Clinical Manifestations of Cephalalgia
Cephalalgia or headache is one of the most important human physical complaints. Headache in fact is a symptom not a disease and can demonstrate an organic disease (neurological or other diseases), stress response, vasodilation (migraine), skeletal muscle tension (tension headaches) or a combination of these responses (Brunner & Suddart).
1. Migraines
Migraine is a complex of symptoms that have characteristics at a certain time and severe head pain that occurs repeatedly. The cause of migraine is not clearly known, but it may be caused by primary vascular disorder that is usually more common in women and has a strong tendency in the family.
Signs and symptoms of migraine in the cerebral, the result of varying degrees of cortical ischemia. The attack began with the scalp artery vasoconstriction and blood vessels of the retina and cerebral. Intra- and extracranial blood vessels dilate, causing pain and discomfort.
Classic migraine can be divided into three phases, namely:
- Aura phase. Lasted approximately 30 minutes, and can provide an opportunity for patients to determine a drug used to prevent attacks inside. Symptoms of this period is the visual impairment (glare), tingling, itching feeling on the face and hands, a little weak in the extremities and dizziness. This aura period associated with vasoconstriction without pain that begins with the initial physiological changes. Cerebral blood flow is reduced, with a further loss of autoregulation and CO2 responsiveness damage.
- Headache phases. Phase severe throbbing headache and made incapable of being associated with photophobia, nausea and vomiting. The duration of these circumstances vary, a few hours in a day or several days.
- Recovery phase. Neck muscle contraction period and scalp are associated with local muscle pain and tension. Fatigue is usually the case, and the patient may sleep for a long time.
2. Cluster Headache
Cluster Headache is another form of vascular headache that often occurs in men. The attack comes in the form of piling or in groups, with excruciating pain and the eye area and temporal spread stricken face. Pain followed by watery eyes and nasal obstruction. The attack ended from 15 minutes to 2 hours are strengthened and decreased strength.
3. Tension Headache
Physical and emotional stress can lead to contraction of the muscles of the neck and scalp, which causes tension headaches. Characteristics of headache is feeling pressure in the forehead, temples, or back of the neck. It is often depicted as a "heavy burden of covering the head". These headaches tend to be chronic rather than weight. Patients requiring sobriety, and usually these circumstances is an unspoken fear. Symptomatic relief may be given to the location of heat, massage, analgesics, antidepressants and muscle relaxants.
