Headache in the back of the head, pain in the back of the head: causes

A headache in the back of the head is a very unpleasant phenomenon, causing a lot of inconvenience and often limiting performance. The causes of pain in the occipital part of the head can be very different, from diseases of the cervical spine to neuralgic pathologies.

If you don’t know why the back of your head hurts, then this article is for you. It collects the main causes and describes methods of treating headaches in the back of the head. In any case, you must remember: if you have a headache in the back of your head, you should not self-medicate, you need to seek medical help. Of course, we are not talking about isolated cases of pain in the occipital region. As a rule, they are caused by prolonged exposure to an uncomfortable position, stress, extreme hunger, and also due to excessive consumption of foods with caffeine or chemical additives.

Causes of pain in the back of the head

A severe headache in the back of the head never occurs without a reason. It can be a signal of diseases:

spine;
vascular system;
neurological system.

Depending on the cause of the headache in the back of the head, it can be of a different nature and be accompanied by certain clinical manifestations, which must be clearly described to the doctor.

Pain in the back of the head due to osteochondrosis

If the neck and back of the head hurt, the reasons may be the presence of a disease such as osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. The disease manifests itself in the destruction of the discs of the cervical vertebrae, and pain appears constantly and is felt not only in the neck and back of the head, but also in the temples. They become more intense with head movements and may be accompanied by:

tinnitus;
nausea;
coordination disorders;
veil before the eyes and double vision.

More about osteochondrosis

Pain in the back of the head with hypertension

Hypertensive attacks are characterized by the appearance of bursting pain, which is accompanied by pulsation. They may appear when waking up after a night's sleep. In addition, it is observed:

general weakness;
dizziness;
cardiopalmus;
increased pain when trying to tilt your head;
reduction of pain after sudden vomiting.

Pain in the back of the head with increased intracranial pressure

Increased intracranial pressure is characterized by:

pressing, bursting pain in the occipital region or throughout the head;
increased pain in bright light and loud sounds;
heaviness in the head and pain in the eyeballs;
vomiting, which does not reduce pain syndromes.

Pain in the back of the head due to cervical myositis

Inflammatory processes in the neck muscles caused by hypothermia or injury are characterized by pain symptoms that spread from the neck to the occipital, shoulder and interscapular areas. It appears when you move your head and is asymmetrical.

More about myositis

Pain in the back of the head due to occipital neuralgia

Neuralgia of the occipital nerve, resulting from hypothermia or accompanying osteochondrosis, is characterized by very strong shooting pains. They occur periodically, like attacks with any attempt to change the position of the head.

During rest, a slight pressing pain is felt in the occipital region.

Pain in the back of the head due to vascular diseases

Spasms of the cranial arteries cause throbbing pain, which becomes stronger when trying to move the head and subsides somewhat at rest. The pain begins in the back of the head and eventually spreads to the frontal area. It is accompanied by a feeling of heaviness in the head and begins in the morning after waking up.

Diagnostic and treatment methods

The Clinical Brain Institute offers individualized screening programs to help determine the cause of your headaches. Procedures are prescribed only according to indications. Among them are electroencephalography, radiography of the cervical spine, MRI, Doppler sonography, laboratory blood tests and other techniques.

As a result of a complete examination, a diagnosis can be made and treatment can be prescribed. When selecting medications, doctors at our clinic take into account the patient’s general condition and the body’s response to taking medications. The process takes place under the supervision of specialized specialists, even if it takes place at home.

Diagnosis of pain in the back of the head

If you suffer from constant or regular pain in the occipital region of the head, contact the CELT clinic. Our specialists will conduct the necessary research and find out the reason why you are experiencing pain. In order to become our patient, you do not need Moscow registration.

In addition to obtaining a history of the nature, timing and intensity of pain, diagnosis may include:

examination by a doctor;
blood pressure measurement and monitoring;
ultrasonography;
electroencephalography;
magnetic resonance imaging;
examination of the fundus by an ophthalmologist.

If there is a suspicion of a brain tumor, a consultation with a neurosurgeon will be required.

The back of the head hurts when blood pressure fluctuates. Treatment

High blood pressure is indicated when values above 140/90 millimeters of mercury are recorded. WHO estimates that hypertension affects 10 to 30% of the population in different countries. Only a third of them went to see a doctor, and only a third of those who did take medications prescribed by the doctor. The rest suffer from headaches, take analgesics, but do not associate their condition with hypertension.

Arterial hypertension is divided into primary - essential and secondary, caused by the pathology of other organs and systems:

renal,
endocrine,
pulmogenic,
hemodynamic,
central.

In this case, antihypertensive drugs help.

Diseases associated with the symptom

The reason why the back of the head hurts may be pathology. Diseases characterized by symptoms:

neuralgia;
cardiopsychoneurosis;
hypertension;
cervical osteochondrosis;
migraine;
cervical spondylosis;
myositis - inflammation of the neck muscles;
myogelosis;
malocclusion;
lymphadenitis is inflammation of the lymph nodes near the neck.

They can be detected using diagnostic tests, some tests and examinations.

Why does my head hurt in the forehead area?

This phenomenon is quite common in all age groups of the population. Such pain can be acute or chronic, occur independently or in combination with other symptoms. Pain in the frontal lobe occurs even in a healthy person, so their one-time occurrence should not be a cause for concern.

