(93) Cho Yong-jin, neurologist at Ulsan Jeil Hospital, “Headache”
Headache refers to pain that occurs inside the head and can be a symptom of various situations. Since the brain has no pain receptors, the brain itself cannot feel pain, and the pain is caused by a disturbance in the pain-sensitive structures around the brain. These structures exist in various parts of the head and neck and are classified as internal to the skull (vascular system, meninges, cranial nerves) and external to the skull (periosteum of the skull, muscles, nerves, arteries and veins, subcutaneous tissue, eyes, ears , sinuses and mucous membranes).
Treatment of headache depends on the etiology or underlying cause. Painkillers are usually taken, but most headaches resolve naturally with rest. In particular, in modern society, the use of computers and mobile phones has increased rapidly, as has the frequency of complaints of headaches due to eating problems. Learn about the causes and prevention of headaches with Dr. Cho Yong-jin, neurologist at Ulsan Jeil Hospital.
Cho Yong-jin, neurologist at Ulsan Jeil Hospital. Provided by Ulsan Jeil Hospital
◇ Check the associated symptoms together
Headache symptoms also include diseases such as stroke that require emergency treatment. Once brain cells are damaged, they are difficult to recover from, so they must be treated quickly when symptoms appear.
First, you should check to see if the headache occurs together with systemic symptoms such as fever or weight loss. In particular, if there is an underlying disease such as an immunodeficiency or malignancy, one should always consider the possibility of complications within the brain such as infections or cancer metastasis.
Next, we need to check whether neurological symptoms are also present. Neurological symptoms include not only general brain dysfunction such as decreased consciousness, cognitive impairment and confusion, but also all local symptoms such as aphasia (language impairment), paralysis and visual impairment. These symptoms indicate that a lesion has occurred in the brain, so you should quickly undergo a neurological exam and brain imaging test.
How the headache starts is also important. The sudden onset of a severe headache is called a “rhombus headache.” This is a feature of cerebrovascular diseases such as subarachnoid hemorrhage or cerebrovascular constriction syndrome, so you should quickly go to the hospital and receive treatment from a specialist.
The age of the patient is also an important factor. This is because people over 50 are more likely to have vascular risk factors such as systemic disease, hypertension and diabetes. If you have suffered from headaches in the past, you should compare the type of your headaches with previous ones.
There are various causes of headaches, but the most common causes include overwork, fatigue, excessive stress and lack of sleep. These headaches can be relieved to a large extent by resting and relaxing the mind. Women, who are sensitive to hormonal influences and stress, are more vulnerable to these headaches than men.
If your headache occurs primarily in the morning or early morning, it may be due to problems with your sleep quality. If you suffer from apnea or restless leg syndrome, it is best to consult a specialist and undergo a sleep test.
Furthermore, among the causes of headaches there are also external shocks, some diseases such as cervical disc herniation and bad eating habits such as frequent consumption of fatty foods.
◇Helps prevent headaches like stretching
When a headache occurs, you must first check the cause and treat it to determine whether it is a secondary headache.
Typical primary headaches are migraine, tension-type headache, and trigeminal autonomic headache. Migraine is caused by vasodilation and neurogenic inflammation caused by neuropeptides, and complex analgesics and vasoconstrictors are used.
If the number of headaches increases, or you can’t take medications, or if taking medications doesn’t work, take preventative migraine medications.
Tension headaches are caused by excessive tension in the muscles around the head due to stress or poor posture. It hurts especially on both sides of the head, around the forehead and jaw joints, as well as on the back of the neck behind the ears.
Tension headaches can be reduced by simply massaging stiff muscles. If massage does not relieve the pain, use muscle relaxants or pain relievers.
To prevent headaches, it is important to engage in daily life. It is useful to avoid overwork and relieve body tension by taking a walk. It’s a good idea to reduce the time you use computers and cell phones, maintain good posture, and stretch frequently.
Specialist Cho Yong-jin said: “Consistently maintaining a balanced diet and light exercise is also helpful. Coffee, green tea, cola and caffeinated drinks can cause headaches, and chocolate, nuts, cheese and red wine can be aggravating factors, so be careful: “High pillows can cause headaches by putting pressure on the cervical spine, so it is best to choose a pillow of appropriate height and warm the neck and shoulders to relax them.”
He continued: “If symptoms of vomiting appear along with symptoms of headache, you need to pay attention” and “If you lose consciousness, have difficulty seeing, have abnormal sensations, have a fever, are paralyzed or lose strength, visit the doctor immediately. “We have to do it,” he urged.
Journalist Byun Ye-hyeon yhby@ulkyung.kr
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