Headache

In the UK, 8 in 10 people have at least one headache each year. The majority of headaches last for only a few hours, but some persist for weeks.

Pain may occur in only one part of the head, such as above the eyes, or it may be spread across the entire head. The type of pain varies, it may be sharp and sudden or dull and constant. Sometimes, other symptoms, such as nausea, occur at the same time.


What are the causes?

There are many possible causes of headache that determine the site and nature of the pain. About 3 in 4 of all headaches are caused by tension in the scalp muscles. Tension head-aches tend to recur frequently and cause moderate pain that affects both sides of the head. Other types of headache, including migraine and cluster headaches, have a variety of possible causes.

Very few headaches have a serious underlying cause, but those that do require urgent medical attention. For example, a severe headache may be a sign of meningtitis, a condition in which the membranes covering the brain an spinal cord become inflamed, or subarachnoid haemorrhage, in which there is bleeding between the membranes covering the brain. In an elderly person, a headache with tenderness of the scalp or temple may be due to temporal arteritis, an inflammation of the blood vessels in the head. Occasionally, headache results from prolonged use of strong painkillers.

If your headache is severe, lasts more than 24 hours, or is accompanied by other symptoms, such as problems with your vision or vomiting, should seek medical advice without delay.

What might be done?

You will be physically examined by your doctor. If it appears that an underlying disorder is causing your headache, you may have tests, such as CT scanning or MRI of your brain.

Treatment depends on the cause of the headache. A tension headache will usually clear up with rest and painkillers. Cluster headaches and migraine headaches can be treated with a specific drug. Such as a triptan drug or ergotamine