In daily life, no one can avoid headaches. According to Zhu Wenyan, an attending physician in the neurology department of Zibo First Hospital, many people tend to attribute headaches simply to not getting enough rest, thinking that enduring them or taking painkillers is enough. However, the causes of headaches are much more complex than we imagine, and only by identifying the root cause can we truly stay away from the troubles. How does headache come about? Zhu Wenyan said that our brain itself does not have pain nerves. What really makes us feel pain are the meninges that wrap around the brain, the blood vessels and muscles in the head, and the facial nerves. When these parts are stimulated, pulled, or compressed, signals are transmitted to the brain through nerves. So, the headache appeared. From the perspective of causes, common headaches can be mainly divided into two categories. One type is' primary headache '. Simply put, there are no other illnesses causing it, and the headache itself is the protagonist. Among them, there are two most common types. One is tension headaches, which account for approximately 70% of all headaches. When suffering from this type of headache, it feels like the head is tightly held by an elastic band, and the dull pain and pressure are very obvious. Usually, it is related to factors such as high stress, prolonged looking down at phones, and lack of sleep. For example, after staring at the computer screen for a long time at work, the back of the head feels tight pain, which is mostly caused by tension headaches. The second type is migraine, which often involves a throbbing pain in one side of the head, as well as symptoms such as fear of light, sound, nausea, and even double vision when looking at things. Another type is' secondary headache '. At this time, headache is only a supporting role, and the cause behind it is the key. For example, during a cold or fever, the virus can stimulate blood vessels in the head, causing swelling and pain; When sinusitis occurs, inflammation and fluid accumulation appear in the sinuses, causing dull pain in the forehead or above the nasal bridge, and the pain becomes more pronounced when lowering the head; When blood pressure suddenly rises in hypertensive patients, there may be pulsatile pain in the back of the head. In this situation, it is important to measure blood pressure as soon as possible, otherwise there may be risks. What needs to be more vigilant is brain problems, such as traumatic brain injury, cerebral hemorrhage, brain tumors, etc. Many people think that headaches cannot be cured, but in fact, most headaches can be reduced or even stopped by prevention. ”Zhu Wenyan shared several simple and easy to remember prevention methods that can be easily implemented in daily life. Change bad habits. Long term looking down at phones and computers can cause tension in the neck muscles, leading to headaches. It is recommended to lift your head for 5 minutes every 40 minutes and do simple "rice exercises" to relax your neck muscles. Staying up late and having irregular sleep patterns are also triggers for headaches. Try to set a fixed schedule and ensure 7 to 8 hours of sleep every day. In addition, drink less strong tea and coffee, and eat less chocolate and pickled foods. The ingredients in these foods can stimulate blood vessels and trigger migraines. Learn to relieve stress. Nowadays, people are under a lot of pressure in their lives, and when they are anxious or nervous, they tend to unconsciously furrow their brows and shrug their shoulders, causing their muscles to remain tight and naturally leading to headaches. You can take 10 minutes of deep breathing every day: close your eyes, slowly inhale for 4 seconds, hold your breath for 2 seconds, and then slowly exhale for 6 seconds, repeating several times. This can effectively relax all muscles in the body. In addition, stress can also be relieved through walking, listening to light music, chatting with friends, and other methods. Pay attention to the 'environmental signals'. Some people are particularly sensitive to strong light and noise, such as staying in KTV for a long time or direct sunlight on their eyes, which may cause headaches. At this point, you can wear a hat or earplugs to reduce external stimulation. When the weather suddenly turns cold, catching a cold in the head can cause blood vessels to contract and can also lead to headaches. Remember to wear a hat when going out to protect your forehead and back of your head. In addition, the irritating smell in perfume and mosquito repellent can also induce headache. Zhu Wenyan reminds everyone that if a headache suddenly becomes severe, or if the headache is accompanied by vomiting, blurred vision, weakness in the hands and feet, or if the frequency of headaches is increasing, it is necessary to seek timely medical attention from the neurology department or headache specialist of the hospital. (New Society)