A headache or cephalalgia

A headache or cephalalgia refers to pain anywhere in the region of the head or neck. Nine areas of the head and neck have these pain-sensitive structures, which are the cranium (the periosteum of the skull), muscles, nerves, arteries and veins, subcutaneous tissues, eyes, ears, sinuses and mucous membranes.

Signs and Symptoms

The most common signs of headache include:

  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Uneasiness
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Lethargy

Causes

There are more than 200 types of headaches, and the causes range from normal to life-threatening. Primary headaches are tension-type headache and migraine. On the other hand, rare primary headache disorders are trigeminal neuralgia (a shooting face pain), cluster headache (severe pains that occur together in bouts), and hemicrania continua (a continuous headache on one side of the head).

Treatment

If you face headaches on a regular basis, it is advised to maintain a diary containing when your headache starts, and other related things. There could be several treatment options available for treating different types of headaches. For example, head massage may help you relieve headache symptoms. Bringing some lifestyle changes, doing plenty of exercise, stretching the neck and back muscles may help you feel better.

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