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Headache has become a very common problem in this busy life. Be it office stress, increased use of screens or lack of sleep, often when people have a headache, they immediately consume a painkiller or postpone it by drinking tea or coffee. However, health experts and neurologists believe that frequent headaches are not just a common problem but can also be a warning of some major disease developing in the body. When the pain returns repeatedly, suddenly becomes severe or starts again after the effect of the medicines wears off, then this condition demands to be alert.
The difference between normal pain and chronic headache
Every person has to face headache sometimes. When this pain occurs once or twice a month due to any obvious reason like fatigue or walking in the sun, then it is kept in the normal category. On the other hand, when headache persists for 15 days or more in a month and this continues for more than three months, then in medical language it is called chronic daily headache. In this situation, relying only on painkiller pills can prove to be harmful for other organs of the body, especially the kidney and liver.
Complications of Migraine and Cluster Headache
Migraine is one of the biggest causes of frequent headaches. In migraine, there is unbearable, throbbing pain in one half of the head. Along with this, vomiting, nausea, irritability due to bright light and loud noises begin to occur. Cluster headaches, on the other hand, are extremely intense and stabbing pain, usually concentrated behind or around one eye. During this time, symptoms like watering of eyes, redness of eyes and blockage of nose also appear. This pain often arises again and again at a fixed time.
Sinus, cervical and eye weakness
When there is infection or inflammation in the sinus cavity present in the facial bones, it is called sinusitis. In this, there is heaviness and severe pain in the forehead, cheeks and upper part of the nose, which increases on bending forward. Apart from this, people who use laptop or mobile while sitting in wrong posture for a long time, the nerves of the neck start getting compressed due to cervical spondylosis. This pain starts from the back of the neck and spreads throughout the head. Due to weak eyesight, focusing on the screen puts pressure on the nerves of the eyes, which increases the complaint of headache every evening.
High blood pressure and risk of stroke
Uncontrolled increase in blood pressure in the body acts like a silent killer. When blood pressure rises to dangerous levels, there is excessive pressure on the blood vessels in the brain. This is called a hypertensive crisis, which includes sudden severe pain in the back of the head, dizziness and blurred vision. If it is not controlled in time, it can cause brain stroke or aneurysm.
Brain tumors and neurological threats
Persistent and rapidly increasing headache may be a sign of some neurological disorder. When a lump or tumor begins to develop within the brain, the pressure inside the cranial cavity begins to increase. This type of headache is usually felt most upon waking up in the morning and the intensity of the pain increases when coughing, sneezing or bending. If along with headache there is weakness in any part of the body, stammering in speech, seizures or loss of memory, then it becomes mandatory to contact a neurologist without any delay.
Lifestyle, dehydration and mental stress
In modern lifestyle, wrong eating habits are also becoming a major cause of headache. When there is a lack of water in the body (dehydration), the brain tissues temporarily shrink, causing pain. Apart from this, excessive caffeine consumption, irregular meal timings, less sleep and constant mental stress unbalance the neurotransmitters of the brain, due to which the problem of tension headache persists.
When is it necessary to go to the doctor immediately
There are some symptoms that are considered red flag signs. If you experience the most severe and sudden headache of your life (thunderclap headache), the pain is accompanied by high fever and stiff neck, a new headache suddenly starts after the age of 50, or the pain starts after an old head injury, it may be an emergency. In such a situation, finding the exact cause through tests like CT Scan or MRI proves to be life saving.
Prevention and proper daily routine measures
To get relief from headache, it is important to follow a regular routine. Get adequate sleep of 7 to 8 hours daily, drink at least 2.5 to 3 liters of water throughout the day and avoid looking at screens for long periods of time. Include fresh fruits, green vegetables and nuts in your diet and stay away from excessive tea, coffee and processed foods. To reduce stress, make pranayam and meditation a part of your daily routine. Without ignoring any type of headache, getting medical examination done at the right time is the key to a healthy brain.