Migraine and Migraine Triggers

Migraine is a throbbing headache (one- or both-sided) with nausea and sensitivity to lights and sounds, lasting from 4 to 72 hours. Migraine is considered as an inherited sensitivity of the nervous system resulting in dilation (expanding) of the arteries on the brain surface when triggered by certain stimuli (1).

Migraine triggers are stimuli that may increase a risk of having a migraine attack in a sensitive person. A certain migraine trigger does not necessary provoke migraine in all migraine sufferers, and not even always in the same person.

continue reading Migraine Headache Triggers: Foods, Estrogen, Stress, Weather…

What Is a Throbbing Headache?

A throbbing headache is a head pain pulsating in a rhythm of the heart.

Causes of Throbbing Headache

SUDDEN, NEWLY APPEARING Throbbing Headache

continue reading Throbbing Headache and Pulsating Head Pain – Causes

What To Do in a Severe Headache?

If you have a newly appearing severe headache, visit your doctor as soon as possible. Severe headache, or a headache that worsens with time, can be a symptom of a life threatening disorder, like bleeding within the head or intoxication.

What Can Cause a Severe Headache?

SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED severe headache can be caused by:

continue reading Sudden Severe Headache – Causes

How to Find a Cause of Pain in the Back of the Head?

You can suspect a cause of pain in the back of your head from the pain duration and characteristics, other symptoms and circumstances.

A. NEWLY APPEARING headache in the back of the head
B. EPISODIC, SHORT-LASTING headache in the back of the head
C. CHRONIC, RECURRENT headache in the back of the head
D. CHRONIC, PERSISTENT headache in the back of the head

A. Newly Appearing Headache in the Back of the Head

Newly appearing pain in the back of the head, lasting from minutes to weeks, can result from: 

1. Injury of the NECK MUSCLES, like strained or torn muscle tendon (like in whiplash). Symptoms:

• Pain in the shoulder(s), upper back, neck or back of the head, aggravated by turning the head
• Tender spots in the neck
• Neck stiffness
• Neck swelling (sometimes)

2. Injuries of the cervical SPINE (C1-C3 level), like herniated disc or broken vertebra. Symptoms:

• Usually one-sided pain, tingling or numbness in the neck and back of the head, worse in certain body positions, like sitting or lying.  If the spinal nerves at C4 or lower level is affected, the same symptoms may appear in the shoulder or arm on the same side.
• Back of the head is usually not especially tender to touch

continue reading Headache and Pain in the Back of the Head – Causes, Symptoms