QuestionWhat can cause sharp pains in the head? They don't last real long but are scary. Could this be a tumor? I am having sinus problems and pms right now, could that cause it? I also have TMJ. Thanks.
AnswerHi Alice and thanks for writing,
What is Headache?
When a person has a headache, several areas of the head can hurt, including a network of nerves that extends over the scalp and certain nerves in the face, mouth, and throat. The muscles of the head and the blood vessels found along the surface and at the base of the brain are also sensitive to pain because they contain delicate nerve fibers. The bones of the skull and tissues of the brain itself never hurt because they lack pain-sensitive nerve fibers. The ends of these pain-sensitive nerves, called nociceptors, can be stimulated by stress, muscular tension, dilated blood vessels, and others triggers of headache. Vascular headaches (migraines are a kind of vascular headache) are thought to involve abnormal function of the brain's blood vessels or vascular system; muscle contraction headaches appear to involve the tightening or tensing of facial and neck muscles; and traction and inflammatory headaches are symptoms of other disorders, ranging from brain tumor to stroke to sinus infection. Some types of headache are signals of more serious disorders: sudden, severe headache; headache associated with convulsions; headache accompanied by confusion or loss of consciousness; headache following a blow on the head; headache associated with pain in the eye or ear; persistent headache in a person who was previously headache free; recurring headache in children; headache associated with fever; headache that interferes with normal life. Physicians will obtain a full medical history and may order a blood test to screen for thyroid disease, anemia, or infections or x-rays to rule out a brain tumor or blood clots. CTs, MRIs, and EEGs may be recommended. An eye exam is usually performed to check for weakness in the eye muscle or unequal pupil size. Some scientists believe that fatigue, glaring or flickering lights, the weather, and certain foods may trigger migraine headaches.
Is there any treatment?
Not all headaches require medical attention. Some result from missed meals or occasional muscle tension and are easily remedied. If the problem is not relieved by standard treatments, a headache sufferer may be referred to an internist, a neurologist, or a psychologist. Drug therapy, biofeedback training, stress reduction, and elimination of certain foods from the diet are the most common methods of preventing and controlling migraine and other vascular headaches. Regular exercise can also reduce the frequency and severity of migraine headaches. Temporary relief can sometimes be obtained by using cold pack or by pressing on the bulging artery found in front of the ear on the painful side of the head.
What is the prognosis?
About 90 percent of chronic headache patients can be helped.
How Headaches Differ
Tension-type headaches
Tension type headaches are the most common, affecting upwards of 75% of all headache sufferers.
As many as 90% of adults have had tension-type headache.
Tension-type headaches are typically a steady ache rather than a throbbing one and affect both sides of the head.
Some people get tension-type (and migraine) headaches in response to stressful events or a hectic day.
Tension-type headaches may also be chronic, occurring frequently or even every day.
Psychologic factors have been overemphasized as causes of headaches.
Migraine Headaches
Migraine headaches are less common than tension-type headaches. Nevertheless, migraines afflict 25 to 30 million people in the United States alone.
As many as 6% of all men and up to 18% of all women (about 12% of the population as a whole) experience a migraine headache at some time.
Roughly three out of four migraine sufferers are female.
Among the most distinguishing features is the potential disability accompanying the headache pain of a migraine.
Migraines are felt on one side of the head by about 60% of migraine sufferers, and the pain is typically throbbing in nature.
Nausea, with or without vomiting, as well as sensitivity to light and sound often accompany migraines.
An aura --a group of telltale neurologic symptoms--sometimes occurs before the head pain begins. Typically, an aura involves a disturbance in vision that may consist of brightly colored or blinking lights in a pattern that moves across the field of vision.
About one in five migraine sufferers experiences an aura.
Usually, migraine attacks are occasional, or sometimes as often as once or twice a week, but not daily.
Cluster Headaches
Cluster headaches are relatively rare, affecting about 1% of the population. They are distinct from migraine and tension-type headaches.
Most cluster headache sufferers are male-about 85%.
Cluster headaches come in groups or clusters lasting weeks or month.
The pain is extremely severe but the attack is brief, lasting no more than a hour or two
The pain centers around one eye, and this eye may be inflamed and watery. There may also be nasal congestion on the affected side of the face.
These "alarm clock" headaches may strike in the middle of the night, and often occur at about the same time each day during the course of a cluster.
A history of heavy smoking and drinking is common, and alcohol often triggers attacks.
Rebound Headache
Rebound headache may occur among people with tension-type headaches as well as in those with migraines.
It appears to be the result of taking prescription or nonprescription pain relievers daily or almost every day, contrary to directions on the package label.
If prescription or nonprescription pain relievers are overused, headache may "rebound" as the last dose wears off, leading one to take more and more pills. This is a good reason to call your doctor!
When to Call Your Doctor
Although very few headaches are signs of serious underlying medical conditions, call your doctor at once if any of the items below apply to you.
Call your doctor if:
You have three or more headaches per week
You must take a pain reliever every day or almost daily.
You need more than recommended doses of over-the-counter medications to relieve headache symptoms
You have a stiff neck and/or fever in addition to a headache
Your headache is accompanied by shortness of breath, fever, and/or unexpected symptoms that affect your eyes, ears, nose, or throat
You are dizzy, unsteady, or have slurred speech, weakness, or changes in sensation (numbness and/or tingling) in addition to your headache
You experience confusion or drowsiness with your headache
Your headaches begin and persist after head injury
Your headache is triggered by exertion, coughing, bending, or sexual activity
Your headache keeps getting worse and won't go away
Your headaches have changed in character
Persistent or severe vomiting accompanies headache
You have your "first and/or worse" headache
Your headaches began after you reached the age of 50
Keep in mind that even if you have had headaches for many years, it's still possible to develop a new and possibly more serious type of headache.
From: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/headache.html
I hope this helped, I wish you all the best,
Margot
