Bursting headaches can be caused by various factors. This symptom should not be ignored, especially if it is permanent, as headaches can indicate serious health problems.
Most patients complain of pressing paroxysmal headaches, which are felt all over the head, noting the strongest impulses of arching headache in the temples, frontal areas, in the back of the head and neck.
Pains occur suddenly, most intensely manifest themselves at night and in the morning, they subside a bit in the afternoon and evening.
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The reasons
The occurrence of arching headaches may be due to various conditions and diseases, the main of which include:
- VSD (vegetative-vascular dystonia);
- increased intracranial pressure (intracranial pressure);
- infectious diseases;
- sudden drops in blood pressure;
- neoplasms of the head;
- stress and depression;
- hormonal disruptions;
- excessive use of salt, liquid, alcoholic beverages.
| Vegetative dystonia |
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| Increased intracranial pressure | Intracranial pressure may increase due to various reasons:
In ICP, headache does not have a specific location. There is an increase in intensity when bending, coughing (read pro), sneezing, turning the head. The pains are worse in the morning, which is associated with an increase in blood flow to the head in the prone position and an increased production of cerebrospinal fluid. |
| Infection |
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| Brain tumors |
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| Blood pressure jumps |
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| Hormonal disorders |
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| Excessive use of salt, alcohol, liquids |
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| Stress, depression |
|
Symptoms
The most common signs accompanying a headache include:
- feeling of pressure, heaviness in the head;
- inability to concentrate;
- aggression, nervousness;
- fast fatiguability;
- accelerated heartbeat;
- excessive sweating;
- pressure surges;
- dizziness, nausea, vomiting;
- sensitivity to weather changes;
- rapid pulse during minor physical exertion, intimate relationships.
In infectious diseases, headaches are accompanied by fever, chills, eye pain. Meningitis causes severe pain in the head, vomiting, stiffness of the occipital muscles.
When the pressure jumps, numbness of the fingers of the upper and lower extremities is observed, the pulse quickens, dizziness occurs.
Headaches caused by impaired circulation of venous blood, aggravated in the prone position, as well as during forced work with the head down, especially in a room where there is not enough oxygen.
Beaming headaches are characterized by sharp and very intense manifestations. They may be chronic or episodic.
Diagnostics
Early diagnosis will help remove the causes of arching headaches and prevent the development of dangerous consequences.
As diagnostic methods can be used:
Headache treatment
Drug treatment of VSD almost never gives the desired effect. Neither painkillers, nor means for expanding blood vessels and improving blood supply help relieve painful sensations. In this case, the use of sedatives is important, including the collection of herbs.
It is necessary to exclude the factors that negatively affect the psyche, bring the work and rest regime back to normal, give up bad habits, monitor mood. Since stress is the main cause of headaches in IRR, it is recommended to contact a psychologist who will help you cope with existing problems and increase stress resistance.
Treatment of increased ICP in difficult cases requires surgery. The usual treatment regimen includes medication, massage and exercise therapy.
Medications used include diuretics, potassium supplements, and corticosteroids. In some cases, treatment may be supplemented by traditional medicine: decoction and tinctures.
Physiotherapy procedures include the use of:
- electrophoresis with aminophylline;
- magnet on the collar area;
- massage of the neck and spine;
- acupuncture;
- circular shower.
Required dosed exercise:
- swimming lessons;
- tennis;
- walking race
Treatment of headache for infections is determined depending on its intensity and causes. If you suspect a serious disease (meningitis, encephalitis, etc.), you should immediately consult a doctor for a diagnosis. With colds and acute respiratory viral infections to relieve a headache will help antipyretic.
When a brain tumor occurs, it is important to identify the disease in time. In the early stages, it is possible to surgically remove a tumor without consequences.
When pressure jumps are used drugs, the action of which is aimed at bringing the pressure to normal.
When treating headaches due to hormonal changes, it is necessary to build on the cause of the failure. This may be pregnancy, overweight, endocrine disorders, stress, exercise or menopause. Depending on the reasons, a treatment regimen is being developed.
It is necessary to avoid dehydration, to monitor the amount of fluid consumed, as well as to deal with its delay in the body and edema. Limit high-salt foods and do not abuse alcohol.
