In recent years, cephalalgia has become a common pathology, which affects not only patients of the older age group, but even children and adolescents. Vascular headache is diagnosed in a third of the population and has various provoking factors. At its first manifestations, it is recommended to undergo a thorough examination, since such a condition may indicate the development of serious diseases in the body, which, if treatment is refused, can be fatal. The therapy will be complex and in order to obtain a positive result, it is worth adhering to the recommendations of a specialist and taking preventive measures.
Clinical picture
In diseases of the vascular type, patients not only complain of pain in the head, but also other symptoms that accompany this disease. Cephalgia can be of different intensity and localized in different parts of the head, which helps in making a diagnosis. Very often, vascular headache is accompanied by pulsation, which causes considerable discomfort to the patient and worsens his quality of life.
If the cephalalgia is intense, the patient may complain of nausea, general weakness, malaise and problems with appetite. Also, in parallel, other symptoms appear, indicating the development of serious diseases in the body. In this case, an urgent examination and high-quality treatment is required.
Pain can occur at any time of the day and last for a long time. If the provoking factor is not exactly established, then taking various medications for cephalalgia will not give a positive result. Uncontrolled medication can only worsen the condition and harm the functionality of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidneys and pancreas.
Possible causes
It is possible to determine the provoking factor of a vascular headache only after a medical examination, so you should not engage in self-diagnosis in order to exclude negative consequences. In most cases, cephalalgia occurs with viral infections, flu or respiratory colds. In this case, it is not difficult to eliminate the disease.
Also, other reasons can be sources:
- constant reaction of the body to changes in the weather;
- disrupted regime of rest and work;
- insomnia;
- constant stress situations;
- malnutrition, disturbed eating habits;
- long stay in an environment with high air temperature and humidity;
- hypothermia;
- excessive physicalload;
- tobacco smoking or alcoholism.
Provocateurs of vascular headaches include such equally important deviations as oxygen starvation of the brain, its cells, diseases of the cervical region. In this case, cephalgia is a symptom of the underlying ailment that occurs in the body. By eliminating the cause of the ailment, you can get rid of the general problem.
Below are more serious diseases that can provoke an intense headache of a vascular type.
Cephalgia with hypertension
Hypertension is a disorder in the circulatory system, which is accompanied by headache and refers to secondary hypertension. In this condition, the patient has high blood pressure, leading to significant changes in the vessels. Inhibition of their functionality is noted, due to which disturbances associated with blood circulation occur in the cranial region.
The intensity of headache in vascular diseases depends on the tone of the arteries. With hypertension, a local narrowing of the lumen between them is diagnosed, which leads to tortuosity of the bloodstream. This is due to the thickening of the vascular walls. This condition is characterized by a persistent increase in blood pressure. As a result, the patient constantly suffers from vascular dystonia and headache. It is possible to eliminate the disease only if the underlying disease is cured and preventive measures are taken that can generally improve the patient's condition andfunctionality of internal systems.
Hypotonia and cephalgia
Another provoking factor for headaches is hypotension. This disease is characterized by low blood pressure. In this case, the patient complains of a dull, constricting and pulsating type of cephalalgia. If an advanced stage of hypotension is diagnosed, then there is a violation in the permeability of the walls of the arteries, as a result, perivascular edema develops and pain becomes acute vibrating in nature.
Cephalgia in such a situation occurs as a result of injuries to the cranium, brain, and also due to impaired functionality of the thyroid gland and adrenal glands. Vascular headache is also diagnosed with cervical osteochondrosis. Pathology occurs due to changes in the tissues of the vertebral region, the cause of which are degenerative-dystrophic processes.
Pain in the head with VVD, venous insufficiency and increased blood viscosity
Very often, cephalalgia is diagnosed with a disease such as vegetative-vascular dystonia (VVD). This deviation in the last ten years is observed in every third patient of the older age group in varying degrees (mild, moderate, severe). With this pathology, there is a significant decrease in blood pressure when the patient is completely at rest. Headache in vascular dystonia is aching in nature, diagnosed at any time of the day and occurs suddenly, it is almost impossible to eliminate it.
VSDcan be inherited or be an acquired deviation, depending on the environmental situation and diet. In most cases, dystonia affects people with increased mental or physical stress. Therefore, you need to properly plan the mode of work and rest.
Headaches with vegetative-vascular deviation can also be diagnosed in patients who are in a supine position for a long time, since in such a situation there is a violation of the venous outflow. In this case, the patient will complain of dull, bursting type of pain. This type of disease also develops in those who sit at the computer for a long time. In this case, cephalalgia begins to torment already in the morning.
Do not forget about such a pathology as increased blood viscosity (hyperviscosity syndrome). In this situation, the patient in the body constantly forms blood clots that can clog blood vessels, while provoking tissue death and the development of ischemic stroke. Cephalgia of the aching type occurs suddenly, it is almost impossible to get rid of it.
Headaches are most often observed in vegetative-vascular dystonia, which can cause discomfort to the patient for a long period and be permanent. This disorder is irreversible and cannot be completely cured. Specialists can only help the patient improve his condition with a variety of drugs and achieve a long-term remission.
Cephalgia in atherosclerosis and disculatoryencephalopathy
A atherosclerosis is a frequent culprit of vascular pain. This disease is quite serious and can be diagnosed in different age groups, even in adolescents. With this pathology, there is a deposition of cholesterol plaques on the walls of blood vessels. As a result, the brain does not receive adequate nutrition, blood flow becomes less intense, and oxygen starvation occurs. The patient begins to complain of severe constant pain, heaviness in the head. Unpleasant sensations become more pronounced in the evening, as there is fatigue for the whole day. Cephalgia is able to stay all night, which causes significant discomfort to the patient.
Discultory encephalopathy refers to a pathological condition and is diagnosed with severe brain damage. It is possible to determine the violation only after a thorough examination. In this case, the patient complains not only of intense pain in the head area, but also of heaviness, which is quite difficult to eliminate.
Vascular cephalgia in adolescents
Various causes can provoke vascular headaches in children. These include secondary manifestations of certain pathologies, for example, influenza, intoxication, diseases of the cardiovascular system, and the gastrointestinal tract. Due to the accumulation of various toxins in the child's body, there is a negative effect on the nerve endings, which act as provocateurs of vascular-type cephalalgia. It is also worth considering the fact that whenparasitic infestations headache is the main symptom. Therefore, a thorough full examination with the delivery of all tests is required.
Provoking factors include disorders of the nervous system. Very often, pain in the region of the skull occurs in children as a result of a strong emotional shock or physical exertion. And also after stressful situations and vigorous mental activity, especially in the evening. Therefore, before treating vascular headache, the symptoms must be correctly identified.
Specialists often associate this disorder with the fact that a child under 12 years of age has not yet fully formed the cardiovascular system, which causes spasms. In adolescence, cephalgia is associated with hormonal changes. There may be vegetovascular dystonia associated with weather changes, high or low blood pressure. The child often complains of feeling unwell in the spring-autumn period. With a vascular headache, it is advisable to constantly ventilate the room, exclude noise and long trips.
Symptomatic may be accompanied by fainting, loss of appetite, increased irritability. Experts recommend twice a year to be examined by a neurologist, to carry out preventive measures. It is possible to make a diagnosis, that is, to determine the provoking factor of cephalgia, only in stationary conditions. Attention is paid to blood pressure, ultrasound of the vessels of the brain and cervical region. Consultation with an ophthalmologist recommended.
To rule out vascular-type cephalalgia, one must not only adhere to treatment, but also eliminate external stimuli. The child must be less in front of the TV or computer, play games, rest and study regimen must be observed. In stressful situations, you need to help him get out of them in order to avoid psychological trauma. If possible, consult a specialist.
Pain can be eliminated with the help of non-traditional methods. These include aromatherapy, a variety of physical therapy methods, warm baths, outdoor walks in parks. It must be remembered that a child should not get carried away with drugs from childhood, as this leads to serious violations of the work of internal systems.
If a baby at the age of four complains of cephalalgia, then this is an occasion to urgently visit the hospital and conduct an emergency examination to exclude neoplasms in the brain and developmental anomalies, inflammatory processes. There will definitely be malaise, weakness and problems with appetite, even nausea and vomiting.
Main symptoms
Usually, headaches with vegetative-vascular dystonia or other deviations are accompanied by appropriate signs that help in making a diagnosis. At the first manifestations of the disease, it is recommended to immediately seek qualified help in order to exclude undesirable negative consequences. Also, do not engage in self-therapy.
It should be noted that in most cases cephalgialocalized in the temporal region. In parallel, vascular headache has symptoms that are expressed as follows:
- noise and congestion in the ears;
- impaired vision, darkening and dots in the eyes;
- very dizzy;
- there are bouts of vomiting, nausea.
Most often, pain in the head is the first sign of a developing disease in the patient's body.
Diagnosis
With frequent attacks of cephalalgia, the patient undergoes a significant number of examinations. It is recommended to make an appointment with a general practitioner, ophthalmologist, neurologist, neurosurgeon, infectious disease specialist. Be sure to take into account the situation, the individual characteristics of the body.
The main diagnostic methods include:
- detailed blood and urine test;
- dopplerography - a study that helps to study the state of blood vessels;
- EEG technique - diagnostics that allows you to assess the functionality of the brain. It is prescribed at any age, it is quite effective and safe;
- computed tomography;
- thyroid test;
- examination of the cervical spine to detect osteochondrosis.
The patient is prescribed a lipid profile if necessary.
Treatment and preventive measures
Only a doctor can prescribe therapy based on the results of the examination. Treatment for each patient individually. The following factors may influence the choice of method, such as:
- type of pain;
- the severity of the manifestation of the provokingfactor;
- age of patient;
- comorbidities.
Treatment of vascular headache is based on taking analgesics and drugs that contain antispasmodics and caffeine. Do not abuse these drugs, as they have a significant number of side effects and contraindications. May be addictive, gastrointestinal, liver and kidney problems.
Drug therapy includes taking sedatives and complexes that contain B vitamins, diuretics, antioxidants, venotonics and neuroprotectors.
Often, patients are prescribed not only vascular drugs for headaches, but also physiotherapy. It includes procedures such as:
- electrophoresis - a method of introducing drugs into the body of patients using direct electric current;
- darsonvalization - the impact on tissues and mucous surfaces by means of high frequency current pulses. With this procedure, attention is paid to the cervical-collar region;
- acupuncture and massage;
- water treatments, swimming.
If the patient suffers from a headache of a vascular nature, treatment should also be based on frequent stays in a sanatorium or resort. When diagnosing a brain tumor, surgery is considered an effective method.
Prevention measures should be mandatory and based on the followingrules such as:
- proper and balanced nutrition;
- avoid caffeine products;
- avoiding stressful situations;
- giving up bad habits (smoking, drinking alcohol);
- drink at least two liters of purified liquid every day;
- constantly walk;
- do moderate physical activity;
- observe the regime of rest and work;
- eliminate mental fatigue.
If you stick to all of the above, then a vascular headache (according to the ICD - G 44. 1) will never disturb.
