WHAT ARE HEADACHES?

From shooting sensations to dull aches, we explore the many causes of pain around the brain

-  AILSA HARVEY

The term headache covers a great variety of symptoms. Some are mild, caused by bright lights or muscle tension. Others can be debilitating and erupt in a sudden attack. Almost everyone will experience a headache in their lifetime, and although they can be brought on by more serious conditions, usually they’re not overly worrisome.

There are more than 150 types of headaches, each categorised as primary or secondary. Primary headaches are those that aren’t caused by another medical condition. Instead, they are the result of physiology in the head – such as muscles and nerves – being over-used or not working as they typically would. For example, physical activity can cause exertion headaches, hunger headaches are caused by stress hormones from a drop in blood sugar and tension headaches are a result of knots in muscles in your head and neck.

Secondary headaches are a symptom of another condition. Dehydration and sinus infections can lead to a less severe form of secondary headache. But some secondary headaches are more painful and can be an indication of bleeding in the brain, a traumatic head injury or a sudden rise in blood pressure.

It is useful to know what symptoms are unusual in order to seek medical advice. If you have a sudden, new or especially painful headache, you should get it checked out. Other headaches with the potential to be more damaging are those that occur after a head injury, those accompanied with a fever or shortness of breath and headaches that are new to a person over the age of 55.

NO-PAIN BRAIN

Nociceptors are the nerve endings that detect pain. There are none of these pain receptors in the brain, meaning that the organ itself doesn't feel pain. The brain can't directly sense damage to its own tissue.