Overview

A headache refers to pain in the head or face. Headaches can vary in terms of pain type, severity, location, and frequency of occurrence. Headaches can be classified as either primary or secondary in origin.

Primary headaches are caused by Dysfunction or overactivity of pain-sensitive structures in the head; sometimes, there may be a genetic component.

Secondary headaches can sometimes be a symptom or sign of certain medical issues.

Causes

Causes for primary headaches include:

• Tension headaches

• Migraine headaches

• Cluster headaches

• Secondary headaches

• Dehydration headache.

• Sinus headaches.

• Medication overuse headaches.

• Chronic Migraine

• Sleep Disorders: Insomnia, sleep apnea, or poor sleep quality 

• Caffeine Dependence or Withdrawal

Other causes                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

• Physical strain 

• Skipping meals

• Consuming unhealthy foods and drinks

Symptoms

• Dull, aching pain in the head or neck region

• Feeling of pressure or tightness across the forehead or sides of the head

• Pain which is felt behind the eyes or at the base of the skull, a feeling of heaviness

• Sensitivity to light or sound

• Difficulty concentrating or feeling irritated. Sometimes, it's associated with nausea, vomiting, fatigue, abdominal discomfort, and nasal congestion.

Ayurvedic view

Vata kapha shirashoola - Here vata dosha is pradhana, due to following nidana(causes like alpa bhojana(less nutritive, less quantity of food),ati shrama(over exersion),ratri jagarana(night awakening), diva swapana(day sleep),ati sheetha vayu sparsha(col climate, chill wind),sheetala ahara(cold substances), etc. leads to vata,kapha dosha prakopa, which takes sthana(settles in),shiras(head), causing teevra shira shoola(severe headache), this results in different kinds of headache. The Ayurvedic approach is to correct agni (metabolism), bring the doshas back to balance, and reduce symptoms through Ayurvedic panchakarma treatment and local treatments in the head.