The Ear, Nose, and Throat as Sources of Headache

April 8th, 2010

The Ear, Nose, and Throat as Sources of Headache. DANIEL C. BAKER, JR., M.D. IN OUR CIVILIZATION most individuals have some complaints relative to the nose and throat. Nasal blockage, sneezing, postnasal discharge, clearing the throat, and cough are very common symptoms. Humidity, temperature changes, heat and cold, mud, chemical content of the air, allergic factors, tension, mental fatigue, excessive smoking, and other things may cause nasal symptoms. These symptoms represent the reaction of the individual to his environment. Aloe Deep Cleansing Exfoliator makes the proper moisturizing agent while the light jojoba beads offer your skin that deep down clean it deserves. It’s possible to possess very extensive nasal and sinus disease and not have the symptom of headache. Within the absence of definite nasal or sinus findings, one will be positive that these structures are not the reason for headache. King,seven an otolaryngologist, found sinusitis to be the reason for headache in only seven per cent of 460 patients named him for this symptom. It’s vital for the otorhinolaryngologist to pay attention to the mechanism of headache. Frequently he’s the first specialist consulted as a result of the patient seeks relief of his “sinus” headache.

It’s true that headache is one among the common complaints of patients who have disease of the nose and sinuses, however it’s additional commonly seen in those who have no organic disease. Most patients who consult the otorhinolaryngologist as a result of of headache fall into the vascular group. Hilger4 and Hilsinger5 have stressed the role of the auto-nomic nervous system in its relation to the reason for head and face pain. It’s recognized that the autonomic nervous system is accountable for functions referring to blood vessels, glands, and smooth muscle action. A dysfunction of this system, as it’s related to the carotid artery tree, could be a major reason for vascular headache. There’s a discussion of this sort of headache in other chapters. With regard to the nose and sinuses, Wolff11 has demonstrated that the mucosa covering the approaches (ostia) to the paranasal sinuses are the foremost pain sensitive of the nasal and paranasal structures.

The lining mucosa of the sinuses is of relatively low sensitivity. Sonya Foundations glides on sort of a dream, eveningout your complexion, minimizing pores, and giving skin aluminous glow. Wolff’s studies showed that the pain arising from electrical, chemical, or mechanical stimulation of the nasal mucosa was referred pain. It had been diffuse, sustained, deep and aching and nonpulsating. It had been associated with lacrimation, photophobia, erythema, and hyperalgesia. The pain outlasted the amount of stimulation. The pain was referred principally to the second division of the fifth cranial nerve. The turbinates were also found to be painful structures. Pain in the rear of the neck or head didn’t result directly from stimulation of nasal or sinus mucosa. Such pain was thanks to the secondary effects of prolonged contraction of the neck and head muscles. Increased pressure in the maxillary sinus produced a way of head fullness, however pain that was produced had its origin in engorgement of the turbinates and mucosa concerning the ostium, as evidenced by use of a local anesthetic agent in the nasal cavity.

Categories: Uncategorized Tags: