Most patients who seek medical care report headache, popularly known as headache, as the most prevalent complaint. According to data from the Brazilian Headache Society, the problem affects around 140 million Brazilians, a number that highlights the extent of the condition in the population.
As noted by neurologist Henrique Freitas, coordinator of Mater Dei’s Neurology Service, in his participation in the Acir Antão program this Tuesday, June 16, “it is rare to find someone who has never had a headache”. This statement underscores the universality of the experience, but it also raises the question of when pain stops being an occasional nuisance and becomes a warning sign.
The health professional explains that headaches are divided into two main groups, a fundamental distinction for adequate diagnosis and treatment. There are primary ones, where the person has a natural genetic predisposition, migraine being the best known example. In contrast, secondary diseases are triggered by other more serious health conditions, such as stroke, aneurysm, tumors or thrombosis.
In the specific case of migraines, the doctor states that most triggers are related to eating habits. He explains that it is very common for patients to experience nausea and vomiting, symptoms that are often mistakenly associated with liver problems, but which are actually manifestations of the migraine itself. Alcohol consumption also stands out as a frequent triggering factor, whether due to its direct toxic effect or the subsequent hangover.
Factors such as stress and anxiety also contribute to the onset of headaches, including tension pain. This manifestation is described as a feeling of heaviness or tightness that typically appears in the late afternoon. Unlike migraines, they are not disabling, but daily persistence can gradually compromise the individual’s quality of life and well-being.
An important warning comes from the constant use of painkillers, which can paradoxically worsen the condition. The doctor highlights that so-called chronic pain due to analgesic abuse occurs when the individual uses medications such as dipyrone, paracetamol or ibuprofen for more than three days a week on a regular basis. In this scenario, the brain develops a dependency, and the pain tends to return with intensity as soon as the effect of the medication disappears, creating a vicious cycle.
Certain characteristics of the headache suggest the immediate search for a neurology professional:
- New pain in individuals with no previous history.
- Onset of painful crises after the age of 50.
- Episodes of pain that arise after some type of physical trauma.
- Headache accompanied by symptoms such as fever, dizziness or other neurological dysfunctions.
- Pain that significantly compromises routine and well-being, occurring more than four times a month or resulting in absences from work.