If a person constantly has a headache in the frontal lobes, then there are a number of reasons for this:

Tension headaches can occur even in healthy people. We must remember that rest is an integral part of the life process. This pain may go away after taking analgesics.
Eye pain may also spread to the forehead area. The pain begins behind the eyes and spreads to the frontal lobe. Its manifestations are similar to tension headaches: they occur against the background of overwork or active mental work, last from several hours to several days, and are easily relieved with over-the-counter analgesics.
Sinusitis causes sharp pain in the frontal part of the head and nose. Accompanied by impaired nasal breathing, lacrimation and decreased sense of smell.
Arteritis is considered the rarest cause of headaches. The disease is associated with inflammation of the walls of large arteries. They become dense and visible above the surface of the skin. The main symptom of the disease is acute pain in the forehead.

Prevention

To maintain good health after treatment, the patient should take the following preventive measures.

Prevention helps avoid relapse

Exercise. Running, walking, swimming are just a couple of examples of sports disciplines that can help improve well-being and maintain proper function of the neck muscles.
Physical exercise. Exercising in the morning, warming up before, during or after work - all this is also extremely beneficial for the neck and head.
Maintaining correct posture. With correct posture, the work of the brain and neck muscles proceeds normally, and the person feels good.
Change your diet. Add fatty fish, vegetables, fruits and dairy products. Remove smoked, salty and spicy foods, as well as chocolate, nuts and coffee.
To refuse from bad habits. Smoking and alcohol have a destructive effect on the body. Getting rid of them significantly improves your health.

These measures, when carried out carefully, help maintain the good condition of the body.

What if your head hurts in your temples?

Temporal headache is the most common type of headache.

Experts attribute the following to the primary reasons:

neuralgia
cluster pain
overvoltage
migraine

Secondary causes include:

cerebral vascular damage
taking medications
head or neck injury
non-vascular intracranial lesions
HIV infection and AIDS
hemostasis disorder
pathology of the skull
psychological illnesses

What to do if you have a headache in your temples? – If this happens for the first time, then you need to take an analgesic. If the pain persists after taking painkillers, you should consult a specialist. If you experience intense and frequently recurring pain in your temples, it is better to consult a therapist or neurologist. If the pain is a consequence of an injury, then you should make an appointment with a surgeon or traumatologist.

Does paracetamol help with headaches?

Paracetamol is an affordable and time-tested medicine for various types of pain. The drug alleviates the physical condition and has almost no side effects. The medicine helps adults and children, but requires careful dosage when used.

Paracetamol mainly acts as a pain reliever. The phenacetin derivative inhibits the production in the body of compounds responsible for sensitivity to pain - prostaglandins. At the same time, it affects the thermoregulation centers, reducing high body temperature.

Paracetamol is good for relieving headaches in acute respiratory infections. In other cases, it is worth using another analgesic or seeking medical help. In some cases, paracetamol will only dull the pain, but not solve the problem completely.

Kinds

Neurologists distinguish the following types of headaches:

Migraine – caused by a disruption of the vascular system;
Tension headache - mainly occurs due to excessive tension in the neck, eye muscles, as well as the muscles of the shoulder girdle and scalp aponeurosis, as well as due to chronic stress, depression;
Chronic paroxysmal hemicrania, cluster headache - can be primary or secondary.
Headache not associated with damage to brain structures;
Ambus headache that occurs when taking medications uncontrolled.

There are also headaches after traumatic brain injury, with diseases of the vascular system, and those that occur with intracranial disorders of extravascular origin.
Tensor headaches often occur in women after stress or nervous shock. It goes away in the presence of positive emotions, after drinking soothing herbal teas.

Neurologists do not recommend taking headache pills on your own. Each drug is designed to relieve a specific type of pain and has a number of contraindications. The doctor takes all this into account when prescribing a medicine to a patient.

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Why does my head hurt after sleep?

A morning headache brings discomfort throughout the day. Night sleep is the time when, after a hard day, our body restores strength. But from time to time awakening is overshadowed by unpleasant sensations.

The reason for such an uncomfortable awakening may be:

Uncomfortable sleeping position.
Incorrectly chosen pillow or mattress. Ignoring this moment leads to morning pain throughout the body, including the head.
When the condition of blood vessels deteriorates, blood pressure is disturbed, which affects the quality of our sleep. Then feeling unwell becomes frequent.
Head injuries can also contribute to headaches in the morning. It can occur a week or a month after the injury.
Sinusitis makes breathing difficult, which causes a headache when waking up.
Cervical osteochondrosis is a displacement of the spine in the cervical region. With this disease, the supply of oxygen to the brain is disrupted.

Why does my head hurt and feel nauseous?

Among the causes of nausea and headaches are infectious and non-communicable diseases, pathologies of the nervous and cardiovascular systems. The disease manifests itself due to intoxication and insufficient blood supply to the brain. Typically these symptoms indicate severe fatigue and impairment. This type of headache can also occur during pregnancy.

Causes:

Overwork and lack of sleep. The body does not have time to recover and rest due to lack of sleep, which leads to negative health.
Viral diseases that affect body systems and organs. Additional symptoms in such cases will be fever, muscle and joint aches.
Viral diseases can cause headaches and nausea. For example, flu or sore throat, as well as seasonal infection, can trigger the disease. In this case, experts recommend bed rest and drinking plenty of fluids.
Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by a tick bite.
Pregnancy.