When stress and depression is better to consult a specialist. It is necessary to avoid mental and physical overwork, try to get positive emotions. Drug therapy in this case should be a doctor.
Prevention
There are a number of rules, subject to which the probability of developing headaches decreases:
Read what to do when after smoking a headache and nausea.
You can familiarize yourself with the treatment of shooting pain in the head on the right side.
Experts what are the methods of stress headache prevention.
All information on the site is provided for informational purposes only. Before applying any recommendations be sure to consult a doctor. Self-medication can be dangerous to your health.
Often, when visiting a neurologist, patients are asked when they are in pain, when they lie. Based on the combination of headache with other symptoms, the doctor makes an appropriate diagnosis and explains why the headache (cephalalgia) bothers the patient.
Not always people rush to diagnose the disease due to various reasons. So why when a person is lying down, does his headache get worse?
Before you guess about the disease and set yourself a non-existent diagnosis, headaches should learn to distinguish. A pulsating-type headache is characteristic of vascular diseases. Most often it is experienced by patients with vascular dystonia, in which it is bilateral. Unilateral headache is characteristic of migraine. This disease does not go away for a long time and increases with bright light, loud noise and other irritating factors. If a person has a headache that is in a lying position, and the face is swollen, then he may have a venous cephalgia.
Other causes of persistent headaches are:
- intervertebral disc protrusion, scoliosis;
- intracranial hypertension or hypotension;
- tumor of the base of the skull;
- brain;
- other neurosurgical diseases;
- gynecological diseases;
- neurological ailments;
- diseases of the cardiovascular system;
- lack of vitamins or oxygen;
- increased fatigue;
- neurosis;
- incorrect posture during sleep or working posture;
- too stiff or too high pillow.
In fact, in addition to the above list of reasons for which the headache may be chronic, there are much more provoking factors. Diseases of the kidneys, liver, eyes, ears, smoking, harmful work and other factors can always cause chronic headaches.
When a person turns to a treating neurologist or a neurosurgeon, the doctor usually asks when the pain is unbearable: when lying down or when you are in an upright position. In some cases, the patient reports that with such headaches it is better for him to lie, then he begins to feel much better. Provided that this condition is caused by CSF effects, the patient is likely to suffer from intracranial hypotension. If it increases in the supine position, then in this case there is a pressure of the CSF on the walls of the skull, ie There is intracranial hypertension.
Normally, the uniform distribution of cerebrospinal cerebrospinal fluid is under pressure from 7 to 17 mm Hg. Art. (although some experts believe that the maximum value of the normal is no more than 15 mmHg. Art.). It provides excellent brain performance without headaches. If a person has hypertension, his high blood pressure provokes vascular changes in the brain, resulting in a rise in intracranial pressure and, as a result, prolonged headache.
With hypotension, CSF deficiency affects the brain in such a way that this organ performs not only nutritive functioning, but also shock-absorbing. In this case, cephalalgia, aggravated by walking or simply while being in an upright position, passes only during rest, when the patient lies.
The danger of this disease is that a lack of liquor affects very negatively on the work of the brain and the vessels of the head, as a result, it can be fatal. This is due to the fact that hypotension severely damages the blood vessels and can provoke hemorrhage, dislocation of the structures of the hemispheres and the brain stem. As a result, the impaired substance of the brain stem and hemorrhage lead, at best, to a stroke, and at worst - to a lethal outcome.
Often the headache is eliminated with conservative therapy aimed at restoring water and electrolyte balance.
In this case, therapy with iso-osmolar solutions is often resorted to. If the patient is ill with liquorrhea, more often than not he needs hospital treatment.
Why does hypertension and tumors cause headaches and how is it treated?
In the case of hypertension, headache often occurs due to excess fluid in the ventricles of the brain or fluid space. In order not to disturb the headache of the patient, he is prescribed therapy aimed at the gradual normalization of fluid excretion. If the patient’s condition is severe, he is referred for consultation to a neurosurgeon in order to schedule the operation of this ailment. Then, in order to divert excess liquor, which causes not only headache, but also weakness, unsteadiness, dizziness, nausea, and other signs, the operation is performed to install a shunt.
