Headache associated with vascular spasms: what can help relieve pain?

If it were possible to allocate 5-TOP unpleasant sensations, then headache would probably take the honorable first place.Although it is said that there is nothing worse than an earache or toothache, a headache can be no less excruciating - for example, during a prolonged migraine attack.It is so common that pain pills are in the home medicine cabinet of every person.About why there is a headache, what it is and how to choose the right medication for it, we will tell you in detail in our article.

Headache can hurt for various reasons - for example, with increased intracranial pressure, migraine or trigeminal neuralgia, due to eye and muscle strain, problems with the cervical spine. But very often unpleasant sensations are caused by spasm of the vessels of the head.

In medicine, vasospasm is called vasospasm. It represents a sudden and temporary narrowing of blood vessels, because of which the blood flow is disturbed. Arterial spasm is considered the most dangerous, because it is arterial blood that carries oxygen and nutrients to the organs. Spasm of the coronary vessels (arteries of the heart) causes angina pectoris, and the consequence of spasm of the central retinal artery is temporary loss of vision. Spasm of blood vessels in the head and impaired blood circulation leads to oxygen starvation of tissues, resulting in pain.

The main mechanisms of vasospasm are:

• hyperactivity of the sympathetic nervous system, which provokes excessive vasoconstriction;
• imbalance of neurotransmitters that regulate arterial tone (e.g., norepinephrine or serotonin);
• changes in the levels of vasoactive substances in the blood - nitric oxide (it dilates blood vessels), endothelin-1 (narrows arteries).

In its manifestations, spastic headache may resemble a migraine attack, tension headache or other types of pain, but still there are certain differences between them:

• tension headache (tension headache) - very often caused by overstretching of neck muscles, spinal problems, overwork of the eyes with constant work with a computer. The best analgesics for tension headaches are rest, relaxation and massage;
• cluster headache - usually unilateral, sharp and very intense, associated with circadian rhythms;
• migraine - the attack is provoked by a violation of neurotransmitters, characteristic manifestations - pronounced throbbing pain, severe light sensitivity, nausea and vomiting. With a migraine headache can hurt from a few hours to several days;
• headache with impaired venous outflow (vein dilation) - pressing, squeezing, may be accompanied by nausea. And if it is treated in the same way as a headache caused by vascular spasm - the person's well-being will deteriorate sharply.

Main symptoms of cerebral vasospasm

Spasm of cerebral vessels can manifest itself with different symptoms, but it is always accompanied by headache. Its characteristics:

• more often the temples, forehead, occiput, less often - the pain “spills” over the entire head (diffuse form);
• can be of varying intensity - from mild aching or squeezing to severe, attack-like. Patients may describe this condition as “head splitting”;
• unpleasant sensations are often intensified by changes in body position (turning the head, bending), physical exertion, psychoemotional disturbances, severe stress;
• pain may spread to the neck and shoulders, eyes.

Due to poor blood circulation in spasmed vessels, oxygen starvation of brain tissue develops and additional symptoms may appear:

• a sensation of squeezing the head - often this sensation is described as a “hoop around the head”;
• dizziness - this is caused by insufficient blood supply to the cerebellum, which is responsible for coordination;
• flickering “flies”, darkening in the eyes, caused by hypoxia of the visual analyzer.

However, sometimes vascular spasm is not limited to these manifestations. A person may experience more “remote” symptoms:

• tinnitus - this is what doctors call tinnitus or ringing in the ears, it is associated with insufficient blood flow to the area of the inner ear and the auditory nerve;
• numbness in the fingers or toes - this is rare, usually when the spasm is prolonged or too strong.

Narrowing of the arteries can cause not only headaches, but also blood pressure spikes- both increases and decreases. The rise in blood pressure (up to hypertensive crisis) occurs due to vasospasm, and the decrease - because of the sharp expansion of the arteries (vasodilation) after their narrowing.

Why does vasospasm occur?

If with the main mechanisms of vasospasm we have understood, then with its causes the matter is more complicated. There are a number of provoking factors that often cause an attack of headache on the background of vasoconstriction. If you eliminate these factors in time, you can cope with unpleasant sensations without medication.

The main causes of vasospasm and poor blood circulation in the brain:

• Psychoemotional overload, acute or chronic stress - they activate the sympathetic nervous system, which responds to irritation by narrowing the arteries and increasing pressure. Also nervous overstrain leads to increased production of adrenaline and noradrenaline, cortisol - these hormones provoke vasospasm and do not let them relax. Do not forget about the imbalance of neurotransmitters, which occurs against the background of prolonged stress;
• mental overstrain, chronic sleep deprivation, sleep disorders and insomnia - frequent causes of prolonged vasospasm,and sometimes hypoxic damage to nerve cells;
• dehydration - because of it the blood thickens, and the vessels reflexively narrow. The production of nitric oxide NO, responsible for the relaxation of the arteries, is also impaired. Note: dehydration is considered one of the most common triggers of vasospastic headache;
• Arterial hypertension. High blood pressure puts excessive strain on the vessel walls and they reflexively spasm. Over time, this leads to loss of arterial elasticity and increased sensitivity to vasoconstrictive stimuli. In addition, in arterial hypertension, as in dehydration, the production of nitric oxide by the inner surface of blood vessels (endothelium) is impaired - which means that the arteries will not be able to relax normally;
• smoking - this bad habit destroys blood vessels “from all sides”. Nicotine stimulates the release of adrenaline and noradrenaline, which causes blood vessels to spasm and blood flow to deteriorate. CO (carbon monoxide) in cigarette smoke binds to hemoglobin and turns it into carboxyhemoglobin, which is much worse at carrying oxygen. Also, tobacco smoke damages the endothelium of blood vessels, reducing nitric oxide production, and nicotine and tar provoke thrombosis (and microthrombosis among other things), which impairs blood flow;
• alcohol - like cigarettes, alcohol affects blood vessels in a “complex” way. First, it expands them (which itself can be manifested by a dull headache), and then there is a reflex constriction. Sharp fluctuations in vascular tone worsen the blood supply to the brain;
• vegeto-vascular dystonia (VSD) and diseases of the nervous system - in people with vegeto-vascular dystonia vasospastic headache often occurs due to instability of vascular tone. Also, the headache can also occur with other neurological diseases - for example, with migraine.

