Headache indicates any pain localized to the head, of varying intensity and nature. The less popular term to indicate the headache is "cefalgia" (from the greek kefalè meaning head).
The headache is a medical condition that may be one of the symptoms of brain disease or other (fever, stress, ear infections, sinusitis, brain tumors, meningitis, neuralgia), as happens in so-called "secondary headaches" or "symptomatic headaches", but can also be a symptom and disease at the same time, as happens in so-called "primary headaches" or "headaches essential" (which should be considered as real diseases).
The head pain may be more or less intense, continuous or intermittent, occur chronically or episodically and may be accompanied by hypersensitivity to light and sound, nausea, vomiting, watery eyes, more or less widespread. It can affect the entire head or be confined to a specific area of the head.
What kind of diseases can be associated with headaches?
The following diseases may be associated with headaches:
- Acetonemia
- Metabolic acidosis
- Acromegaly
- AIDS
- Respiratory allergies
- Amblyopia
- Anaphylaxis
- Vascular abnormalities
- Sleep apnea
- Cervical osteoarthritis
- Astigmatism
- Atherosclerosis
- Bruxism
- Headache
- Keratoconus
- Colitis
- Dengue
- Ebola
- Migraine
- Fire of saint Anthony
- Gastroenteritis
- Glaucoma
- Ophthalmic herpes zoster
- Stroke
- Indigestion
- Influence
- Kidney failure
- Food intolerance
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Farsightedness
- Hypertension
- Leukemia
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Malaria
- Cat-scratch disease
- Chagas disease
- Wilson disease
- Meningitis
- Myopia
- Molluscum
- Mononucleosis
- Paget's disease
- Otitis
- Mumps
- Pityriasis rosea
- Polycythemia vera
- Poliomyelitis
- Nasal polyps
- Pneumonia
- Pre-eclampsia
- Presbyopia
- Anger
- Cold
- Retinoblastoma
- Rhinitis
- Rubella
- Scarlet fever
- Sialadenitis
- Sepsis
- Syphilis
- Sinusitis
- Strabismus
- Tetanus
- Typhus
- Toxoplasmosis
- Trauma
- African trypanosomiasis
- Brain Tumors
- Smallpox
- Chickenpox
- Varicose veins
Remember that this is not an exhaustive list and it is highly recommended to consult your doctor, in case of symptom’s persistence.
What is the therapy for headache?
When the headache is a symptom of presence of other diseases (such as ear infections, neuralgia, sinusitis, brain tumors, etc.) you should necessary flush out the pathology that underlies it and work on the condition (speaking in this case of secondary headaches or symptomatic). When, however, the headache is itself a disease (in primary headaches or essential) remedies capable of alleviating the condition will depend on several factors – the type and frequency of headaches, symptoms experienced, co-existing diseases, factors triggers. In any case it is always good to ask for a doctor's consultation. In several cases, the rest can promote recovery.
When is most likely to contact your doctor in case of headache?
In case of severe trauma or if you are in the presence (or risk) of previously diagnosed disease (see list of associated diseases).