However, if the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid is too fast, this also leads to multiple bad conditions. In this case, the occurrence of cerebral edema, foci or hemorrhage may occur, which is fraught with serious injury to the health of the patient or even death. If it is impossible to perform a shunt surgery, the neurosurgeon performs puncture of the cerebrospinal fluid. If the pathways are preserved, the headache may temporarily disappear after a spinal puncture, in this case the main thing is to start the treatment in time and correctly.
Published: February 10, 2013 Created: February 10, 2013Headache
Why headache?
In our body, all processes are aimed at the preservation and continuation of life. Outside of our conscious control, the most complex biophysical and biochemical processes take place that ensure dynamic equilibrium, that is, homeostasis and adequate contact with the external environment. Pain is one of the defense mechanisms. As well as temperature, allergies, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. Being able to read the signals of the body is the wisdom of being healthy. Headache - this is a signal, this is a cry for help.
The symptoms, causes and effects of a headache will help us to understand. neurologist,candidate of Medical Sciences, Leading Specialist of the Insight Medical Medical Family Medicine Clinic Anna Alekseevna Slynko .
- Anna Alekseevna, tell our readers what a headache is a symptom or a disease?
One of the most frequent neurological symptoms is headache. About 45% of the adult population has ever suffered from an intense headache. Headache can be among the symptoms of almost most neurological diseases, where it can be a leading symptom, as well as concomitant or one of the many symptoms. But almost always it is a consequence of various diseases, that is, the disease is primary. Headache is secondary, it is her symptom. Migraine, tension headache and cluster headache, many refer to primary headaches, this question is also controversial, since the nature of these diseases has not been fully studied.
So what is meant by headache? What hurts?
The brain does not hurt. But they are rich in pain receptors of the brain membrane, mucosa in the sinuses of the skull, blood vessels, venous sinuses, muscles of the scalp, cranial nerves, and other structures. Signals about the irritation of these receptors enter the brain, and we feel a headache. Headache is considered to be any discomfort above the eyebrows and to the neck and occipital region. Accordingly, all organs in this zone are responsible for the headache: blood vessels, nerves, ear structures, eyes, air sinuses of the skull, temporomandibular joint, etc.
Can the doctor immediately diagnose the cause of the headache and what disease is it characteristic of?
Having listened carefully to the patient, it is often possible to guess the cause of the headache. The head hurts in different ways. Already by the nature of the headache, its localization, intensity, duration of the disease, associated symptoms can be presumably said in the structure of the disease there is a headache. Since the causes of headaches can be very different. From feeling unwell, lack of sleep, anxiety, depression to a headache with a tumor, inflammation of the brain or its membranes, abscess, stroke, diseases of the eye, ear, teeth, and just with the flu, etc.
What are the most common causes of headaches that patients come to you? What symptoms are observed?
Vascular headacheoccurs when the vessels are overstretched with a pulsed blood volume or an overflow of blood vessels with hypotension, sometimes with increased arterial tone, increased blood viscosity. It is characterized by a throbbing, crushing headache, it can decrease when the artery artery is squeezed. If the venous outflow is difficult and the intracranial venous system overflows, complaints of arching, dull pain usually occur, often in the back of the head, after sleep, and exercise.
More often, vascular headache is characteristic of hypertension, hypotension, heart disease, atherosclerosis, etc.
Neuralgic headache - this pain is often penetrating, tearing, cutting, paroxysmal, “as the current hits” often gives off to other parts, some movements or zones on the skin, when touched, can provoke an attack. Nerves suffer more often, there may be the trigeminal nerve, occipital, etc.
Headache with infectious-toxic factor.As a rule, the headache is diffuse, pressing, goes along with general infectious symptoms, where there are signs of intoxication, weakness, temperature, sensitivity to sound, light, arthralgia, myalgia and other specific symptoms.
Headache when changing intracranial pressure -this pain with an elevated pressure has a bursting, oppressive character, depends on the position of the body, may intensify when sneezing, coughing, straining, there may be morning vomiting with subsequent relief. It is always an imbalance in the amount and circulation of cerebrospinal fluid, the volume of tissue inside the skull. This situation occurs in meningitis, hemorrhage, brain tumors, etc. With a hypotensive headache in an upright position, it increases, lies down, also increases with each step, head concussion. This can be as a consequence of injury, inflammatory diseases of the lining of the brain.
