The brain is the most important organ in the human body. We need it to move, process feelings, think and remember information, and perform many other tasks. Due to stress, illness, lack of sleep and many other reasons, our head may start to hurt due to which we are unable to carry out our daily activities. Usually at such moments we take painkillers – they block the transmission of pain signals, and it becomes much easier for us. But you should not take such drugs often, because they harm the stomach, liver and other internal organs. Recently, scientists have become one step closer to creating technology that helps quickly get rid of headaches without drugs. This discovery is especially important for those who suffer from chronic pain.
Scientists have taken a step towards creating a new method of treating headaches
Contents
- 1 What causes headaches
- 2 How painkillers work
- 3 Why you shouldn’t take a lot of painkillers
- 4 Treatment of headaches without medications
What causes headaches
Headaches can occur for various reasons. Sometimes it occurs due to too much or insufficient sleep, other times tension and stress are culprits, and headaches can also be associated with hunger and dehydration.
If you dig deeper, in most cases, headaches are caused by narrowing or dilation of blood vessels in the brain. For example, if a person has a migraine, first the blood vessels narrow and then dilate. As a result, the pressure inside the person's head changes, which leads to pain.
Usually headaches occur due to problems with blood vessels
Sometimes the cause of headaches consists of changing chemicals. So, if a person suddenly produces a lot of serotonin, this can also lead to pain.
In some cases, the headache is not felt in the brain area, but in the neck or shoulders. In such cases, the person strained these parts of the body too much. For example, neck pain may be the result of improper sitting at the computer or an uncomfortable position while sleeping.
Read also:What pain in the human body is considered the most severe
How painkillers work
When we have a headache, we take painkillers. They usually begin to act within 20–30 minutes after administration – it all depends on the substances they contain.
To better understand how painkillers work, you can imagine that pain is a signal that comes from a source to the brain. For example, if we have a toothache, its nerve transmits information about this to the parts of the brain responsible for the sensation of pain. If you have a headache, it means that such signals come from the vessels located in it.
Pain medications can work in different ways
Depending on the type, headache medications work in one of two ways. Some drugs block the transmission of pain information to the brain. Other means make sure that these signals are not perceived by the brain itself – it simply “does not pay attention to them.”
Everyone should know this:What are the dangers of counterfeit medicines and how to recognize them ?
Why you shouldn’t take a lot of painkillers
Painkillers should not be taken too often. The fact is that over time they begin to destroy the stomach, liver, kidneys and other internal organs. Some medications have a bad effect on the heart, especially if the person already has such problems. Also, some painkillers are addictive, or the body gets used to them and they stop working. Finally, medications have side effects such as nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, and so on.
Some medications can only be taken after consulting a doctor
Be sure to Reading:What to do with expired medications?
Treating headaches without medications
Recently, an article appeared in the scientific journal Pain that scientists have come up with a new way to relieve a person from headaches. As a means, they propose using ultrasound, which acts directly on the area of the brain that is responsible for sensitivity to pain.
As part of a study in which 23 volunteers took part, scientists exposed the insula lobe of their brain to ultrasound. This region plays a major role in pain processing and is also involved in emotion management, appetite regulation, self-awareness and social interaction.
Also, using ultrasound, scientists want to put astronauts to sleep during long flights
Ultrasound is a type of sound wave that is not perceived by the human ear. When these waves reached the insula, they changed its activity, and the volunteers actually felt relief. In addition, their heart rate changed – perhaps there is some connection between the sensation of pain and heart rate.
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Today, treatment of headaches using ultrasound is in its infancy. But scientists hope that in the future it will be possible to alleviate the condition of people with chronic pain in this way. There is an article on our website about how much this diagnosis affects a person’s character.