TYPES OF HEADACHES

 

Headaches are generally of two types:

          ·           Primary Headaches

          ·           Secondary Headaches

Types of Primary Headaches:

The types of primary headaches are:

          ·           Tension Headaches

          ·           Cluster Headaches

          ·           Migraine Headaches

 

Types Of Secondary Headaches:

The types of secondary headaches are:

          ·           Allergy Or Sinus Headaches

          ·           Hormone Headaches

          ·           Caffeine Headaches

          ·           Exertion Headaches

          ·           Hypertension Headaches

          ·           Rebound Headaches

          ·           Post-Traumatic Headaches

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRIMARY HEADACHES

Primary headaches occur when the pain in your head is the condition. In other words, your headache isn’t being triggered by something that your body is dealing with, like illness or allergies.

Their types are explained  below:

1.     TENSION HEADACHES

 

          ·           Tension headaches are dull pain, tightness, or pressure around your forehead or the back of your head and neck.

          ·           They’re also called stress headaches, and they’re the most common type for adults.

Types:

          ·          Episodic tension headaches: May occur every so often or even just once in a while. They can last anywhere from half an hour to several hours.

          ·          Chronic tension headaches: They occur most days out of the month and can last for days at a time. In these cases, a pain management plan is necessary.

 

2.     CLUSTER HEADACHES

          ·           Cluster headaches are characterized by severe burning and piercing pain.

          ·           They occur around or behind one eye or on one side of the face at a time. Sometimes swelling, redness, flushing, and sweating can occur on the side that’s affected by the headache.

          ·           These headaches occur in a series. Each individual headache can last from 15 minutes to three hours.

 

3.     MIGRAINE HEADACHES

          ·           A migraine is a strong headache that often comes with nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light.

          ·           It can last hours or days.

Migraines are different in everyone. In many people, they happen in stages. These stages may include:

          ·          Aura:

Some migraine is preceded by visual disturbances. Auras me cause you to see:

Ø  flashing lights

Ø  shimmering lights

Ø  zigzag lines

Ø  stars

Ø  blind spots

Certain environmental factors, such as sleep disruption, dehydration, skipped meals, some foods, hormone fluctuations, and exposure to chemicals are common migraine triggers.

 

SECONDARY HEADACHES

Secondary headaches are a symptom of something else that is going on in your body. If the trigger of your secondary headache is ongoing, it can become chronic. Treating the primary cause generally brings headache relief.

Its types are explained below:

1.     ALLERGY OR SINUS HEADACHES

          ·           Headaches sometimes happen as a result of an allergic reaction.

          ·           The pain from these headaches is often focused in your sinus area and in the front of your head.

          ·           People who have chronic seasonal allergies or sinusitis are susceptible to these kinds of headaches.

 

 

 

 

2.     HORMONE HEADACHES

          ·           Women commonly experience headaches that are linked to hormonal fluctuations.

          ·           Menstruation, birth control pills, and pregnancy all affect your estrogen levels, which can cause a headache.

          ·           Those headaches associated specifically with the menstrual cycle are also known as menstrual migraine.

 

3.     CAFFEINE HEADACHES

          ·           Caffeine affects blood flow to your brain. Having too much can give you a headache, as can quitting caffeine.

          ·           When you’re used to exposing your brain to a certain amount of caffeine, a stimulant, each day, you might get a headache if you don’t get your caffeine fix.

          ·           This may be because caffeine changes your brain chemistry, and withdrawal from it can trigger a headache.

 

4.     EXERTION HEADACHES

          ·           Exertion headaches happen quickly after periods of intense physical activity.

          ·           It’s thought that these activities cause increased blood flow to your skull, which can lead to a throbbing headache on both sides of your head.

          ·           An exertion headache shouldn’t last too long.

          ·           This type of headache usually resolves within a few minutes or several hours.

 

 

 

5.     HYPERTENSION HEADACHES

          ·           High blood pressure can cause you to have a headache, and this kind of headache signals an emergency. This occurs when your blood pressure becomes dangerously high.

          ·           A hypertension headache will usually occur on both sides of your head.

          ·           It often has a pulsating quality.

          ·           You may also experience changes in vision, numbness or tingling, nosebleeds, chest pain, or shortness of breath.

 

6.     REBOUND HEADACHES

          ·           Rebound headaches, also known as medication overuse headaches, can feel like a dull, tension-type headache, or they may feel more intensely painful, like a migraine.

          ·           You may be more susceptible to this type of headache if you frequently use OTC pain relievers.

          ·           Overuse of these medications leads to more headaches, rather than fewer.

 

7.     POST-TRAUMATIC HEADACHES

          ·           Post-traumatic headaches can develop after any type of head injury.

          ·           These headaches feel like migraine or tension-type headaches, and usually last up to 6 to 12 months after your injury occurs. They can become chronic.