Also exists drug headache. It is known that some drugs (nitroglycerin, dipyridamole, alpha-blockers, etc.) cause headache, and as a result of the abolition of the permanent use of indomethacin and other anti-inflammatory drugs, codeine, caffeine, and others, you may experience headache.
And what is a migraine and what is it fraught with for patients? Who is more prone to migraines?
Approximately 70% of patients are women. Marked by the genetic inheritance of migraine. At the heart of the disease are the peculiarities of the response of cerebral vessels to fluctuations in the level of biologically active substances in the body, mainly serotonin, as well as sensitivity to meteorological factors. Beginning is usually in adolescence. The frequency is on average about 1-2 times per month. With age, the intensity of headaches decreases.
Unilateral headache in 60% of cases. There are three phases.
- Stage precursors. There may be visual and sensory impairments, in 35% of cases aura (sparkling flashes, dots, etc.) before the painful phase. Migraine without aura is called a simple migraine.
- Pain phase A pulsating, intense headache is characteristic, in the temporal-orbital-frontal region, which can be replaced by dull and arching, pain limits the ability to work. However, bilateral localization is also possible. There may be: anorexia, nausea, vomiting, mood swings. Increased sensitivity to sound, light.
- Post-sickness, weakness, state of "hangover". Headache may intensify after exercise.
Severe headache can not be tolerated. If the patient suffers from migraine, it is better to start treatment at the precursor stage. The treatment regimen is selected by the doctor. In any case, it is necessary to consult a specialist - a neurologist, as a completely different pathology may follow the “mask” of a migraine and an ischemic stroke may develop on the background of migraine status (intense migraine attack lasting more than 72 hours).
What is the most common type of headache?
The most common type of headache is tension headache, which affects men and women equally. This is a monotonous, moderate intensity headache, accompanied by a feeling of tightening, squeezing, squeezing. More often, the pain is diffuse in the entire head, either in the fronto-parietal or cervico-occipital region. Exercise does not increase headache. Hippocrates called this headache "neurotic helmet". It can be episodic and chronic. Tension headache is often secondary to the background of the primary disease of neurosis, depression, masked by depression, in the structure of psychopathy, psychosomatic disorder.
The pathogenesis of tension headache is not fully understood. It can occur as a result of strain on the muscles of the skull, some refer to it as a type of migraine. Of course, the main provocative factor is psycho-emotional, it is not for nothing that foreign colleagues in the standard of treatment include antidepressants, sedatives.
Of course, combinations of pathogenetic mechanisms are possible - then it is said about the mixed genesis of a headache. In addition, a “typical” headache can be the result of a very serious situation that manifests itself completely “not typical.” Therefore, a qualified doctor can understand the causes of headaches. It requires a diagnostic algorithm. Firstly, to exclude somatic diseases: general clinical laboratory tests, EEG, ultrasound, consultation of the therapist, cardiologist, endocrinologist, etc. Secondly, exclude diseases of the ENT organs, eyes, dentist's consultation. Thirdly, the consultation of a neurologist, if you need a neuropsychiatrist. Fourth, MRI ( magnetic resonance imaginga) head (CT), TCDG ( transcranial doppler sonographya) vessels of the head and neck.
What are the factors that cause headaches?
These factors are more common for migraine and tension headaches:
- violation of the usual routine of the day, night wakefulness, inadequate sleep;
- physical and mental fatigue;
- chronic stress, recently transferred stress (in a state of "post-stress relaxation" more often a headache occurs;
- abuse of psychotropic drugs: alcohol, smoking, strong coffee, tea, and others;
- long-term use of certain drugs, contraceptives, hypotensive hypnotics, painkillers, etc .;
- irregular food intake and use of certain foods: foods with a high content of tyramine (cheese, red wine); products containing monosodium glutamate, nitrates (smoked meat, fish); pickled, pickled products.
When should I see a doctor immediately?
First of all, when an intense headache began suddenly. When there is an increase, increase, change the nature of headaches in a patient suffering from recurrent headaches. Also, when a headache is accompanied by a change in consciousness (stunning, drowsiness, agitation, etc.), a sudden rise in blood pressure, fever, seizures, visual impairment, hearing, taste, speech, facial symmetry, numbness or weakness in the hand or leg, face . People over the age of 50 with the appearance of a headache or a change in its nature should also consult a doctor.
