Janet Ogundepo A Professor of Internal Medicine and Neurology at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Ikenna Onwuekwe, has urged individuals experiencing constant headaches after age 40 to seek medical intervention. Onwuekwe stated that the onset of headache at this age could mean a vascular disease or tumour. The don further advised persons with persistent headaches, regardless of age, to ensure they see qualified medical personnel.
He explained that although headaches, which are pain within and around the skull and structures such as the face, throat, ears, eyes and neck, were a common symptom and feature of human life, recurring headaches could indicate a tumour or other serious medical conditions. “The brain which is the major content of the skull is insensitive to pain but structures around and in the brain such as the arteries, veins, muscles on the skull, eyeball, airways, scalp, bone, soft tissues, ligaments etc are susceptible and injury to these produce pain (headache),” Onwuekwe said. The don further noted that headaches were the most common neurological disorder presenting in medical clinics globally.
According to the International Headache Society, the International Classification of Headache Disorders lists more than 250 types of headaches. This number encompasses all the possible causes of headaches which are principally divided into primary and secondary headaches. Data further shows that 42 -56 per cent of the global population is affected by headaches ever.