Most individuals get headaches from time to time. However, there are several types of headaches. This discomfort might vary in origin, duration, and intensity depending on the kind.
Many of us have experienced the throbbing, uncomfortable, and distracting misery of a headache in some form or another. There are several types of headaches. The most common types are:
- headache caused by stress
- headaches that come and go
- a severe headache
- Hemicrania is still present.
- a numbing headache
- throbbing headache
- allergy symptoms or sinus headache
- Hormone headache, often known as menstrual migraine
- headache caused by coffee
- exhaustion and headache
- headache caused by high blood pressure
- headache reappearing
- terrible headache after
- headache caused by the vertebrae
IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION IS REQUIRED
A headache might sometimes need immediate medical attention. If you also experience any of the following symptoms, get immediate medical attention:
- stiff neck
- rash
- the worst headache you’ve ever had
- vomiting
- confusion
- jumbled speech
- a minimum temperature of 100.4°F (38°C).
- Any of your limbs are paralysed.
- observing less
If your headache isn’t too terrible, keep reading to learn how to detect the kind and what you may do to reduce your symptoms.
What Are The Most Common Types Of Major Headaches?
When the symptom is head discomfort, a primary headache occurs. In other words, your headache isn’t caused by a disease or allergy that your body is suffering from.
These headaches may be intermittent or persistent:
Headaches are possible on occasion, although they should not persist more than 15 days per month. They might last for 30 minutes or several hours.
Chronic headaches are becoming more common. They occur on more than 15 days every month. A pain management plan is essential in these cases.
The accompanying graphic is a general representation of various headache sites; nevertheless, many headaches may occur outside of the designated places.
Anxiety-related Headache
If you have a tension headache, your head may feel dull and uncomfortable all throughout. The muscles in your neck, forehead, scalp, or shoulders may also be painful or unpleasant. Anyone can have a tension headache. They are often triggered by stress.
Cluster Headache
A cluster headache may cause strong and profound pain. They only appear around, behind, or on one side of the face at a time. Some warning indications include:
- Sweating, puffiness, and redness on the side of the headache.
- I have nasal congestion and tears on the same side as the discomfort.
There are several examples of these headaches. Each headache might last anywhere from 15 to 3 hoursReliable Source. Cluster headache sufferers may experience one headache every other day to eight headaches per day, usually at the same time each day. One headache will pass, only to be followed by another.
Cluster headaches may linger for weeks or months at a time. Everyone is symptom-free in the months between clusters. Cluster headaches are more common in the spring and fall. Furthermore, men are three times more likely than women to have them.
According to experts, there is no recognised cause of cluster headaches.
Migraine
Migraine is a neurological illness that causes strong pulsing pain in the middle of your head. Untreated migraine episodes may last up to 72 hours, severely limiting your ability to carry out daily tasks. During one, you could come across:
- Excruciating pain, usually on one side of the head
- light sensitivity
- perception of sound
- sick and dizzy
Before the headache phase starts, around one-third of migraine patients have visual disturbances. You may notice the following symptoms as a result of the migraine aura:
- lights that glistened or flashed
- zigzag designs
- stars
- vision lapses
Auras may also make it difficult to talk and produce tingling on one side of your face or in one arm.
Migraines may run in your family, or the issue may be related to another nervous system condition. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), people who are designated female at birth are three times more likely to suffer migraines than those who are given male at birth. Migraines are also more common in those who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Environmental migraine triggers include items like:
- sleep disruption
- dehydration
- meals not consumed
- a few dishes
- hormonal shifts
- the application of chemicals
- Hemicrania is still present.
Hemicrania continuous is a minor headache on one side of the head that lasts for at least three months. A few times a day, you may encounter more severe episodes.
It is responsible for 1% of headaches, according to studies. Young adults are particularly vulnerable.