The most important in the diagnosis of headaches is the determination of primary or secondary cephalgia. There is no doubt that secondary headache cannot be cured without affecting the pathological factor that causes it. It is also equally important to identify the mechanism of headache, since only an adequate effect on the mechanism can lead to a positive result in the treatment of headache. Otherwise, the use of even the most new and effective drugs may have the opposite effect. An example of this is the introduction of antispasmodics at the top of a migraine attack or the appointment of dehydrating therapy for intracranial hypotension.
To date, there are 6 mechanisms of headache:
- vascular
- liquor dynamic
- muscle tension
- neuralgic
- liquor dynamic
- psychalgic
Vascular cephalgia, in turn, can be vasomotor for functional disorders of vascular tone, venous and ischemic-hypoxic (with organic changes in the vascular wall in patients with atherosclerosis, arterial hypertension or vasculitis). Moreover, the same patient can combine several mechanisms. Moreover, these mechanisms are to some extent associated with the etiology, but often coincide with different causal factors.
In the diagnosis of headache great attention is paid to the complaints of the patient. They allow to suspect first of all the mechanism of headache. Thus, the pulsating nature of cephalgia indicates the vascular mechanism. With unilateral localization of a pulsating headache, we most often deal with migraines. With bilateral pulsation, vegetative-vascular dystonia or cerebrovascular diseases (dyscirculatory encephalopathy) can be suspected. Cephalgia is characterized by morning headaches or pains that develop or become worse after being in a horizontal position and are accompanied by puffiness of the eyelids.
The constricting nature of the headache favors a headache of muscular tension. This headache is reduced by movement of the muscles of the shoulder girdle, massage of the neck area.
Cranial hypertension is characterized by the arching nature of a headache. In this case, the headache increases in a horizontal position, when coughing, straining, and may be accompanied by cerebral symptoms - dizziness, vomiting, etc. It should be remembered that in practice the role of intracranial hypertension as a mechanism for the development of headache is often overestimated. Moreover, it often happens that the patient on the contrary develops intracranial hypothesis. This may indicate increased headache when walking, upright and a decrease in the horizontal.
The neurological nature of the pain is characterized by short-term paroxysms of cephalgia (seconds) of a shooting character. Pain is localized according to the branches of the trigeminal nerve. May occur or intensify when exposed to trigger zones. Constant pain is not related to neuralgia, since it is no longer associated with irritation, but with the defeat of the trigeminal nerve (neuropathy).
Do not underestimate the history of the disease. The emergence of paroxysmal headaches for the first time at a young age, increased pain during physical activity is more likely in favor of migraine or vasomotor headaches against the background of vegetative-vascular dystonia. The chronic nature of the pain of a non-intensive nature, increased with emotional or mental stress, indicates tension pain.
In diagnosis, importance is attached to clinical or objective research. Often, such a study allows to suspect the cause of cephalgia (with its secondary origin) and determine its mechanism.
Identification of danger signals indicating the development of secondary headaches accompanying life-threatening diseases
- Onset of headache over the age of 50 years.
- The emergence of a new headache that is different from the usual or a significant increase in the usual headache.
- Headache is the cause of nightly awakenings.
- The occurrence of headaches during physical exertion, coughing, sneezing, straining (indicating an increase in intracranial pressure).
- The combination of headaches with the following neurological disorders (confusion or disorders of consciousness, impaired memory, ataxia and coordination disorders, paresis and paralysis, asymmetry of the pupils, tendon reflexes, meningeal symptoms, visual impairment, persistent tinnitus, loss of taste or smell.
- In the morning nausea, vomiting, dizziness (possible volumetric process).
- The presence of repetitive throbbing pain on the one hand (suspected vascular aneurysm).
- The presence of other pathological symptoms (fever, hypertension, weight loss, prolonged cough, lymphadenopathy, runny nose or difficulty in nasal breathing).
Additional studies for headache.
Despite the fact that diagnostic tests such as computed X-ray (CT) and magnetic resonance (MRI) tomography provide some useful information for the diagnosis of habitual headaches, their use in general medical practice has become commonplace. Unfortunately, in most cases, these studies do not guarantee the diagnosis of primary headache. But neuroimaging, to a certain extent, eliminates or confirms the secondary nature of the headache. Therefore, in the presence of obvious warning symptoms, a diagnostic study is appointed - CT scan or MRI of the brain, which allows to detect volumetric processes of hemispheric or stem localization. When is it necessary to conduct these studies?
