Headaches Right to the Neck, This is the Cause

Everyone has experienced headaches. However, have you ever experienced a right-sided headache that radiates to the neck? This condition can be caused by various things and can also be a sign of a serious health problem. Headaches are pain that can occur anywhere on the head. This complaint is very common. Headaches can last for less than an hour, or can take several days, and can appear suddenly or slowly. Pain that appears in some areas of the head, feels very heavy, and appears suddenly can indicate certain conditions that must be wary of.

Causes of Headaches Right to the Neck

Some medical conditions that can cause headaches to the right of the neck, including:

• Tension headache

Tension headaches (tension headache) are a common type of headache and are often regarded as ordinary headaches. Patients will usually feel headaches on one or both sides of the head, neck muscles tighten, and pressure behind the eyes. Tension headaches can last for several minutes, hours, up to several days. Common symptoms that arise due to tension headaches are mild to moderate pain on one side of the head, difficulty in resting, easily tired, and difficulty focusing.

• Chronic migraine

This type of migraine generally occurs in people with a history of recurrent migraines. Chronic migraine is characterized by symptoms in the form of headaches on one or both sides of the head, throbbing pain sensation, with moderate to severe pain intensity. Some migraine sufferers experience early symptoms such as nausea or glare, which precedes the emergence of migraine headaches. This condition is called aura. Chronic migraine is one of the causes of headaches that spread to the neck.

• Cluster headaches

Cluster headaches can occur repeatedly over a period of time or follow a certain pattern. Cluster type headaches are more common in men, and usually occur in young adulthood. This condition is characterized by pain around the eyes that radiates to the neck, head, shoulders, or face. Another symptom is redness in one eye accompanied by watery eyes on the side that has headaches.

• Brain inflammation (meningitis)

Other diseases that can cause headaches to the neck are meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain). Meningitis is an infection of the meninges (protective membranes) that surround the brain and spinal cord. The cause of this infection can be due to viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Meningitis has typical symptoms, such as severe headaches, sudden high fever, weakness, loss of consciousness, and a stiff neck. Meningitis due to bacterial and fungal infections is a serious condition that needs to be treated immediately by a doctor in the hospital.

• Head injury

Head injury can also be one of the triggers for headaches down to the neck. Head injuries can be caused by a hard blow or jolt to the head or body. In addition, severe head injuries can affect parts of the brain if caused by objects that can penetrate the skull, such as bullets or skull fragments. Physical symptoms caused by brain injury, including loss of consciousness for several minutes, headaches, nausea and vomiting, and loss of coordination of body movements. While cognitive or mental symptoms that arise due to this condition are difficulty remembering or concentrating, mood swings, and often feel anxious and depressed.

• Brain tumor

Headaches right to the neck can also be caused by brain tumors. Brain tumor is the growth of abnormal cells in or around the brain. There are various types of brain tumors that can be divided into two groups based on their development, namely benign tumors (not cancerous) and malignant tumors (cancerous). Tumor symptoms vary greatly from one another, usually influenced by the size, type, location and growth of the tumor.

• Humicrania Continua

This type of headache is rare. This condition is characterized by headaches on one side of the head, which lasts continuously. Humicrania continua is usually accompanied by other symptoms, such as red eyes on the side that feels painful, nasal congestion, and eyelid sagging. In some cases, symptoms of humicrania continua begin to appear when the sufferer already feels pressure around the neck.

How to Overcome Headaches Right to the Neck

Sometimes the right-sided headache that appears suddenly is difficult to prevent, especially if it is not known exactly what causes it. But you can still do the following things to relieve the symptoms of one-sided headaches, including:

• Manage stress

Do things that help you stay relaxed, like massage or meditation to reduce stress.

• Enough sleep

Take time to get enough sleep, which is about 7-8 hours, so that your body is better prepared to undergo activities throughout the day.

• Drink plenty of water

Make sure your body gets enough fluid to avoid dehydration. Dehydration is usually one of the triggers for headaches.

• Limit alcohol and caffeine consumption

You are advised to start limiting the consumption of alcoholic drinks and caffeine, because both of these substances can trigger headaches.

• Exercise regularly

Regular exercise can reduce the stress that causes headaches and make the body fitter. You are advised to exercise at least three times a week, with a duration of exercise of about 30 minutes.

• Eat regularly

Avoid skipping meals, because this can trigger headaches. Also include fruits and vegetables that are rich in nutrients in your diet.

If the tips above can not prevent and reduce the pain of the right head that radiates to the neck, immediately consult a doctor to get the diagnosis and the right treatment. Headaches accompanied by decreased awareness, fever, convulsions, weakness of limbs, or headaches that arise after carrying out certain activities, such as having sex, coughing or sneezing, are types of headaches that need to be immediately examined and treated by a doctor immediately .