This kind of headache might also include:
- tearful or red eyes
- a runny or obstructed nose
- sagging eyelids
- sweat on the brow
- Miosis, also known as severe pupillary shrinkage
- anxiety or uneasiness
- The agony of ice picks
Ice pick headaches, also known as primary stabbing headaches, are distinguished by fleeting, acute stabbing sensations in the brain.
These headaches may occur unexpectedly and often during the day. Ice pick headaches might feel like one or more stabbings.
Ice pick headaches can migrate to other parts of the head. If you suffer ice pick headaches in the same spot on a regular basis, this might be a symptom of a more severe condition.
Pounding Headache
Thunderclap headaches are severe headaches that arise rapidly and reach their peak intensity in less than a minute. It might be innocuous, but it could also be an indication of something more serious that requires immediate medical attention.
Thunderclap headaches may occasionally indicate:
- rips, fractures, or blockages in blood vessels
- stroke
- injury to the brain
- RCVS is an abbreviation for reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome.
- Vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels)
- pituitary apoplexy, bleeding into or loss of blood from an organ
When you first have a thunderclap headache, go to the doctor straight soon. If your doctor determines that another condition is not the cause of your headache, you may want to think about a treatment plan for future thunderclap headaches.
What Are The Most Common Types Of Secondary Headaches?
Secondary headaches are a symptom of a more serious health problem in your body. If the secondary headache reason continues, your headaches may become persistent. In most situations, headache alleviation results from addressing the underlying issue.
Allergy Symptoms Or Sinus Headache
Headaches might occur as a consequence of an allergic reaction. These headaches often affect the front of the head and the area surrounding your sinuses.
Sinus headaches and migraines are often misdiagnosed. These headaches might be the result of chronic sinusitis or seasonal allergies.
A Headache Caused By Hormones
Women who menstruate may get headaches caused by hormonal changes. Menstruation, birth control use, and pregnancy all have an effect on estrogen levels, which may cause headaches.
Menstrual migraine is another term for headaches associated with the menstrual cycle. These may occur between ovulation and three days before your period, as well as on the third day of your menstruation.
Caffeine-Related Headache
Caffeine has an effect on the blood flow in your brain. Caffeine usage may produce migraine headaches in those who often experience them, as may eliminating caffeine “cold turkey.”
If you’re used to giving your brain a certain amount of the stimulant caffeine each day, you may have headaches if you don’t. This might be due to coffee affecting the chemistry of your brain, and withdrawal can cause headaches.
Exhaustion and Headache
Exertion headaches appear quickly after bursts of hard activity. Exertion headaches are often caused by running, weightlifting, and sexual activity. These activities are thought to increase blood flow to the brain, resulting in a splitting headache on both sides of the head.
A headache caused by exertion should not stay too long. This kind of headache usually goes away in a few minutes or over a few hours.
There might be another cause for these headaches. If this kind of headache is new to you or lasts for an extended period of time, you should seek medical attention.
Headache Caused By High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure might cause a headache. A headache of this kind indicates a crisis. Some people feel it when their blood pressure increases significantly (above 180/120). The majority of the time, elevated blood pressure does not cause headaches.
A hypertensive headache on both sides of the head is typical, and it usually worsens with movement. It often has a pulsating sensation.
If you use blood pressure medicine, you are more likely to get this kind of headache.
Headache Caused By Overmedication
Rebound headaches, also known as drug overuse headaches, may be as severe as a migraine episode, or they might be dull and tension-type headaches.
If you often use over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, you may be more prone to this kind of headache. Overuse of these medications makes headaches worse rather than better.
Headaches are more likely to occur when OTC medications are taken more than 15 days per month. These over-the-counter medications include:
- acetaminophen
- ibuprofen
- aspirin
naproxen
They are also more common with caffeine-containing medications.
Post-traumatic Headache
Any kind of head injury might cause post-traumatic headaches. These headaches are similar to tension headaches or migraine episodes. According to Trusted Source, they often persist for six to twelve months after your mishap. They have the potential to become chronic.