Indications for the appointment of CT or MRI for headaches.
- Violations of behavior and consciousness.
- Headache during physical exertion, intercourse, coughing or sneezing.
- The deterioration of the patient during the observation period by the doctor.
- Stiff neck.
- Focal neurological symptoms.
- The first appearance of headaches over the age of 50 years.
- The emergence of stronger headaches than usual.
- The change in the usual nature of headaches.
If there is a one-sided, pulsating headache, angiography or MRI may be required in the vascular mode.
Principles of headache treatment.
Treatment of secondary headaches involves the effect on the cause and on the mechanism of cephalgia.
One of the most frequent complaints in medical practice. To clarify its causes, great knowledge and experience are needed.
This is one of the most common symptoms of various diseases. Despite their pain, most headaches do not apply to serious illnesses.But if you are worried about prolonged and recurring headaches, you should not neglect a visit to the doctor, as well as a medical examination, as intense and chronic headaches may be precursors of any serious disturbances in the body.
On this page we will try, in a brief and understandable language, to understand the mechanisms of the occurrence of vertebral headache (associated with disorders in the cervical spine). Then we list in what other conditions that are not directly related to vertebral problems, the occurrence of a headache is possible and how it threatens the patient.
Vertebrogenic headache.
To understand the mechanism of occurrence of headache in case of cervical problems, it is necessary to imagine how it all works ...
In the transverse processes of almost all cervical vertebrae there are holes through which the vertebral arteries pass along the right and left side.At normal ratios between the cervical vertebrae inall together form a semi-open bone canal in their transverse processes. This channel can be compared to the subway tunnel.
If everything is normal, then the tunnel is straight and nothing will interfere with the passage of blood through the artery. And if you imagine that the tunneltortuous or its deformation occurs ... There will be problems with the movement of the "train".
These vessels are very important for the body. They provide blood supply to the cerebellum. With a lack of blood flow, many so-called autonomic disorders or autonomic dysfunctions can occur in them. The main symptom, perhaps, can be called dizziness, - the invariable companion of the so-called vertebro-basilar insufficiency (VBN).
The main and most common symptoms and syndromes:
- changes in blood pressure, accompanied by dizziness;
- dizziness with vomiting;
- nausea with vertigo;
- dizziness and fits of weakness;
- frequent dizziness;
- very strong dizzy spells;
- slight dizziness; dizziness, accompanied by headache;
- persistent dizziness;
- nausea with vertigo and weakness;
- dizziness when lying down.
The vertebral arteries and their branches also supply the brain stem, a structure in which vital centers of blood circulation and respiration are concentrated. Knowing this is important for understanding the mechanism of onset of symptoms in cervical osteochondrosis.
To a large extent, problems of lack of blood supply arise not because of mechanical overpressing of the vertebral arteries, but because of their reflex spasm. The body protects important vessels. The protection includes a certain amount of fatty tissue around the arteries and a network of sympathetic nerve fibers, as the protection of the artery along the perimeter. Fiber serves as a specific buffer to avoid external pressure on the artery, and the nerve plexus instantly reports to the brain about possible compression or any other mechanical threat to the artery. The nerve that protects the vertebral arteries is called Frank's nerve. It departs from the lower sympathetic "star" node, which is located in the region of the cervico-thoracic junction at level 7 of the cervical vertebra and the first rib. Often, vegetative dystonia is associated precisely with problems of the spine in the region of the transition of the cervical to the thoracic.
How is everything going?
If there is instability of the cervical spine or bone growths in osteochondrosis and spondyloarthrosis, the altered structures have a mechanical effect on the vertebral artery. Her path becomes not straight and winding. So the artery adapts to new conditions in developing osteochondrosis. When the buffer from the fatty tissue becomes insufficient, then the perimeter of the vertebral artery is irritated, as we discussed above. Irritation of the nerve of Frank occurs and, as a response, reflex spasm of the vessel walls. It is as if compressed and its diameter decreases. Consequently, less blood can pass through the vessel. But the heart continues to work and as compensation can increase the speed of blood flow through the vessel. At the same time, patients often talk about the emerging noise in the head, when turning or turning the head back. This noise occurs when the blood flow is swirling along twisted, not even arteries. Moreover, we paid attention to the fact that the vertebral arteries supply blood to the brain stem where the vasomotor center is located. Reflex spasm of blood vessels is observed in this area. Vasodomotor center "sees" the problem, it lacks oxygen and nutrition. And he takes measures, gives a command to all the vessels, thus regulating the microcirculation in the whole body, which invariably affects the blood pressure indicators. And then it all depends on the type of human nervous system. Who is he? Sympatik or parasympathetic. What system prevails, such a reaction to irritation of the vertebral arteries will be. Or their spasm or vice versa - expansion.
