Some people get a headache after physical exertion, crying, eye strain, or sex.
Migraine, cluster, and tension-throw in headaches are the most common types of primary headache.
Migraine is very common; next to tension-throw in headache, its the most common throw in of headache.
Migraine pain is often described as throbbing and piercing.
It generally occurs on one side of the head and lasts anywhere from 4 to 72 hours.
Symptoms can include sensitivity to light and loud noises, nausea, and vomiting.
Many people describe tension headaches as having a band squeezed around their head.
Skull, head, and neck tenderness can happen in this pop in of headache, he adds.
While technically not life threatening, these headaches cause such severe pain that some people contemplate suicide.
The underlying cause of cluster headache is not known.
Primary Exercise HeadacheThis jot down of headache occurs during or immediately after exercise.
They usually affect both sides of the head and are often located in the back of the head.
Cold-Stimulus HeadacheThis sudden-onset headache is more commonly known as a ice cream headache or brain freeze.
A typical brain freeze lasts 30 seconds or less.
External-Pressure HeadacheThis bang out of headache is because of wearing tight hats, helmets, bands, or goggles.
In some cases, the pain occurs in the eyes.
Nummular HeadacheAlso called coin-shaped headache, nummular headache comes with small circumscribed areas of continuous pain on the head.
All potential causes must be ruled out before it is diagnosed as NDPH.
Many of these conditions aredescribed asidiopathic, meaning that its unclear what the cause is.
Some of these headaches are due to high or low cerebrospinal fluid pressure or noninfectious inflammatory diseases.
Psychiatric DisorderPsychiatric conditions are highly prevalent among people with primary headache.
Secondary headaches that are attributed to a psychiatric disorder occur only during a psychiatric disturbance, per areview.
Signs and Symptoms of Headache
Headaches can range from annoying to extremely painful.
Some people feel tightness or pressure at the temples.
Some headaches are excruciating.
Severe head pain can cause nausea and vomiting, according to theNational Headache Foundation.
A headache commonly occurs alone but may coexist with other symptoms.
Per theAmerican Migraine Foundation, associated symptoms can be important clues for identifying the underlying cause of a headache.
There are clear genetic predispositions for migraine.
Migraine is polygenic, which means that many genes appear to influence whether a person will develop the condition.
How Are Headaches Diagnosed?
We really focus on listening to our patients.
In those cases, we still treat them for the headache disorder thats most appropriate, she says.
The tests that your doctor orders will depend in part on what they suspect could be causing your headaches.
Some types of headaches, such as migraine, have a genetic component, according toMedlinePlus.
Imaging TestsComputed tomographyormagnetic resonance imagingmay be ordered.
ElectroencephalogramThis test can show your doctor whether there are changes in brain wave activity.
It can help diagnose brain tumors, seizures, head injury, and swelling in the brain.
Working closely with your family practitioner and, if needed, a neurologist will bring you closer toheadache relief.
When Should You See a Specialist?
Approximately 2 out of 3 people talk to their primary care doctor first, according to theAmerican Headache Society.
Pain-relieving medications are taken once symptoms begin.
Two new classes of medications approved to treat acute migraine are gepants and ditans.
Preventive medications are taken regularly, sometimes daily, to stop migraine attacks before they start.
Gepants have also been approved for preventivetreatment of migraine.
Nerve blocks can also be used in the prevention of cluster headaches, says Rajneesh.
These in-office procedures can improve cluster headaches for a few weeks to a few months, he adds.
Verapamil (Verelan), acalcium channel blocker, may also be used preventively for cluster headache.
Paroxysmal hemicrania may be treated with indomethacin (Indocin), which is a strong nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory.
Physical activity can also have benefits if people have a lot of neck tension or tension-throw in headaches.
Activities like yoga can help loosen up the muscles and help you relax, she says.
Complications of Headache
Headaches can have both physical and psychological consequences for those who experience them.
There is a relationship, but one doesnt necessarily cause the other.
If one condition isnt treated, it may cause the other disorder to flare, says Nye.
Higher Rate of SuicideThere is a higher rate of suicide in people who have cluster headaches, says Nye.
Prognosis of Headache
The prognosis depends on the headache throw in and multiple factors, says Nye.
The prognosis of a secondary headache would depend on the condition causing the headache, she says.
Research and Statistics: Who Has Headache?
Itsestimatedthat 95 percent of the general population have experienced a headache at some stage in their life.
For both men and women, the number of people experiencing severe headache or migraine declined with age.
Becky Upham has been professionally involved in health and wellness for almost 20 years.
Upham enjoys teaching cycling classes, running, reading fiction, and making playlists.
