11 Types of Headaches
There are many different types of headaches, including tension headaches, migraine headaches, ice pick headaches, and others. The cause, duration, and intensity can vary by type.
Many of us are familiar with some form of the throbbing, uncomfortable, and distracting pain of a headache. There are different types of headaches. The common types include:
- tension headache
- cluster headache
- migraine headache
- hemicrania continua
- ice pick headache
- thunderclap headache
- allergy or sinus headache
- hormone headache (also known as menstrual migraine)
- caffeine headache
- exertion headache
- Hypertension headache
IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION NEEDED
In some cases, a headache may require immediate medical attention. Seek immediate medical care if you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms alongside your headache:
- stiff neck
- rash
- the worst headache you’ve ever had
- vomiting
- confusion
- slurred speech
- fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher
- paralysis in any part of your body
- visual loss
If your headache is less severe, read on to learn how to identify the type you may be experiencing and what you can do to ease your symptoms.
What are the most common types of primary headaches?
primary headaches occur when the pain in your head is the condition. In other word’s, your headache isn’t triggered by something your body is dealing with, like illness or allergies.
These headaches can be episode or chronic:
- Episode headaches may occur occasionally but on more than 15 days in one month. They can last anywhere from half an hour to several hours.
- Chronic headaches are more consistent. They occur more than 15 days a month. In these cases, a pain management plan is necessary.
Tension headache
If you have a tension headache, you may feel a dull, aching sensation all over your head. Tenderness or sensitivity around your neck, forehead, scalp, or shoulder muscles also might occur.
Anyone can get a tension headache. Stress often triggers them.
Cluster headache
Cluster headache may occur with severe burning and piercing pain. They occur around or behind one eye or on one side of the face at a time. Symptoms may include:
- swelling, redness, flushing, and sweating on the side that’s affected by the headache
- nasal congestion and eye tearing on the same side as the headache.
These headaches occur in a series. Each headache can last from 15 minutes to 3 hours. During a cluster, people may experience headaches anywhere from one every other day to eight per day, usually around the same time each day. after one headache resolves another will soon follow.
A series of cluster headaches can be daily for months at a time. In the months between clusters, people are symptom free. Cluster headaches are more common in the spring and fall. They are also three times more common in men.
Doctors aren’t sure what causes cluster headaches.
Migraine
Migraine is a headache disorder that causes intense pulsing pain deep within your head, Migraine episodes may last between 4 and 72 hours untreated, significantly limiting your ability to carry out your daily routine. During one, you may experience:
- throbbing pain, usually on one side of the head
- light sensitivity
- sound sensitivity
- nausea and vomiting
About one third of those with migraine experience visual disturbances before the headaches phase starts. Known as migraine aura, it may cause you to see:
- flashing or shimmering lights
- zigzag lines
- stars
- blind spots
Auras can also include tingling on one side of your face or in one arm and trouble speaking.
POSSIBLE MEDICAL EMERGENCY
The symptoms of a stroke can also mimic a migraine episode. If any of these symptoms are new to you, seek immediate medical attention.
Migraine might run in your family, or the condition can be associated with other nervous system conditions. According to the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), people assigned female at birth are three times more likely to develop migraine than people assigned male at birth. People with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) also have an increased risk pf migraine.
Common migraine triggers include environmental factors, such as:
- sleep disruption
- dehydration
- skipped meals
- some foods
- hormone fluctautions
- exposure to chemicals
Hemicrania continua
Hemicrania continua is a moderate headache on one side of your head that lasts continuously for at least 3 months. You might feel periods of increased intensity a few times per day.
Researchers estimate it accounts for about 1% of headaches. It’s most common in young adults.
This type of headache may also be accompanied by:
- tearing or eye redness
- nasal congestion or runny nose
- eyelid drooping
- forehead sweating
- miosis or excessive shrinking of the pupil
- restlessness or agitation
Ice pick headache
Primary stabbing headaches, or ice pick headaches, are characterized by short, intense stabbing pains in your head lasting only a few seconds.
These headaches can occur a few times daily and come on without warning. Ice pick headaches could feel like a single stab or multiple stabs in succession.
Ice pick headaches usually move to different parts of your head. If you have ice pick headaches that always occur in the same spot, it might be a symptom of an underlying condition.
Thunderclap headache
A thunder headache is a severe headache that comes on rapidly, reaching peak intensity in under a minute. It may be benign, but it could also be a symptom of a serious condition requiring immediate medical attention.
In some cases, a thunderclap headache could indicate:
- blood vessel tears, ruptures, or blockages
- stroke
- brain injury
- reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS)
- vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels)
- pituitary apoplexy (bleeding into or loss of blood from an organ)
The first time you experience a thunderclap headache, seek immediate medical attention. If a doctor determines that another condition does not cause your headache, you can discuss a treatment plan for possible future thunderclap headaches.
What are the most common types of 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, your headaches can become chronic. Treating the primary cause generally brings headache relief.
Allergy or sinus headache
Headaches something happen as a result of an allergic reaction. The pain from these headaches is often focused in your sinus area and the front of your head.
Migraine is sometimes misdiagnosed as sinus headaches. People with chronic seasonal allergies or sinusitis are susceptible to these headaches.
Hormone headache
People who menstruate may experience headaches that are linked to hormonal fluctuations. Menstruation, using birth control pills, and pregnancy all affect estrogen levels, which can cause a headache.
Those headaches associated with the menstrual cycle are also known as menstrual migraine. These can occur between 3 days before your period to the third day of your period and during ovulation.
Caffeine headache
Caffeine affects blood flow to your brain. Too much can give you a headache, as can quitting caffeine “cold turkey.” People who have frequent migraine headaches are at risk of triggering a headache due to caffeine use.
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 caffeine. This may be because caffeine changes your brain chemistry, and withdrawal can trigger a headache.
Exertion headache
Exertion headaches happen quickly after periods of intense physical activity. Weightlifting, running, and sexual intercourse are all common triggers for an exertion headache. It’s thought that these activities cause increased blood flow to your skull, leading 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.
These headaches may also occur due to a secondary cause. If this type of headache is new to you or lasts longer, it may be best to seek medical attention for a diagnosis.
Hypertension headache
High blood pressure can cause a headache. This kind of headache signals an emergency. It occurs in some people when the blood pressure becomes dangerously high (greater than 180/120). In most cases, hypertension does not cause a headache.
A hypertension headache usually occurs on both sides of your head and is typically worse with any activity. It often has a pulsating quality.
MEDICAL EMERGENCY
If you think you’re experiencing a hypertension headache, seek immediate medical attention. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you have:
- changes in vision
- numbness or tingling
- nosebleeds
- chest pain
- shortness of breath
You’re more likely top develop this type of headache if you’re treating high blood pressure.