This is an automatically translated article.
This article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Bui Ngoc Phuong Hoa - General Internal Medicine - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Danang International Hospital.Headaches at the back of the neck may seem like a common symptom, but it can reflect a medical condition. Especially when the headache persists, it can be life-threatening. So what is the cause of a headache in the back of the neck? Is a persistent headache in the back of the neck dangerous?
1. What is a headache in the back of the neck?
Headache in the back of the neck is understood as pain in the back of the head, in the neck area, in the face - eye sockets. This phenomenon causes pain or fatigue in the neck area, spreading to the head of the occipital region, the top of the head, and even spreading to the temples on both sides.Pain may be intermittent or dull, ranging from mild to severe, with electric shock or constriction characteristics, may be accompanied by scalp sensation disorders, limited neck mobility, fatigue, sleep disturbance, nausea, dizziness or not.
Đau đầu sau gáy có thể là dấu hiệu của nhiều bệnh lý nguy hiểm
2. How dangerous is the headache at the back of the neck?
Headaches that last for many days, headache continuously for many days can be a sign of the following diseases:Viral infection syndrome (flu, viral fever, dengue fever): The patient often has a feeling of headache in the back of the neck, neck pain, neck pain, unrelieved by taking medicine, stiff neck, vomiting, photophobia, high fever. Children are often susceptible to the disease, with rapid onset and difficult to detect. Meningitis is a viral and bacterial disease. If caused by a virus, the disease can be cured within a few days, but if it is caused by a bacteria, the patient's health can be severe and potentially fatal. Brain tumor headache: Due to brain tumor causing increased intracranial pressure leading to headache in the back of the neck, accompanied by vomiting, photophobia, and confusion. The later stage is accompanied by nausea, decreased vision or focal neurological signs such as limb paralysis, cranial nerve palsies, blurred vision. Headache due to cerebral hemorrhage (stroke): With symptoms such as headache, sudden, severe headache in the back of the neck and possibly hemiplegia, rapid coma. Patients are prone to stroke after psychological or physical exertion during work and normal activities, and brain hemorrhage can occur even during sleep. Headache caused by hypertension: Usually with patients over 50 years old with comorbid hypertension. A headache in the back of your neck, like a tight grip on your head, is often a sign of a high blood pressure attack. The cause of headaches in patients with high blood pressure is because the constant pressure of the blood flow on the vessel wall increases, causing the vessel wall to gradually dilate and appear lesions. These lesions grow in the small blood vessels in the brain that cause headaches. Long-term disease easily causes complications such as cerebral vascular occlusion, paralysis.
Diseases related to cervical vertebrae (cervical spondylosis, disc herniation, cervical double spine, transverse process C7, osteochondrosis) in which cervical disc herniation is the leading cause. Headache in the back of the neck, which may be accompanied by neck pain, limited neck movement, sensory disturbances in the scalp, pain may spread to the arms and forearms,... In addition, the diseases of the posterior fossa (U, hemorrhage,...) also cause pain in the posterior half of the head accompanied by focal neurological symptoms.
Trắc nghiệm: Bận rộn có ảnh hưởng đến sức khỏe của bạn không?
Cuộc sống hiện đại khiến chúng ta vì quá bận rộn mà quên chăm sóc sức khỏe cho chính mình. Ai cũng biết rằng lịch trình làm việc cả ngày có thể khiến bạn kiệt sức, nhưng cụ thể bận rộn ảnh hưởng thế nào tới sức khỏe? Hãy cùng làm thử bài trắc nghiệm dưới đây.
3. Avoiding headaches in the back of the neck
There should be a reasonable work and rest regime. Daily exercise, you can join yoga or meditation classes to improve the condition of bones and joints (cervical spine). Periodic health check, this is the best way to maintain health, detect early signs of disease and have timely effective treatment.Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.