Surprisingly, even poor nutrition can cause headaches. This is explained by the fact that the tone of blood vessels is regulated not only by hormones, but also by vitamins, minerals and other useful substances.

Useful minerals for blood vessels:

• magnesium - antispasmodic, which relaxes smooth muscle (including vessel walls);
• potassium - “regulator” of electrolyte balance, it prevents sharp fluctuations in blood pressure;
• calcium - ensures the normal functioning of the nervous and cardiovascular systems. Important! Too much calcium, on the contrary, increases the risk of vasospasm.

Useful vitamins for blood vessels are considered vitamins of the B group, namely - pyridoxine (B6), folic acid (B9) and cyanocobalamin (B12). They are involved in the synthesis of neurotransmitters and regulation of vascular tone. With a deficiency of B vitamins, the level of homocysteine increases, which contributes to damage to the walls of blood vessels and vasospasm.

Also do not forget about useful polyunsaturated fatty acids - omega-3.They have an anti-inflammatory effect and maintain the elasticity of blood vessels, and the deficiency of omega-3, respectively, contributes to the development of vascular disorders.

Foods that can cause headaches:

• salt - excess sodium in salt provokes fluid retention and increased blood pressure;
• monosodium glutamate - can cause constriction of cerebral blood vessels;
• coffee, strong tea, caffeinated drinks - caffeine promotes the release of catecholamine hormones (adrenaline, noradrenaline and others), causes vasospasm. Note: doctors often advise hypotensive people to drink coffee or take caffeine in tablets - due to vasoconstriction, it quickly brings the pressure to normal;
• sugar, foods with a high glycemic index - they provoke a sharp release of insulin, and it in turn can affect vascular tone.

Interesting fact! Vasospastic headache can provoke products containing biogenic amines - tyramine and histamine. These are aged cheeses (cheddar, parmesan, Roquefort, gorgonzola), smoked and cured meats (sausages, jamon, bacon, pastrami), sauerkraut, some fermented foods, as well as red wine, champagne and beer.

How to relieve vasospasm?

What works best for vasospasm? Of course, antispasmodics. These are drugs that affect the smooth muscles of the vessel walls and cause them to relax. Spasmolytics include drotaverine, papaverine, dibasol, theophylline, mebeverine and others. However, they differ in the severity and focus of action: for example, papaverine is used for various colic, dibazol - for increased blood pressure, and mebeverine - for intestinal spasms.

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This drug is widely used for vasospastic pain - due to the dilation of blood vessels, unpleasant sensations quickly disappear. If necessary, Drotaverine can be combined with analgesics - for example, from the group of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Other indications for the use of the drug No-shpa (except for the treatment of vasospasm):

• Diseases of the biliary tract (cholecystitis, cholangitis, cholelithiasis);
• urolithiasis;
• peptic ulcer disease of the stomach and duodenum;
• dysmenorrhea (painful menses).

Unlike NSAIDs, Drotaverine doesn't just provide pain relief for a while - it eliminates vascular spasm (the cause of pain). It also has significantly fewer side effects than NSAIDs - unlike them, this antispasmodic does not irritate the GI tract or provoke bleeding.

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In addition to medications, folk methods can also be used for vascular spasms. The most popular are relaxing teas with chamomile, mint and melissa, warm compresses on the head, light massage. Special relaxation techniques and resting in a darkened room can also help.

On the Internet, you can find recommendations on the use of essential oils to reduce headaches. However, you should be careful with them - sharply smelling essential oils can, on the contrary, increase headaches or even cause bronchial spasm.

How to improve vascular health?

Prevention of vascular spasms is proper nutrition, sufficient drinking, avoidance of bad habits and exclusion of other provoking factors. It is important that the diet is balanced in vitamins, minerals and other useful substances (for example, omega-3 fatty acids).

In some situations, doctors may recommend taking additional minerals and vitamins to strengthen blood vessels. These can be either individual dietary supplements or combined preparations - for example, magnesium + vitamin B6 (Magne-B6).

There are several other excellent means to restore the normal tone of blood vessels (including the head) - physical activity, walks in the fresh air (best of all in the park or by the sea) and contrast shower. And of course, you should not forget about adequate sleep and regular rest - without them, any measures are unlikely to be effective.

When should I consult a doctor?

Seek medical help immediately if the headache occurred suddenly and is increasing, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, flickering “flies” in front of the eyes. Other dangerous symptoms:

• Significant deterioration of vision or loss of vision (complete or partial);
• speech impairment;
• loss or impairment of sensation;
• impaired movement in an arm or leg;
• drooping of the corner of the mouth (on one side).

These symptoms may indicate a stroke.

It is also necessary to go to the hospital if a very severe headache occurs against the background of infection and stiffness of the neck muscles (inability to bring the chin to the chest). Rigidity of the occipital muscles - a sign of meningitis.

Chronic or frequent headaches also require a doctor's consultation. With such complaints, the neurologist usually recommends checking the blood flow in the cerebral vessels with Doppler or duplex scanning; if indicated, he may also prescribe CT, MRI or other studies.

Timely diagnosis and proper treatment can usually help you forget about headaches for a long time.

The Liki24 team wishes you good health and well-being!