Know your body: If the brain doesn’t have pain receptors, why do we get a headache?

Generally, when do you feel pain?

You feel pain when pain receptors are “stimulated” and a signal is transmitted, which makes that particular stimulus be interpreted as painful, said Dr Bhateja.

But the brain matter does not have any pain receptors. Then, why (and how) do we get headaches?

According to Dr Bhateja, even if the brain does not have any pain receptors, the head — including the eyes, nose, sinuses, ears, teeth among others — do. “Additionally, the brain covering (also called meninges) has pain receptors, along with the skull bones,” said Dr Sudhir Kumar, a neurologist.

And the most interesting fact is that many brain surgeries can be done with patient in an awake state, as he or she does not have any pain during the procedure (due to lack of pain receptors in brain). The surgeon uses local anesthesia to cut through scalp, skull bone and meninges, after which the surgery is painless. Such surgeries, however, are only done if the surgeon is operating on an eloquent part of brain (that is concerned with vital functions such as speech or memory).

Concurred Dr Pradyumna Oak, director, Neurology, Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital, Mumbai, and said that although it is true that the brain itself does not possess pain receptors, known as nociceptors, “the sensation of a headache primarily originates from the structures surrounding the brain”.

Let’s decipher how the brain perceives pain (Source: Pixabay)

So, headaches are generally caused by the activation of pain-sensitive structures around the brain, such as blood vessels, muscles, and nerves in the head and neck region. “These structures are equipped with nociceptors that can detect harmful or potentially harmful stimuli. When these nociceptors are stimulated, they send pain signals to the brain, which is then perceived as a headache,” Dr Oak told indianexpress.com.

Dr Kumar further elucidated, “The blood vessels that supply blood to brain also have pain receptors. The trigeminal nerve supplies sensation to meninges, scalp, and most of the face (including nose, sinuses and jaw). The pain in scalp, face, sinuses, teeth and neck can also be perceived as headache.” He added that these headaches “can be severe in cases of brain tumour, brain hemorrhage or brain fever, and even in some cases of severe migraine”.

What are the triggering factors?

Various factors can trigger this pain sensation, including stress, dehydration, lack of sleep, sinus infections, and migraines, among others. “The type, intensity, and location of the headache can differ based on the specific cause and the individual’s unique physiological makeup,” said Dr Oak.

Treatment

It is essential to identify the underlying cause of a headache and seek appropriate medical advice to effectively manage and alleviate the discomfort.

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