Why there are nocturnal headaches

Headache appearing at night, Does not allow to fall asleep and qualitatively to have a rest. At constant occurrence it is capable to cause a neurasthenia and depression owing to deficiency of a dream. Its causes can be stagnation of blood in venous sinuses in a horizontal position, neck problems, diseases of the cardiovascular system. How to deal with nighttime headaches?

Causes of nocturnal headaches

Nocturnal cephalalgia, or headache, can occur with various diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system. The impetus to its occurrence can give pathology of the cardiovascular system.

The main causes of nocturnal headaches:

1. Disturbance of venous outflow.
2. An attack of arterial hypertension.
3. Neuralgia of the occipital, trigeminal nerve.
4. Psychological overstrain.
5. Migraine and cluster cephalalgia.
6. Atherosclerosis causing transient ischemic attacks.
7. Prolonged muscle tension of the face.
8. Craniocerebral injury.
9. Osteochondrosis.
10. Colds and inflammatory processes in the brain.
11. Hormonal problems.

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Problems with the vascular system

Often the causes of headaches are vascular problems at night, and in particular disorders of venous outflow. Venous blood flows from the head through special sinuses of the head. The veins of the brain do not have valves, the outflow is due to the pulsation of the meninges and the action of gravity. With the weakening of the tone of the veins of the head, stagnation of venous blood appears, which can lead to cephalalgia at night.

People who are prone to hypertension often have attacks of increasing blood pressure at night. Then there is cephalalgia, caused by hypertension. At the same time, arteries and capillaries experience a high load with increased pressure.

In mature and older age, the vessels become less elastic, and excessive loads in hypertension can be fatal to them. Arterial ruptures cause a hemorrhagic stroke at night.

Excessive salt intake increases the risk of developing hypertensive crises, especially at night, when the kidneys reduce the elimination of excess fluid.

Inflammatory processes

Neuralgia of the trigeminal, occipital nerve is one of the causes of cephalalgia, both during the day and at night. It develops after hypothermia of the head, neck, and also against the background of infections, especially herpes, which affects the nerves.

Inflammatory processes in the head, such as with acute respiratory viral infections, tick-borne encephalitis, meningitis, can cause severe pain in the head. The accumulation of fluid in the paranasal sinuses also gives a sensation of heaviness in the head at night. Sphenoiditis, sinusitis, frontal gauze, caries are causes.

Stress after a hard day

Psychological problems: agitation after a day's work or before responsible activities at work can cause sleep disturbance due to discomfort. How does stress affect the central nervous system? It causes the release of hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, which provoke spasms of the brain vessels.

Migraine

Migraines and cluster pain can be caught at night. Thus there is a strong expansion of the vessels. It is believed that the causes of cluster pain, migraine are lack of oxygen or allergic processes in the body, which expand the cerebral vessels and lead to the onset of pain.

Atherosclerotic lesion

Vessels in elderly and mature individuals can be sealed due to an atherosclerotic process. Plaques cause a violation of blood flow through the arteries, which leads to oxygen deficiency and the occurrence of pain. The lumen of the vessels decreases, which increases the likelihood of vascular thrombosis and even ischemic stroke.

Muscle tension

Tensor headache occurs due to persistent spasm of the facial muscles. Stress of mimic muscles leads to squeezing of vessels, sensitive nerves. This can be caused by a busy working day, chewing gum.

Craniocerebral injury, osteochondrosis

Damage to the head during a stroke can cause bleeding and the appearance of a gradually increasing hematoma, threatening a deadly danger. Degeneration of the cartilaginous tissue of intervertebral discs leads to compression of the nerve roots and arteries that go to the brain.

Premenstrual syndrome

Changing the hormonal background can also lead to the onset of cephalalgia. The reason for its violation of microcirculation, the retention of excess fluid in the body. In the premenstrual period, the level of the prolactin hormone increases, which keeps water in the body.

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Treatment of nocturnal headaches

For arresting an attack of nocturnal cephalgia, you can take an analgesic pill: Ketorol, Analgin. However, with constant headaches, you need to undergo a thorough examination after visiting a neurologist.

Surveys administered with frequent nocturnal cephalalgia:

1. Rheoencephalography evaluating the tone of the brain vessels.
2. Electroencephalography.
3. Ultrasound of the brain, computed tomography, an ideal MRI.

With migraine and cluster headache, tryptanes( sumatriptan), ergotamine derivatives, are prescribed. Patients are assigned a diet with the exception of products containing biologically active amines. It's smoked, aged cheeses, red wine.

In the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, chondroprotectors are used to protect cartilaginous tissue, muscle relaxants for muscle relaxation. To restore venous blood flow to the appointment of a doctor, venotonics, angioprotectors Ascorutin, Detralex, Ginkgo Biloba are taken.

When spasms in the head used vasodilator drugs: Cavinton, Cinnarizin. Neuralgia is treated with anti-inflammatory drugs, electrophoresis of vitamin B1, novocain. Craniocerebral injuries require an early hospitalization.

Nocturnal cephalgia - an occasion to take care of your health and go to the doctor. Self-medication is dangerous to health as a long-term neglect of symptoms.