Ache In The Back
A spinal headache is caused by low cerebrospinal fluid pressure after a lumbar puncture. As a result, it is also known as a post-dural puncture headache. This headache may manifest itself in your:
- forehead
- temples
- greater neck
- behind the back of the head
Spinal headaches occur between 10% and 40% of the time following a lumbar puncture, according to study. Onset usually occurs within 2 to 3 days, however it might happen months later. It may also happen unexpectedly or after an epidural.
This headache normally worsens when you stand up, and it usually improves when you lie down.
Other symptoms of a spinal headache include:
- nausea
- a tense neck
- dizziness
- A visual change
- Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears
- hearing impairment
- arm ache that is radiating
When Should I Seek Professional Help?
Episodic headaches usually go away within 48 hours. If your headache lasts more than two days or worsens, get medical attention.
If you suffer headaches for more than 15 days per month for three months, you may have a chronic headache problem. Even if you can manage the discomfort with over-the-counter medications, consider visiting a doctor for a diagnosis.
Some headaches need treatment beyond over-the-counter medications and home remedies since they may be symptoms of more serious medical conditions.
How Can I Tell If I Have A Headache?
Because there are many distinct types of headaches, numerous strategies may be used to determine the kind of headache you are now having. In order to recommend a successful course of treatment, your doctor must first determine if you have a primary or secondary headache.
The initial stages in diagnosing your headache will most likely be a physical examination and a medical history. If you can, keep a “headache journal” in the weeks leading up to your doctor’s appointment. Make a list of all your aches and pains, including:
- duration
- intensity
- location
- possible causes
Your primary care physician may also refer you to a specialist, such as a neurologist. Diagnostic tests may be required to determine the underlying cause of specific headache types. These tests might include:
- MRI or CT scan
- cervical severance
- blood examinations
What Is The Best Way To Manage And Treat Different Types Of Headaches?
Different headaches need different treatment methods. Treatments might range from dietary adjustments to professional medical therapy.
Even with the same kind of headache, not everyone will respond the same way to the same treatments. If you are suffering from headaches that you are unable to address on your own, see your doctor about developing a treatment plan.
In the following sections, you will learn more about common headache cures.
Anxiety-related Headache
You may just need an over-the-counter pain reliever to get rid of your headache symptoms. OTC pain relievers include:
- Aspirin
- Ibuprofen
- Naproxen
- Paracetamol and caffeine
If over-the-counter therapies do not work, a doctor may prescribe medication such as:
- Indomethacin
- Meloxicam
- Ketorolac
If tension headaches continue for an extended period of time, a doctor may suggest treating the underlying cause.
Cluster Types Of Headaches
A doctor may recommend therapy or medication to address your symptoms. These might include:
- Treatment with oxygen
- Sulmetazone
Lidocaine is a kind of anesthetic that is used topically.
Following the diagnosis, a doctor will work with you to develop a prevention approach. If you perform the following, your cluster headaches may go into remission:
- corticosteroids
- melatonin
- Topiramate (topamax)
- calcium channel blockers
Migraine
If over-the-counter pain relievers are ineffective in relieving migraine symptoms during an attack, a doctor may prescribe triptans. Triptans increase blood flow in the brain and decrease inflammation. They come in the form of pills, injections, and nasal sprays.
Popular options include:
- Sulmetazone
- Rifatriptan
If you have any of the following headaches, see your doctor about taking a daily medication to prevent migraine episodes.
- more than three days each month, which is devastating
- four crippling days every month
- extending each month for more than 6 days
According to a 2019 study, despite the fact that up to 38% of migraine patients may need preventive medication, just 3 to 13% actually use it.
Migraine prophylaxis improves both quality of life and productivity greatly.
The following medications are effective migraine preventatives:
- propranolol propranolol propranolol propranolol prop
- metoprolol
- Topiramate
- amitriptyline
- CGRP antagonists
One of the factors that separates hemicrania continua from other comparable disorders is a complete response to indomethacin, an NSAID medicine. Symptoms are usually relieved within 24 hours after taking a little dose three times each day with meals.
