Brain tumors can cause headaches due to pressure on the brain and blockage of cerebrospinal fluid. Headaches caused by tumors are often described as throbbing or pressure and tend to get worse over time. However, not all headaches are caused by brain tumors and other symptoms such as vision problems and nausea may also be present.
A connection is often made between brain cancer and headaches. One of the main connections lies in the fact that the human skull has a limited capacity. When an intruder, such as a brain tumor, takes up residence in the head, it begins to grow and expand, putting pressure on the brain. The presence of the carcinoma disrupts normal activities that typically occur within the skull and often the result is swelling, pressure and pain.
Another reason brain cancer and headaches are linked is because of a condition often referred to as hydrocephalus. Cerebrospinal fluid enters and leaves the head through four ventricles in the brain. If a brain cancer or tumor is present, one or more of these ventricles may become blocked. When this occurs, cerebrospinal fluid can build up in the head, causing pressure on the brain and meninges, the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. Headaches that are present upon waking each morning are often the result of cerebrospinal fluid having built up during the night, putting pressure on the brain.
The headache caused by a brain tumor is often described as throbbing or throbbing. Some patients even describe it as more of a pressure than an ache or pain. While brain cancer and headaches are commonly linked to each other, not all brain tumor patients experience headaches as a symptom. Likewise, not all headaches are the result of brain cancer.
Patients suffering from brain cancer and headaches typically notice a marked difference between normal headaches and those that are a result of the brain tumor. In general, headaches associated with brain tumors tend to have a dull throbbing or pain all over the head or just in the back of the head. Also, the pain seems to get worse when bending over. Headaches that are the result of a brain tumor tend to recur at the same time each day and get progressively worse over the course of the day.
Although headache is one of the main symptoms of metastatic brain cancer and other brain tumors, it can also be caused by a number of other conditions or situations. A connection between brain cancer and headaches shouldn’t automatically be established simply on the basis of the shooting pain in the head or a dull ache. Headaches are often accompanied by a number of other symptoms when brain cancer is the culprit, such as vision and coordination problems, nausea, and dizziness.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
