Headache and nausea: causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Causes of headache and nausea

Among the causes of nausea and headaches are infectious and non-communicable diseases, pathologies of the nervous and cardiovascular systems. Soreness manifests itself when there is insufficient blood flow to the brain, intoxication and other disorders. Constant headache, nausea, dizziness are alarming symptoms that indicate not ordinary fatigue, but dangerous disorders. In this case, you should definitely contact for diagnosis and determine the cause of poor health.

Migraine and nausea

Migraine is an acute headache, often one-sided. It can occur in men and women of any age and is chronic. Among its causes are changes in climatic conditions, stress and fatigue, and attacks can also occur for no apparent reason. Migraine occurs in several stages, each of which is characterized by certain symptoms.

The prodromal period can last from several hours to several days. During this time, there are no headaches or nausea, but other symptoms occur. The patient feels irritability, fatigue, and frequent mood swings. Deterioration of the digestive system and lack of appetite may also occur.
Migraine aura is a period of time (from 5 minutes to an hour) that immediately precedes a headache attack. It is observed in 80% of cases, so the patient can know in advance when an attack will begin. Nausea begins without headache, dizziness, decreased hearing and vision. In some cases, the aura can be severe, including speech disturbances and hallucinations.
A headache attack can last from several hours to several days. The patient has a headache to the point of nausea, and performance decreases. The pain is one-sided, may weaken, but then progress again. Its characteristic localization is the temple area, forehead and orbit.
Postdromal period - continues for several days after the attack. The patient experiences difficulty concentrating, depression and weakness, and constant drowsiness. After 1–2 days he can return to his usual lifestyle.

Treatment of migraine involves taking specific medications prescribed by a doctor - conventional painkillers are ineffective during an attack. Frequent occurrence of acute pain in the head and nausea is dangerous to health. Migraine is accompanied by a deterioration in blood supply to the brain, so over time it can provoke the development of a heart attack or stroke.

Increased pressure

Headache and nausea with high blood pressure are characteristic symptoms. Normal blood pressure readings are 120/80, but in some cases they can increase. This means that the degree of blood filling of the vessels exceeds their compensatory ability. Chronic hypertension occurs with weakness and decreased elasticity of the arteries, vascular spasm, atherosclerosis, and can also be a consequence of endocrine diseases, including diabetes. The risk of its manifestation increases in old age, in the presence of excess weight, due to poor nutrition and bad habits.

An attack of arterial hypertension is manifested by a complex of characteristic symptoms:

severe headache and nausea;
disruption of the digestive system;
redness of the skin and visible mucous membranes;
tinnitus, decreased visual acuity;
heart rhythm disturbance.

An equally dangerous condition is increased intracranial pressure. It is impossible to measure it at home, so it is determined by clinical signs. This indicator includes several components: blood pressure, fluid of the cerebral ventricles and the brain itself. As it increases, the patient has a very headache and nausea, hearing and vision impairment occurs. An increase in both arterial and intracranial pressure poses a great danger. Excessive blood supply to the vessels of the brain can lead to their rupture and the development of hemorrhagic stroke. To correct the condition, it is recommended to take a course of antihypertensive drugs and dosage physical activity.

Low blood pressure

Hypotension is a decrease in blood pressure. In some patients, low levels are considered normal, especially with low body weight. However, if the pressure is reduced by attacks during which the patient begins to have a headache and nausea, the condition is dangerous. Secondary hypotension is a characteristic symptom of various chronic diseases of the endocrine, cardiovascular and other systems. Its reasons include:

phlebeurysm;
hypothyroidism - decreased functioning of the thyroid gland;
insufficiency of the anterior pituitary gland;
deficiency of fluid, salts and microelements from food;
heart pathologies;
taking certain medications that promote fluid removal or cause vasodilation.

During an attack of hypotension, headaches and nausea occur. It can last from several hours to several days, while blood pressure readings are constantly changing. The patient experiences pallor of the skin and mucous membranes, weakness and dizziness. A typical symptom is an increased heart rate, as a compensatory response to insufficient supply of oxygen and nutrients to organs and tissues.