Both can cause headaches. Often we encounter a situation where vertebral irritationtal artery occurs on one side.As a rule, the artery is compressed between the abnormal arch and the muscles of the neck. This occurs in certain positions of the head or excessive tension of the neck muscles. This happens with the so-called functional blockages of the intervertebral joints of the upper cervical region, where there are anatomical features of the passage of the vertebral arteries. For example, irritation of an artery by a tense, spasmized muscle in the area C-1; S-2(Fig. d)
Developmental abnormalities are also found at the site of comparison between the vertebral arteries and the single basilar artery. The so-called anomalyKimmerly
(Fig. b)
-
additional bone arch of the first cervical vertebra, can compress the vertebral arteries that feed the brain with blood. Or high standing of the tooth of the second cervical vertebra(fig.)
The instability of the cervical spine (a kind of play in between the vertebrae) can lead to a formidable condition - the slipping of one vertebra from another (leafse). This condition may occur after a cervical injury. It must be remembered that instability is almost never isolated. Always with instability in the cervical region there will be a restriction of mobility in the thoracic spine or the cervico-thoracic transition. Treatment must first be carried out where there is no movement. Otherwise, it will not be possible to redistribute the motor load, which is excessive for the cervical vertebrae and is the main damaging factor for the cervical region. It leads to early aging of vertebral structures, osteochondrosis, arthrosis, muscle tension and, as a result, headache and dizziness.
Something like this, simplified and looks like a mechanism for the occurrence of violations in vertebral headache.
Among other anatomical anomalies are known:
Anomaly Arnold-Chiari- the loss of part of the cerebellum in too wide an occipital foramen;
Concretion of the cervical vertebrae or Klippel-Feil syndrome(Klippel-Feil) - the fusion of two or three cervical vertebrae between themselves, often leads to compression of the vertebral arteries, overloading and damage to the upper and lower intervertebral discs;
Basil impression- "screwed" edges of the occipital foramen inside the cranial cavity;
Platibasia- Congenital defect of the occipital bone, leads to the displacement of the cerebellum;
Atlanta Assimilation- the increment of the 1st cervical vertebra to the occipital bone, may cause compression of the vertebral arteries when turning the head;
Pro-Atlant- an additional, often unstable 1st cervical vertebra, often displaced and injures the spinal cord and vertebral arteries
Dangerous Signals for Headache
Unexpected acute headache, or rapidly increasing moderate headaches often indicate a serious illness. This may be subarachnoid hemorrhage (stroke), meningitis, a brain tumor and a number of other processes. Permanent or recurring for a long time headaches do not threaten life, but they say that the aging process of vertebrates structures and vascular reactions as a consequence there and they need to pay attention.
When do you need to "sound the alarm"?
1. A very severe, acute headache-type headache is a very serious symptom. Such pain is almost a sure sign of subarachnoid hemorrhage. In this case, you must immediately call an ambulance.
2. If the pain is moderate and increases in a horizontal (lying) position, and passes for half an hour in an upright position, this symptom may be a sign of a serious disease associated with impaired outflow of cerebrospinal fluid and an increase in intracranial pressure (first of all it is necessary to exclude a brain tumor, but this symptom may be a manifestation of other diseases, such as those associated with the consequences of a severe traumatic brain injury).
3. If even a mild headache is accompanied by loss of consciousness or inadequate behavior, not being able to rise and maintain an upright posture is a sign of a serious illness and requires an immediate emergency call.
4. If the headache has sharply arisen against the background of high temperature and increases in time. If photophobia or neck pain is associated with these symptoms, this may be a sign of meningitis. And even if this is not the case, it is always better to play it safe and consult a doctor.
