Headache Types

Tension Headache

When it comes to types of headaches, the most common is a tension headache, this is not the one we medical professionals hear about! Most tension headaches are mild and episodic (once a month or so) and as a result people just don't call the doctor for that.

Tension headaches are caused by stress and spasms in the muscles of the scalp. Generally, you might feel as if a band is tightening around your head.

Did you know that headache is the most common presenting complaint in a neurologist's office? See, you are really not alone.

A different type of head pain that is a type of headache cause is cervicogenic headache.

The type of headache I see and treat the most is migraine.

Migraine Headache

Migraine headaches have been estimated to be the single most common cause of lost work days in the US, just behind back pain.

Calculate the impact of migraine on your work place!

For many of us migraineurs, the excruciating pain seems to never end and each minute is an eternity. Finally the throbbing eases, and we are left with lethargy, fatigue and a hope that it won't come back soon.

In recent years, different types of migraine headaches have been recognized.

Menstrual migraine is now considered one of the headache types that can be more severe than non- menstrual migraines. After years of being told "It's all in your head" by many doctors, women are now being validated and treated for their pain.

Many migraineurs are also afflicted with auras before a migraine.

Children's Headaches

Many times, both parents and doctors tend to brush off headaches in children. Children should not be having headaches! If it is a rare occasional headache relieved with Tylenol, then there is not much to worry about.

A new onset of daily headache in children could be a medical emergency and should be investigated immediately, especially if the headache is accompanied by seizure like activity or personality changes.

If there is a strong family history of headaches, then the child might be getting migraines. More information on children's headache and abdominal migraine.

Cluster Headache

This time the men rule! Cluster headaches occur in middle aged men, (but also some women), and a referred to in the medical community as "suicidal headaches".

The pain is so severe, that only movement seems to relieve it and many people actually bang their heads against a wall.

Many times cluster headaches. are misdiagnosed as migraines (and vice versa) which causes continued suffering.

NOTE: The biggest difference between cluster and migraine is that migraineurs want to lay still, while cluster patients move around or rock back and forth.

New research in the area of clusters and migraines has indicated that occipital stimulation may be of great benefit to some severe cluster and migraine patients.

Cluster-Migraine Variant

This particular headache is difficult for many to diagnose as it has characteristics of each type of headache.

Most people have throbbing type of head pain but the headache may not last as long as a typical migraine (4 to 72 hours). It may be as short as a cluster headache.

Photophobia (adversion to lights) may happen, but the typical nausea seen with migraines could be absent. Patients may or may not want to move around.

Confusing, no? Listening to you, the patient, is the key. Eventually we manage to sort it out and most people respond to daily medication for awhile.

Occipital Headaches

This type of headache is usually caused by inflammation of the occiptal nerves which run up the back of the head on each side, just below the skin.

Many times the nerves become inflammed due to a car accident and hitting your head. Another name for this is occipital neuralgia.

Hypnic Headache

This particular type of headache is a "subset" of cluster headaches. What is different here is that this headache occurs mostly in the elderly, specifically in those over the age of 70.

Additionally, this headache usually occurs when the person wakes up in the morning, so like clusters, it is tied to sleep cycles.

Again, like clusters, this is a short acting headache, but very severe. Read more about hypnic headache.

Chronic Daily Headache

Chronic daily headaches can be just as debilitating as migraine, or cluster headache. Daily headaches have many causes including medical issues. What is frustrating to many patient is that they will seek advice from medical professionals and may expect their headaches to disappear in a week.

Fortunately, this type of headache responds to consistent and persistent treatment. This means a slower course for recovery, but it can be very disheartening to some people.

Sinus Headache

There are two types of sinus headache. Acute and chronic. The confusion lies with the fact that many people think migraines are sinus headaches.

Acute sinus headache is an infection of the sinuses accompanied by fever, chills and sinus drainage that may be green or yellow.

True chronic sinusitus is usually due to chronic inflammation of the sinuses because of allergies. It may also occur as a form of post-traumatic headache after sinus surgeries. Read more about sinus headaches.

Caffeine Headaches

Caffeine is in so many products today, it is no wonder that those of us with headaches may be consuming more than we are aware of.

By reducine caffeine, you may be able to reduce your headaches and this is but one lifestyle change, that could impove your pain levels.

For more complete information about caffeine and your headaches, read this.

Abdominal Migraine

Aside from tension headache (which does occur in children!) one of the more misdiagnosed headache syndromes in children is abdominal migraine.

Abdominal migraine is an atypical migraine where most of the symptoms are present except the headache.

Ocular Migraine

Ocular migraine is a rare occurance where a visual distortion occurs but there is not headache.

Many people become frightened the first time this happens, believing they may be having a stroke. While the symptoms should not be ignored if they are accompanied by weakness and other signs of stroke, most of the time ocular migraine is harmless.

Ocular migraine and migraine aura are discussed here.

Temporal Arteritis

Temporal arteritis is one of those type of emergency headaches that can be quite serious. If you have never had headaches before and are over the age of 50, you need to learn more about temporal arteritis

Other Headache Types

There are so many different classifications of headaches and head pain from the International Headache Society that I could not possibly cover them on one page.

To read more about headache classifications visit causes of headaches.

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