Viral diseases

Respiratory viral infections, influenza and sore throat are common seasonal diseases that affect the respiratory tract. They are manifested by a sore throat, cough and runny nose, increased body temperature and general weakness. However, the first sign may be a headache that causes nausea. It manifests itself when the immune system is activated in response to the introduction and spread of a viral infection. Treatment is aimed at increasing the level of immune defense, as well as preventing further transmission of the virus. Bed rest, drinking plenty of fluids, monitoring body temperature, and taking symptomatic medications against sore throat and runny nose are recommended.

Lyme disease

Borreliosis (Lyme disease) is an infectious disease that can be contracted through a tick bite. With his saliva, the bacterium penetrates the bloodstream and begins to multiply in the human body. After this, an incubation period begins, during which there are no clinical signs. The disease then develops in several stages - it is important to pay attention as early as possible and undergo treatment with antibiotics.

A characteristic symptom of the first stage is erythema migrans. It is a ring-shaped or solid rounded redness at the site of the tick bite. This sign is sufficient to make a diagnosis and prescribe a course of antibiotic therapy.
The second stage develops several months after the tick bite. It includes disruptions in the functioning of various organs and systems associated with the spread of bacterial infection. Migrating erythema appears on the skin and quickly increases in size. Pain in the joints, back and limbs is also possible. Myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, develops less frequently. When the nervous system is damaged, aseptic meningitis develops, which at an early stage manifests itself as an acute headache.
The third stage poses a danger to the patient's life. It develops 6–12 months after a tick bite, in the absence of timely treatment. Its typical manifestation is disseminated encephalomeningitis, inflammation of the brain and its membranes. MRI reveals areas of sclerosis with a typical clinical picture. The patient has a headache, nausea, and pressure in the temple area. Impaired memory and attention are possible, and the risk of stroke increases.

The most effective diagnostic method is a blood test to determine antibodies to the pathogen. However, they appear no earlier than 3 weeks after the tick bite, most often within 4–6 weeks. For this reason, erythema migrans is a reason to start antibiotic therapy, regardless of the results of the blood test. Some patients deny the fact of a tick bite, but taking antibiotics is recommended in any case.

Neoplasms

Brain tumors are one of the most dangerous causes of headaches and nausea for a long time. They can be benign or malignant, primary or represent metastases of other neoplasms. Tumors are formed from cells directly in the brain tissue, meninges, and cranial nerves. Pituitary tumors are isolated separately.

In the early stages, the patient constantly has a headache and nausea. Further additional clinical signs are determined:

acute headache that does not go away after taking painkillers;
nausea during a headache - it is not associated with food intake, physical activity and other factors;
dizziness, fainting;
convulsions, which most often occur in the upper extremities;
deterioration of attention, the appearance of memory lapses;
impaired coordination of movements;
hearing, vision and speech disorders up to the loss of these functions.

Treatment tactics are selected individually. This takes into account the type of tumor and its location, tendency to rapid growth and malignancy. Neoplasms are removed surgically and, if necessary, radiation therapy is performed. It is important to start treatment in the early stages and not wait for the tumor to increase in size.

Meningitis

Meningitis is a dangerous disease in which inflammation of the membranes of the brain develops. It can be serous, purulent, viral or bacterial in origin. Characteristic symptoms are headache, nausea, increased body temperature to critical levels. Inflammation of nerve tissue can lead to loss of hearing and vision, motor function, memory loss, and death. Treatment is prescribed after identifying the pathogen and is aimed at eliminating it and maintaining brain function.

Other reasons

It is important to understand whether headaches and nausea can occur without dangerous diseases. These symptoms also occur periodically in a healthy person. They can be the result of a number of conditions:

chronic fatigue, stress, lack of sleep;
change in climatic conditions - often headaches and nausea after moving, during the adaptation period;
food poisoning;
toxicosis in early pregnancy;
abnormal physical activity;
poor diet with a predominance of fatty foods;
bad habits, smoking and drinking alcohol.

