Headache

What is it?

By headache, we mean a common headache, which in most cases affects the top or back of the head, or the top of the neck.
It is a very common disorder among patients, characterized by the alteration of physiological processes affecting areas sensitive to pain, located in the head or neck.
Among these sensitive areaswe find:

• Periosteum of the skull;
• Muscles;
• Nerves;
• Arteries;
• Veins;
• Paranasal sinuses.

Classification

The World Health Organization classifies headaches into primary, secondary and cranial neuralgia.

• Primary headaches depend on an incorrect lifestyle, poor diet or hormonal dysfunctions, among the primary headaches we find migraine, characterized by continuous and throbbing pain.
• Secondary headaches are associated with pathological conditions resulting from sinusitis, otitis, pharyngitis, head trauma, strabismus, myopia, hypertension and hypothyroidism.
• Cranial neuralgia develops due to inflammation of the cranial or cervical nerves. Very common is trigeminal neuralgia, or inflammation of the nerve end, which innervates the skull and the buccal cavity.

Symptoms

Symptoms associated with headaches are as follows:

• Pressure around the head;
• Continuous pulsations in the temples or lower region of the head;
• Nausea;
• Lack of appetite;
• Tiredness;
• Chronic fatigue;
• Difficulty thinking or concentrating;
• Bad mood;
• Irritability.

Causes

The underlying causes of migraines are different:

• Stress is one of the main causes of migraines, it can arise from various factors such as nervousness, work or family problems.
• Sensitivity to environmental pollutants of both physical and chemical nature.
• Too restrictive diets, free of simple or complex sugars.
• Food intolerance;
• Food allergy;
• Excessive consumption of simple sugars, dairy products or saturated fats in the diet;
• Inheritance;
• Dental problems;
• Premenstrual or menstrual phase in women, due to hormonal alterations;
• Menopause in women due to estrogen based treatments;

Diagnosis

The first diagnostic approach for migraines is a visit to their trusted doctor. The patient will report to the doctor the symptoms, pain frequency, intensity, location and description of additional associated symptoms.
However, in addition to the medical history carried out by your doctor, it would be advisable to associate additional tests such as:

• Blood glucose control;
• Pressure control;
• Electroencephalogram;
• CT scan;
• Brain MRI.

Natural remedies

There are also natural remedies that over time allow us to reduce the frequency of headaches:

• Very often the headache is due to a chronic state of dehydration, so it is essential for patients who suffer from it to respect the consumption of 2 liters of water per day.
• Chamomile has soothing and anti-inflammatory properties;
• Melatonin helps facilitate night rest;
• Lavender with soothing and anti-inflammatory actions;
• An infusion based on honey and apple cider vinegar has soothing and anti-inflammatory actions for headaches.

Diet

A correct can definitely give benefits for headaches. The main recommendations are:

• Remove slowing digesting foods, such as citrus fruits, onions, sauerkraut, pickled olives, leavened bread and pizza, bananas and fried foods.
• Reduce decaffeinated tea and coffee, as theine and caffeine have an energizing and exciting action;
• Avoid the consumption of cured meats or preserved meats, rich in nitrates;
• Avoid the consumption of cheeses and dairy products as they are rich in tyramine, a molecule with a hypertensive action and responsible for migraines and headaches.
• Even the way food is cooked can affect the development of headaches, as long cooking times and high temperatures can release toxic compounds. Therefore, avoid cooking such as frying, electric oven cooking and grilling. Favor steaming or microwaving.