Headaches

These are caused by irritation in various parts of the body, which is conveyed through the nervous system to the brain producing headache. Headache from eye strain is one of this class, and probably the most common, and, therefore, most important of all headaches. There is unfortunately no sure sign by which we can tell eye headaches from others, except examination of the eyes. Redness, twitching, and soreness of the eyelids, and watering of the eyes, together with headache, after their excessive use may suggest the cause in some cases. The pain may be occasioned or almost constant, and either about the eyes, forehead, top or back of the head, and often takes the form of “sick headache.” The headache may at times appear to have no connection with use of the eyes. When headache is frequent the eyes should always be examined by a competent oculist (a physician) not by any sort of an optician.

The pain is more often in the forehead, but may be in the top or back of the head. The headache may last for hours, or “off and on” for days. Dull headache is seen in “biliousness” when the whites of the eyes are slightly tinged with yellow and the tongue coated and yellowish, and perhaps dizziness, disturbances of sight and a feeling of depression are present. Among other signs of headache due to indigestion are: discomfort in the stomach and bowels, constipation, nausea and vomiting, belching of wind, hiccough, and tender or painful eyeballs.

This is a peculiar, one sided headache which takes the form of severe, periodic attacks or paroxysms, and is often inherited. It recurs at more or less regular intervals, as on a certain day of each week, fortnight or month, and the attacks appear and disappear at regular hours. The disorder generally persists for years and then goes away. If it begins in childhood, as it frequently does between the years of five and ten, it may stop with the coming of adult life, but if not outgrown at this time it commonly vanishes during late middle life, about the age of fifty one in a man, or with the “change of life” in a woman. While in many instances arising without apparent cause, yet in others sick headache may be precipitated by indigestion, by eye strain, by enlarged tonsils and adenoids in children, or by fatigue.

Persons who have been exposed to excessive heat or have actually had a heat stroke are very prone to headache, which is made worse by movements of the head. Sodium bromide, twenty grains dissolved in water, may be given to advantage three times daily between meals in these cases for not more than two days. Phenacetin in eight grain doses may also afford relief, but should not be used more often than once or twice a day.

This, afflicting the patient all day and every day, and increasing in severity at night, is suggestive of some disease of the brain, as congestion, brain tumor, or meningitis, and urgently demands skillful medical attention.

Persons addicted to the excessive use of tea, coffee, alcohol, and tobacco are often subject to headache from poisoning of the system by these substances. In tea, coffee, and tobacco poisoning there is also palpitation of the heart in many cases; that is, the patient is conscious of his heart beating, irregularly and violently (see Palpitation), which causes alarm and distress. Cessation of the habit and sodium bromide, twenty grains three times daily, dissolved in water, administered for not more than three days, may relieve the headache and other trouble.

Many drugs occasion headache, as quinine, salicylates, nitroglycerin, and some forms of iron.

The pain is usually of a shooting character, and the scalp is often exceedingly tender to pressure. They may be caused by exposure to cold, or by decayed teeth, or sometimes by inflammation of the middle ear (see Earache).

These occur in brain exhaustion and anæmia, and in nervous exhaustion. There is a feeling of pressure or weight at the back of the head or neck, rather than real pain. This is often relieved by lying down. Headache from anæmia is often associated with pallor of the face and lips, shortness of the breath, weakness, and palpitation of the heart. Rest, abundance of sleep, change of scene, out of door life, nourishing food, milk, cream, butter, eggs, meat, and iron are useful in aiding a return to health