The 4 Major Types of Headaches: What to Look Out For
Headaches are one of the most common
ailments out there and in most cases they are harmless. Everyone
experiences a headache every once in a while. Of course, if this is a
recurring situation for you, it may indicate some sort of headache
disorder or another urgent medical condition. These are called secondary
headaches. To learn more about them, check out our previous article
titled 7 Warning Signs That Your Headache Is a Medical Emergency.
The types of headaches listed in this
article are primary headaches, meaning they are conditions in themselves
and not a symptom of a separate underlying condition. Primary headaches
can develop as a result of brain chemicals, nerves, muscle tension, and
even genetics; doctors can't always pinpoint one exact cause. We
rounded up their characteristics, where they stem from, and what can be
done for prevention and treatment.
1. Tension Headache
Tension headaches are the most common type
of primary headaches and according to the World Health Organization,
they affect about half of the women population and one-third of men.
They are often referred to as 'hatband headaches' because the muscles
around the scalp become tight and cause pain in the back of the head,
the temples and forehead as if a tight hat was in place. They tend to be
pressure-like at onset and can last from hours to days.
Common triggers for tension headaches include:
Stress
Eyestrain
Depression
Fatigue
Alcohol use or caffeine use.
Treatments and Prevention:
Tension headaches are usually treated with
over-the-counter pain medication like aspirin, ibuprofen, or
acetaminophen (Tylenol). Chronic tension headaches are labeled as such
when they occur 15 days or more in a month. In these cases, patients are
sometimes treated with muscle relaxers.
An effective way to prevent tension headaches is by managing stress and
learning relaxation techniques like deep breathing, yoga, or guided
imagery. Try to pace yourself in your daily life, take breaks, and carve
time to do the things you enjoy. For some people mindfulness - staying
in the here and now, instead of following thoughts of worry and fear -
proved to be helpful. A 2019 study looking at 55 women who suffer from
chronic tension headaches found that those taught relaxation techniques
as well as being treated with muscle relaxers experienced fewer
headaches than those who only took the medication.
2. Migraine Headache
Migraine headaches involve a moderate to severe throbbing pain, usually
on one side of the head. This, too, is a very common type of primary
headache, about 12% of Americans experience migraines, and women are
three times more likely than men to have these headaches. Other symptoms
of migraines can be nausea, vision changes, and weakness. Genetics
seems to play a role, as migraines often run in certain families, but
scientists are still trying to figure out the exact way they might be
transmitted. Because migraines are recurring, it’s important to identify
their triggers, which might vary in different people.
Common triggers
include:
Certain foods - for some people chocolate, yeast, and processed meat
can trigger migraines, although scientists are not sure why.
Hormonal changes - 7% to 19% of women suffer from menstrual
migraines, which occur 2 to 3 days before the start of the period.
Lack of sleep and stress - scientists have identified that stress
and lack of sleep might cause hormonal changes that can trigger
migraines.
If you’re not sure what is triggering your migraines, keep a migraine ournal, noting everything that happened on the days leading up to the
migraine. With time, a pattern is likely to be recognized.
Prevention and treatment: occasional migraines can be treated with
over-the-counter medication, like aspirin, Tylenol, and other NSAIDs.
However, be cautious, as overusing these medications trigger migraines,
too. It’s best to consult your doctor regarding the safe use of such
medication, but generally speaking, taking them once a week is safe.
There are also prescription drugs that can help prevent migraines as
soon as symptoms appear. Consult your healthcare provider for a migraine
treatment plan that is right for you.
3. Cluster Headache
This less common type of headache is
characterized by severe pain in one side of the head, particularly
centered behind the eye. Other symptoms may include tearing, drooping
eyelids, and nasal congestion. Cluster headaches get their name because
they appear in clusters, lasting weeks to months, and they are more
common in men than women. Attacks will usually occur every day,
sometimes several times a day and often at the same time of the day.
Unlike the previous types of headaches we discussed, cluster headaches
aren’t really associated with triggers like food or hormonal changes, or
stress. In fact, the cause of these headaches is unknown but patterns
suggest that abnormalities in the body's biological clock (and the
hypothalamus, in particular) play a role. Moreover, once a cluster
period begins, drinking alcohol may quickly trigger a splitting
headache.
If you think you are experiencing a cluster headache, the best thing to
do would be to see a doctor and rule out any more severe conditions.
"The most serious aspect of cluster headaches is making sure that the
diagnosis is correct and another secondary cause of headaches is not
missed," explained physician Lean Poston.
4. Occipital Neuralgia
This type of headache is considered quite
rare. Occipital neuralgia is a condition in which the nerves that run
from the top of the spinal cord up through the scalp, called the
occipital nerves, are inflamed or injured. As a result, you may feel a
sharp, jabbing, and electric pain in the back of your head or base of
your skull. It will typically work its way up to the scalp.
Occipital neuralgia is often confused with a migraine as the two
conditions have some overlapping symptoms like sensitivity to light.
That’s why it’s vital to see a doctor and get the right diagnosis.
Treatment and prevention: The first steps you can take to relieve the
pain are applying heat to your neck, resting in a quiet room, and
massaging tight and painful neck muscles. Over the counter,
anti-inflammatory drugs like naproxen or ibuprofen are also effective,
and if those don’t help, your doctor may prescribe prescription
medication.