Most of us eventually face migraines. How this migraine occurs will be explained in detail in the next article.
What happens when a headache occurs?
Parts of the meninges, arteries and some nerves in the head contain special nerve cells that send pain signals when they are stretched, compressed or irritated by chemicals or when there is a lack of oxygen.
Muscles also contain pain receptors that are stimulated by chemicals released during excessive exercise or prolonged tension. The pain caused by this is generally called a headache.
Irritation of nerve fibers can cause disturbances in visual perception and a burning pain known as neuralgia, which is characteristic of cluster headaches and may be associated with inflammation of the sinuses.
The difference between migraine and headache
Headaches
In general, headaches are bilateral; the pain manifests itself on both sides of the head. The pain is continuous until relieved by medication and is usually triggered by general symptoms such as fatigue, excessive alcohol consumption, menstruation, etc. Although headaches can be very serious, they usually respond to over-the-counter painkillers. Psychogenic headaches (possibly caused by depression) are said to be insensitive to painkillers. These types of headaches could be due to changes in natural endorphin levels.
Migraine
In general, migraine is one-sided and the pain is of a throbbing nature; like a pulse. They occur with or without apparent reasons and can last for several days. Moreover, they do not respond to conventional painkillers. They are often preceded by warning signals, which some call auras. These aura symptoms include: coldness, a tingling around the mouth and in the hands, a disturbance in visual perception, such as seeing flashes of light, spots or lines, which can also occur on one side. These symptoms may be caused by ischemia (reduced blood flow due to extreme vasoconstriction) or by pressure from swollen tissue surrounding the nerve. Some time after the initial stages of cerebral vasoconstriction (narrowing of the blood vessels in the brain), intense pain develops, usually in one spot, often above the eye. That throbbing pain can last for hours or days. It is suspected that it is the result of extreme extra-cerebral vasodilation (widening of the blood vessels outside the brain). This pain is often accompanied by sweating, nausea and vomiting. Usually noise and light worsen the migraine attack. A general feeling of ‘confusion’ and mild pain may persist for days, even though the actual migraine attack has already passed.
Cluster headaches
Cluster headaches are a type of migraine that manifest as ten series of episodes (clusters) and can last more than a week or two. The pain is one-sided, usually felt in the eye, around the eyelid and behind the nose, and has a burning character. After the pain has subsided, people often suffer from a runny nose. According to researchers, young men and women during menopause are more susceptible to this form of migraine. A common factor has not yet been discovered.
Causes of headaches
- chemical irritation
- food intolerance
- medicines
- ischemia and fatigue
- muscle tension and problems due to incorrect posture
- arthritis
- infections
- high bloodpressure
- neuritis
- menopause
- tumors
Chemical irritation
A number of chemicals can irritate the pain receptors in the arteries and nerves. The best known are alcohol and toxins produced by bacteria. Many industrial chemicals cause headaches when inhaled excessively.
Food intolerance
Foods containing tyramine (cheese, red wine, meat extracts, yeast extracts) may cause excessive vasodilation in sensitive individuals. Foods containing methylxanthines (coffee, chocolate, tea, cola) can lead to constriction of the blood vessels in the brain.
Medicines
Some medications, such as antidepressants belonging to the SSRIs (the ‘Prozac family’), can cause vasoconstriction, leading to severe headaches in the first weeks of use. Some antihypertensives (blood pressure lowering agents) can also cause headaches, probably due to vasodilation.
Ischemia and fatigue
Ischemia means shortage of blood. This is the result of extreme vasoconstriction, which reduces the oxygen content. This stimulates the pain receptors in the walls of the arteries. Although migraines are associated with both vasodilation and vasoconstriction, most headaches are caused by vasoconstriction. This is, for example, the case with headaches due to fatigue. This can often be seen in someone’s face, which looks paler than normal. In addition, the hands feel cold and people who suffer from fatigue headaches cannot get warm.
Muscle tension and problems due to incorrect posture
When you are tense or anxious, increased muscle tension may occur. In that case, the muscle fibers are stimulated by sympathetic stimuli from the brain. In general, these are intended to prepare the body for the fight or flight response, a response to danger.
Stiffness and muscle pain can also occur when one and the same position is maintained for too long, for example when bending over the work for a long time or tilting the head back to look upwards. The pain that then occurs is the result of vasoconstriction, ischemia and an accumulation of waste products (such as lactic acid) due to muscle contraction.
Pain causes cramps: the muscles around the area contract to protect the tissue. If the pain starts in the shoulders (which is very common when holding the same position for too long), it can spread to the back of the head. This is a typical tension headache.
Arthritis
Tension in worn, damaged or inflamed joints in the neck can directly affect certain nerves by putting pressure on them. Pain may also occur as the muscles around the area cramp. Some people suffer from headaches because their jawbones do not fit together properly, putting pressure on nerves and causing muscle tension.
Infections
Cold and flu viruses secrete toxins that irritate tissues and stimulate pain receptors. This is felt as a headache and painful limbs. Many other febrile infections have the same effect.
Meningitis
Some bacteria and viruses can invade the meninges and cause irritation, which can lead to severe headaches. In general, it is an acute pain accompanied by ringing, fever, weakness, confusion and a general feeling of malaise. This type of headache should not be treated with herbs; immediate hospital treatment is required! If there is any doubt about the cause of a headache, you should contact your doctor, describe all symptoms and when they started.
Sinusitis
Some infections reach the sinuses (jaws or sinuses) and cause inflammation that results in swollen tissues and an increase in mucus secretion. This causes a severe burning pain in the forehead, under the eyes and behind the nose. Sometimes the pain spreads to the teeth.
High bloodpressure
The dilation of blood vessels in extremely high blood pressure leads to a headache that generally occurs when you get up in the morning. This usually concerns a pain at the back of the head.
Neuritis
Inflammation of nerves can cause severe pain. This pain is called neuralgia (nerve pain), although this is not strictly speaking a headache. This often concerns the trigeminal nerve (triangular nerve), which influences the eyes, ears and jaws.
Menopause
After menopause, platelets secrete less monoamine oxidase, a substance that breaks down serotonin (a cerebral vasoconstrictor). An increase in serotonin in the bloodstream is also responsible for stimulating the pain receptors in the blood vessels and contracting the vessel walls.
Tumors
Tumors cause pain due to distortion and pressure placed on surrounding tissues and organs. It is usually a severe pain that does not go away and gradually gets worse. In general, the pain is accompanied by strange sensations, deficits and disturbances that indicate damage in the nerve centers located in the brain. If your headache shows these characteristics, you should consult your doctor.