Causes of headache
The causes of headache today may be about 46 diseases and pathological conditions. Moreover, many of these diseases are not directly related to the head.
Any inflammatory process in the human body as well as an increase in blood pressure can cause a headache. If a headache has a “causal” disease that causes it - this symptomatic headache.
However, most often, the headache is caused by the processes occurring directly in the head or on its surface and having no basis in the form of a specific disease. In this case - the headache is an independent disease and is called primary headache. The most common causes of headache:
1. Head muscle spasm. The skull is surrounded by muscles along the “perimeter” of the muscle on the forehead, the back of the head and the temples. These muscles tighten the "tendinous helmet", which is located just below the scalp. In addition, they are involved in the formation of facial expressions, and the temporal muscles participate in chewing, helping the chewing muscles.
2. Spasm of the vessels of the head. For the occurrence of a headache, it is not at all necessary that the cerebral vessels spasm. Enough spasm of the vessels located on the surface of the skull.
3. Constriction of the membranes of the brain. It may be caused by a tumor, hemorrhage, increased intracranial pressure, swelling of the lining of the brain as a result of the inflammatory process, etc.
4. Violation of the "power" of the brain. The reason for this may be its lack of blood supply, under reduced pressure, with blockage of blood vessels that feed the brain, in diseases of the lungs or heart, etc.
5. Poisoning - alcohol, narcotic substances or drugs or poisoning by endogenous products formed during inflammatory processes in various tissues.
Headache occurs due to irritation of the nerve endings of the vessels of the head or meninges. Depending on its cause has its own characteristics.
- In vascular diseases, it is more often pulsating, aggravated by overwork, alcohol consumption, smoking, and exposure to sharp stimuli (noise, odors, bright light).
- Patients with hypertension often after sleep are worried about heaviness in the head and arching pain in the back of the head. Sleeping in a ventilated room and a light gym in the morning tend to reduce this pain.
- Pristupoobraznye pain, localized in one half of the head is in migraine.
- The headache of a compressive nature can occur due to the tension of the muscles of the head in case of a disease of the cervical spine (osteochondrosis), overstrain of the muscles of the neck, with an incorrect position of the head during work.
- The cause of a headache can also be an overstrain of vision, for example, in poor light, a visual impairment that is not corrected by glasses, or an eye disease, for example, glaucoma.
- “Shooting”, “tearing” or “burning” pains in the face and neck occur with trigeminal and occipital nerve neuralgia.
- Severe headache with vomiting and stupefaction against the background of high temperature occurs during inflammation of the brain and its membranes.
- Quite often, persistent headache is associated with inflammatory diseases of the paranasal sinuses.
- Headache can be the result of craniocerebral injury, and often it is accompanied by infectious diseases, intoxication, neurotic disorders, diseases of internal organs.
When persistent headaches must be examined by a doctor to determine their cause. Independent long-term use of painkillers, non-eliminating causes, can have adverse health effects. With timely treatment to the doctor, the treatment of the underlying disease prescribed by him, as a rule, eliminates or reduces headache.
In the diagnosis of symptoms of dizziness and headache, the examination of the biomechanics of the cervical spine by an experienced doctor will help. Muscle tone, range of motion, position of the vertebrae at rest and during movement (X-ray with functional tests), vascular examination - Doppler ultrasound, rheovasography, and MRI in angiography mode will be determined.
Osteochondrosis, instability of the cervical spine, atherosclerosis of the vertebral arteries and the resulting vertebrobasilar insufficiency - require a systemic approach to treatment:
Applied to:
- manual therapy and massage of the thoracic spine and collar area;
- physiotherapy (SMT, UHF, DDT, galvanophoresis with enzymes);
- osteopathy;
- reflexology (acupuncture, auriculotherapy);
- therapeutic gymnastics (exercise therapy) - strictly according to the instructions of the doctor !!!;
- dosed wearing of a cervical corset (Schantz tire);
- medications (nootropic, vascular, chondroprotective, anti-arthritic and fortifying therapy).
- local procedures - compresses and rubbing
Remember! Treat a headache - that walk on thin ice! Treatment should be carried out on time, competently, carefully and carefully.
Do not be ill and stay healthy!
Trust health professionals!
Center for vertebrology Dr. Vladimirov
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