If such symptoms (headache and nausea) appear one-time, are easily eliminated by rest and taking painkillers, there is no reason to worry. Doctors at the Clinical Institute of the Brain recommend that you seek examination if they persist for a long time or appear frequently for no apparent reason. If you have a headache and nausea for a week, this is not normal and requires medical advice.

When to go to the doctor and not self-medicate

A sluggish runny nose without purulent discharge and unmotivated headaches at a body temperature of about 37 degrees are reasons to consult a doctor. These “harmless” symptoms may indicate the development of sinusitis.

In an advanced state, patients experience mucus flowing down the back of the throat and signs of migraine: photophobia, intense headache, nausea and vomiting. Self-medication in this case can cause serious harm to health and lead to severe swelling of the mucous membranes and narrowing of the nasal passages.

For which symptoms should you visit a doctor:

chronic runny nose;
regular headaches, especially severe ones;
signs of ARVI and acute respiratory infections.

Insufficient treatment of the common cold causes the development of sinusitis, so even if the disease seems minor, you need to consult a specialist and undergo a full course of therapy.

Diagnostic methods

Signs such as headache and nausea require evaluation if they occur regularly. The Clinical Brain Institute has all the conditions for a full examination of patients with similar symptoms. The first stage is an examination by a neurologist, during which reflexes are checked and a preliminary diagnosis is made. To obtain an accurate picture, additional examinations are required, which may include:

blood tests will allow you to determine the presence of an inflammatory process, pathogens of bacterial diseases, antibodies to viral infections;
ultrasound diagnostics of the vessels of the head and neck - is carried out with the addition of a contrast agent, as a result of which areas with insufficient blood supply can be detected;
CT and MRI are techniques that make it possible to obtain a three-dimensional image of any part of the brain and are often prescribed in the diagnosis of tumors.

The Clinical Brain Institute uses individual diagnostic programs. They will only include those tools that are shown in each individual case. The Institute has modern equipment; its use allows obtaining the most accurate data in a short time.

Treatment tactics

After determining the cause of headache and nausea, a treatment regimen is selected. It may include several stages aimed at eliminating the underlying cause and alleviating the patient's condition. Doctors at the Clinical Brain Institute monitor the effectiveness of treatment at every stage and supervise the process until complete recovery.

Drug treatment is the main stage. Painkillers and antispasmodics may be prescribed, as well as drugs to regulate blood pressure. If a bacterial infection is determined, a course of antibiotics is indicated.
Physiotherapy is a set of techniques aimed at improving blood circulation and nutrition of the brain. They are based on the irritating effect of using electric current, magnetic and laser radiation. The procedures are carried out in a course and are indicated only during the period of chronic disease.
Surgical treatment is necessary to remove tumors, aneurysms and other growths that put pressure on nerve tissue and cause headaches. The effectiveness of the operation is determined by the timeliness of its implementation, as well as treatment during the recovery period.

The Clinical Brain Institute diagnoses and treats diseases that are accompanied by headaches and nausea. Doctors recommend not to self-medicate and contact immediately if you feel worse. These signs may not pose a threat to life and health, but in some cases they indicate serious pathologies that require timely medical attention.

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Does the frontal part of your head hurt? Normal, pathologies

The nature of a headache with a runny nose depends on the general condition, stage and type of disease, and the presence of concomitant health disorders.

Headache within normal limits:

weak, concentrated in the eyebrows, maxillary sinuses;
pulsating, radiating to the temples;
variable (most often intensifies in the evening).

With ARVI, patients experience debilitating pain and a sensation of “splitting head.” The condition is accompanied by photophobia and lacrimation. With a severe runny nose, the pain becomes stabbing or bursting.

If diseases of the nasal cavity are accompanied by constant sharp or dull pain in the frontal part of the head, dizziness, nausea, and increased pressure in the eyes, this indicates pathologies. The condition requires immediate medical attention.