头痛是头部或面部的疼痛或不适. Headaches vary greatly in terms of the location and intensity of the pain, 以及头痛发生的频率. The brain tissue doesn’t have pain-sensitive nerve fibers and doesn’t feel pain. But, other parts of the head can be responsible for a headache including:

• 头皮:延伸到头皮的神经网络

• 面部、口腔和喉咙的某些神经

• 头部、颈部和肩部的肌肉

• Blood vessels found along the surface and at the base of the brain

不同类型的头痛包括:

Migraine

In this type of headache, symptoms other than pain occur as part of the headache. 恶心和呕吐, 头晕, 对光的敏感性(畏光), and other visual symptoms typically occur with migraines. 偏头痛也有不同的阶段. 然而，并非所有人都有这两个阶段. 偏头痛的阶段可能包括:

• 先兆或前驱期. A change in mood or behavior may occur hours or days before the headache.

• 气场相. A group of visual, sensory, or motor symptoms can precede the headache. Examples include vision changes, hallucinations, numbness, changes in speech, and muscle weakness.

• 头痛期. Period during the actual headache with throbbing pain on one or both sides of the head. Sensitivity to light and motion are common, as are depression, fatigue, and anxiety.

• 决议阶段. 在这个阶段疼痛减轻, 但可能会被疲劳所取代, 易怒, 难以集中注意力. Some people feel refreshed after an attack, others do not.

紧张性头痛

紧张性头痛是最常见的头痛类型. Stress and tight muscles are often factors in tension-type headaches. 以下是紧张性头痛的常见症状:

• 头痛发作缓慢

• 头通常两侧都疼

• Pain is dull or feels like a band or vice around the head

• 疼痛可累及头部或颈部的后部

• 疼痛轻微到中度，但不严重

• 紧张性头痛通常不会引起恶心, vomiting, 或对光敏感(畏光).

集束性头痛

These are the most common symptoms of a cluster headache:

集束性头痛 usually occur in a series that may last weeks or months.

These are the most common symptoms of a cluster headache:

• Severe pain on one side of the head, usually behind one eye

• The eye that is affected may be red and watery with a droopy lid and small pupil

• 眼睑肿胀

• 流鼻涕或鼻塞

• 前额肿胀

什么引起头痛??

头痛分为原发性和继发性.

• 原发性头痛 说明头痛本身是主要的医学问题, 尽管还有其他因素, 比如肌肉紧张或接触某些食物, 可以识别. Other contributing factors include medicines, dehydration, or hormone changes.

• 继发性头痛 是否与潜在的医疗状况有关. An example of this would be a headache due to neck injury, 眼睛的问题, jaw, 牙齿或鼻窦感染.

头痛的症状是什么?

头痛的症状取决于头痛的类型. The frequency of headaches and the intensity of the symptoms may vary, too. 典型的头痛症状包括:

• 头痛发作缓慢

• 头通常两侧都疼

• Pain is dull or feels like a band or vice around the head

• 疼痛可累及头部或颈部的后部

• 疼痛轻微到中度，但不严重

紧张性头痛通常不会引起恶心, vomiting, 或对光敏感(畏光).

The symptoms of a headache may look like other conditions or medical problems. 经常去看你的医疗保健提供者进行诊断.

如何诊断头痛?

Your doctor will want to do a comprehensive medical evaluation and 诊断测试. He or she will also ask about your medical history, and do physical exam and certain tests.

考试中常见的问题可能包括:

• 头痛什么时候发生??

• 头痛的部位在哪里?

• 头痛是什么感觉?

• 头痛持续多久?

• 在行为或性格上有什么变化吗?

• 改变姿势或坐起来会引起头痛吗?

• 你有睡眠问题吗?

• 你有压力史吗?

• 是否有头部外伤史?

If your doctor suspects migraine or tension-type headaches and the neurological exam is normal, 可能不需要进一步的测试. However, if it is not a primary type headache, then other tests may be done to find the cause.

Tests used to find the cause of a headache may include:

• 血液测试. Various blood chemistry and other lab tests may be run to check for underlying conditions.

• 鼻窦x射线. An imaging procedure done to evaluate for congestion or other problems that may be corrected.

• 磁共振成像(MRI). 一种使用大型磁铁组合的测试, 射频, and a computer to produce detailed images of organs and structures within the body.

• 计算机断层扫描(也称为CT或CAT扫描). An imaging test that uses X-rays and computer technology to produce horizontal, or axial, 身体的图像(通常称为切片). CT扫描显示身体任何部位的详细图像, 包括骨头, muscles, fat, 和器官. CT扫描比普通的x光扫描更详细.

如何治疗头痛??

Your healthcare provider will figure out the best treatment based on:

• 你多大了?

• 你的整体健康和病史

• 你病得有多严重?

• How well you can handle specific medicines, procedures, or therapies

• 这种情况预计会持续多久

• 你的意见或偏好

The goal of treatment is to stop headaches from occurring. Effective headache management depends on finding what type of headache you have and may include:

• Avoiding known triggers, such as certain foods and beverages, lack of sleep, and fasting

• 改变饮食习惯

• Exercise

• 在安静、黑暗的环境中休息

• 根据您的医疗保健提供者的建议服用药物

• 压力管理

Migraine and cluster headaches may need specific medicine management including:

• 药物流产. Medicines prescribed by your healthcare provider act on specific receptors in nerves and blood vessels in the head to stop a headache in progress.

• 救援药品. Medicines bought over-the-counter, such as pain relievers, to stop the headache.

• 预防药物. Medicines prescribed by your healthcare provider taken daily to reduce the onset of headaches.

Some headaches may need immediate medical attention including hospitalization for observation, 诊断测试, 甚至是手术. Treatment is individualized depending on the underlying condition causing the headache. Full recovery depends on the type of headache and other medical problems that may be present.

头痛可以预防吗??

When headache triggers are known, avoiding the triggers can prevent a headache. Reducing stress can minimize or prevent headaches caused by stress. Migraine and cluster headaches may be prevented by taking a daily preventive medicines.

我应该什么时候给我的医疗保健提供者打电话?

Most headaches can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers. However, call your healthcare provider right away if a severe headache is accompanied by:

• 脖子僵硬

• Fever

• Nausea

• 呕吐

• 痉挛

• 呼吸急促（气促）

• 混乱

• 肌肉无力

• 复视

• 意识水平的改变.

Symptoms that may suggest a more serious headache include:

• 最严重的头痛，或者是新型头痛

• 儿童复发性头痛

• 早晨开始头痛

• 头部受伤后引起的头痛

• Pain that is worsened by strain, such as a cough or a sneeze

• 呕吐无恶心

• 突然发作的疼痛

• 头痛变得更严重或持续

• 人格改变

• Seizures

头痛要点

• 头痛是头部或面部的疼痛或不适 area.

• Types of headaches include migraine, tension, and cluster.

• 头痛可以是原发性的，也可以是继发性的. 如果是次要的，则是由另一种情况引起的.

• 避免引发头痛是最好的预防措施.

• Mild to moderate headaches can be managed with over-the-counter medicines, but tell your healthcare provider if your headache is severe and you have other symptoms.