When your skull hurts, it’s easy to think that the brain tissue itself must be hurting. But this is unlikely.
Headache is extremely common and can take many forms. It can be mild and extremely strong, lasting from a few minutes to several days. When a person’s skull hurts, it may seem that the brain itself hurts. But this is unlikely. The brain can sense pain from all parts of the body, but it doesn’t actually have pain receptors of its own. So why then does the head hurt? Scientists answer this question to Live Science.
At Focus. Technologies has its own Telegram channel. Subscribe to not miss the latest and exciting news from the world of science!
According to Charles Clark, a neurologist from Tennessee, USA, headaches can occur as a result of inflammation of the sinuses, low blood sugar, or it is associated with a head injury. But in fact, most headaches are due to the “reflected pain” effect.
“In this case, you feel pain in a place where it doesn’t actually occur. It’s similar to how a herniated disk in a spinal disc can cause leg pain. Most headaches are caused by something that actually hurts , for example, in the jaw, shoulders and neck. This causes pain in the tissues and nerves of the brain, “says Clark.
According to scientists, the most common form of headache is tension headache. This pain is characterized by very unpleasant sensations squeezing the skull. Sometimes this condition is called “head in a vise.” Often, these headaches are felt very strongly on the top of the head or on the forehead, when it seems that a very tight, compressive bandage is put on the head, Clark says.
According to scientists, the most common form of headache is tension headache. This pain is characterized by very unpleasant sensations squeezing the skull. Sometimes this condition is called “head in a vise.” According to Clarke, these headaches are often felt very strongly on the top of the head or on the forehead, when it seems that a very tight, compressive bandage is put on the head.
Photo: Live Science
Scientists believe that this pain is caused by muscle tension in the face, neck, and scalp and may be related to stress. But headache and cranial muscle tension may be secondary to another stress response, such as tense shoulders or a clenched jaw.
According to Clark, the sensation of pain in the muscles and blood vessels of the head, neck, and face can be caused by various processes, such as dilation of blood vessels, stress, or muscle tension. Once activated, the nerves here send messages to the brain, but pain can be felt to come from deep within the tissue of the brain itself.
According to Clark, the sensation of pain in the muscles and blood vessels of the head, neck, and face can be caused by various processes, such as dilation of blood vessels, stress, or muscle tension. Once activated, the nerves here send messages to the brain, but pain can be felt to come from deep within the tissue of the brain itself.
Photo: Live Science
Another type of headache is migraine, which can be felt differently in different parts of the head. During a migraine, the pain is much more severe than with other types of headache and can last much longer.
The underlying causes of migraine are not fully understood, but one theory is that the pain is related to the trigeminal nerve, the sensory nerve of the head and face, and the hard, protective layer of the brain where blood vessels dilate and constrict.
One possible explanation for migraine pain is that an electrical event in the brain stimulates trigeminal nerve pathways and triggers an inflammatory response. The inflammation spreads through the blood vessels in the dura mater, and the trigeminal nerve fibers send signals back to the brain. The inflammation then spreads to the pain-sensitive protective tissue of the brain, which causes a severe headache.
“These inflamed blood vessels and irritated nerves are like a fire that’s out of control. And it’s only getting worse, causing even more severe headaches,” says Clarke.
While the relationship between body pain and headache is well known, the mechanisms that cause headache are still not fully understood. But scientists have already learned how to reduce the negative impact of headaches, says Clark.
As Focus has already written, scientists have found mysterious brain changes in migraine sufferers.
Focus also wrote that scientists have concluded that blood sugar levels are directly related to headaches.