Doctors suggest taking the lowest effective dose of indomethacin since it may have undesirable side effects, especially at higher dosages.
Ice Pick Types Of Headaches
Because ice pick headaches are very temporary, they may be difficult to treat. The majority of ice pick headaches pass before you have a chance to respond.
Preventative measures may reduce the frequency or severity of headaches in the future. Treatment options include:
- indomethacin
- gabapentin
- COX-2 inhibitors and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- melatonin
- pounding headache
If the underlying problem is the source of your thunderclap headache, you must treat it.
If your thunderclap headache isn’t caused by another ailment, it’s a primary thunderclap headache. Thunderclap headache treatment options include:
- NSAIDs include indomethacin.
- calcium channel blockers
- beta-blockers
- topiramate
- lithium
- triptans
- allergy symptoms or sinus headache
To relieve sinus headaches, the mucus that builds and causes sinus pressure is thinned. Options include:
- Nasal steroid sprays
- Phenylephrine
- Cetirizine
A sinus infection may also induce a sinus headache. Depending on the underlying cause, a doctor may prescribe medication to help eradicate the infection and relieve your headache and other symptoms.
Hormonal Headache
Pain may be managed with over-the-counter analgesics such as naproxen (Aleve) or prescription medications such as frovatriptan.
Alternative therapies may aid in lowering the overall number of headaches experienced each month. The following resources may be helpful:
- Strategies for stress management and relaxation
- Regular physical exercise, such as yoga
- Sleeping soundly
- Eat a modified diet
- Oral contraceptive or hormone therapy.
Caffeine-Related Types Of Headaches
These headaches may be prevented by drinking coffee on a regular, reasonable basis or by stopping entirely.
Exhaustion and Headache
Typically, over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil) relieve discomfort.
If you often get headaches after exercise, you should see a doctor. Exertion headaches may sometimes be an indication of a serious underlying condition.
Headache Caused By High Blood Pressure
These headaches often subside with appropriate blood pressure management. They should not happen again as long as high blood pressure is managed.
Types Of Headaches Caused By Overmedication
The only approach to relieve headaches caused by pharmaceutical overuse is to discontinue the medications you’ve been using gradually. Even if the soreness increases initially, it should subside completely within a few days.
It may be able to avoid them by taking a daily prophylactic medication that does not cause headaches as a consequence of drug abuse.
Doctors often suggest the following medications to treat these headaches:
- Triptans
- Sulmetazone
- Beta-blockers
- Amitriptyline
- Ache in the back
Pain relievers and water are often used as first-line treatments for spinal headaches. Avoiding an upright posture is also beneficial. Symptoms usually go away on their own within a week or two.
In a variety of situations, an epidural blood patch may be used. During this procedure, a little amount of blood is taken from your body and reinjected into your epidural area. If the CSF fluid leak is halted, the headaches may go away.
Is It Possible To Prevent Headaches?
Preventive therapies are beneficial for many types of headaches, although the techniques differ based on the kind of headache. While the same medication may cause some headaches, it can also prevent others.
You may examine preventive care alternatives with a doctor and establish a plan that works for you. Headache prevention may either eliminate headaches entirely or reduce their frequency and intensity.
Changes in lifestyle may help to decrease or eliminate headaches.
- getting enough rest on a regular basis
- getting enough food and eating a variety of meals
- consuming water
- exercising on a regular and reasonable basis
- lowering stress
Migraine headaches may be prevented by using calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) medication. The Food and medication Administration (FDA) has approved one CGRP medication, solanezumab (Emgality), to prevent cluster headaches.
How Will Headaches Manifest In The Future?
Your perspective will alter depending on the kind of headache you experience.
According to some trusted sources, primary headaches do not result in death or permanent impairment. However, if they happen often and are severe enough, they may be temporarily incapacitating. These headache types are often tolerable when properly evaluated and treated.
The underlying cause influences the prognosis for future headaches. Others may be fatal if not addressed immediately, while others may be managed with little modifications on a regular basis.