% of children have at least occasional headache. Some believe that most childhood Headaches are forms of migraines. Migraine in children is often similar to adult migraine, but attacks are usually of a shorter duration. Gastrointestinal (GI) complaints, mental changes, and abdominal discomfort are more common in children and may be characteristic features of the childhood attacks.
TENSION Headaches
This form of Headaches most times has been associated with tension and muscular contraction around the skull. Most times however, tension headache and migraine headache may be very difficult to differentiate. Some authorities have suggested that tension headache may simply be a broad - clinical - continuation with migraine on one end and tension at the other end. In any event the treatment for both often are the same.
CLUSTER Headaches
Affects mostly men. Each attack is usually brief (30 to 90 minutes in duration). Primary localization of this headache is in the eye, temple, forehead or cheek region, and mostly unilateral. May occur up to six times per day. Precipitating factors are alcohol drinking and heavy smoking. Attacks occur during sleep and naps. Each attack is usually accompanied by:
- Lost lateral lacrimination (some side tear drops)
- Nasal drainage
- Lip may droop
- Pupillary change
- Conjunctiva injection (pink eye)
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