The 14 Different Types Of Headaches: Which One You’re Experiencing?

We've all experienced the throbbing, distracting discomfort of a headache. Headaches vary. Everybody gets headaches. Types of headaches differ in cause, duration, and severity.

Most Common Primary Headaches

Primary headaches typically involve head pain. Your headache isn't going to be caused by illness or allergies.

These headaches can be episodic or chronic:

Episodic headaches may occur up to 15 times a month. They might last 30 minutes to hours.
Chronic headaches recur. More than 15 days every month. Pain treatment is needed in these circumstances.

Tension headache

Tension headaches cause a dull, agonizing pain across the head. Non-throbbing. Neck, forehead, scalp, or shoulder muscles may be irritated. Tension headaches are common, as stress causes them.

Cluster headache

Cluster headaches are sharp and searing. They appear around, behind, or on one side of one eye. Signs 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

Multiple headaches develop. Every headache lasts 15 minutes to 3 hours. Cluster headaches cause one to four headaches a day, generally simultaneously. Another headache shortly follows. Cluster headaches may last months. Symptom-free months separate clusters. Spring and autumn are cluster headache seasons. Men get them at three times the rate of women. Doctors don't understand cluster headaches well.

Migraine

Migraine pain pulses deeply in the brain, creating daylong discomfort. Migraine symptoms hinder regular tasks. You get throbbing, one-sided migraine discomfort, light and sound sensitivity, and possibly other symptoms, including nausea and vomiting.

Visual problems may precede migraines; this is called a migraine aura. Auras can also include tingling on one side of your face or in one arm and trouble speaking. One-third of people encounter these symptoms before headaches.

flashing lights
shimmering lights
zigzag lines
stars
blind spots

Hemicrania continua

Hemicrania continua is a mild, one-sided headache that lasts three months. It causes 1% of headaches with women having double the risk, according to researchers. Several times a day, you may sense greater intensity.

This headache may cause:

tearing or eye redness
nasal congestion or runny nose
eyelid drooping
forehead sweating
miosis
restlessness or agitation

Ice pick headache

Primary stabbing, or ice pick headaches, are brief, sharp head sensations. These headaches might be frequent and sudden. Ice pick headaches may be single or many stabs migrating about the head. If in the same location, this may indicate an underlying problem.

Thunderclap headache

Thunderclap headaches are intense headaches that peak in under a minute. It might be innocuous or indicate a severe disease needing medical treatment. Thunderclap headaches may signal:

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)

First-time thunderclap headache sufferers should seek medical help. If another ailment doesn't cause your headache, you may consider therapy for future thunderclap headaches.

Most Common Secondary Headaches

Another condition causes secondary headaches. Chronic headaches might result from a recurring secondary headache cause. Treating the source relieves headaches.

Allergy or sinus headache

An allergy may cause headaches. These headaches generally cause nasal and frontal discomfort. American Migraine Foundation says 90% of "sinus headaches" are migraine. Chronic allergies or sinusitis might cause these headaches.

Hormone headache

Women often get hormonal headaches. Menstruation, birth control medications, and pregnancy influence estrogen levels, causing headaches. Menstrual migraines are headaches that may happen before, during, and after your menstruation and ovulation.

Caffeine headache

Caffeine impacts cerebral blood flow. Too much caffeine may cause headaches, as does stopping "cold turkey." When your brain is habituated to coffee, a stimulant, you may develop a headache without it. Caffeine may affect brain chemistry, causing withdrawal headaches.

Exertion headache

After strenuous exercise, headaches develop quickly. Weightlifting, running, and sexual activity cause exertion headaches. These activities may increase blood flow to your skull, causing throbbing headaches on both sides. A headache from strenuous activity shouldn't linger. This headache generally lasts minutes or hours.

Hypertension headache

Hypertension causes headaches, and this is serious. Dangerously high blood pressure commonly affects both sides of the head, worsening with exercise and causing a pulsation.

Rebound headache

Rebound headaches, sometimes called pharmaceutical overuse, may be dull, tension-type, or migraine-like. If you routinely use OTC pain medicines, you may be more vulnerable. Overusing these drugs increases headaches. When OTC drugs are taken more than 15 days per month, rebound headaches are likely. These over-the-counter medications:

acetaminophen
ibuprofen
aspirin
naproxen

Post-traumatic headache

Head injuries may cause post-traumatic headaches. These headaches feel similar to a migraine or stress headaches. They last 6-12 months following damage.

Spinal headache

Low cerebrospinal fluid pressure after a lumbar puncture causes a spinal headache. Postdural puncture headaches are similar. This headache might be in your:

forehead
temples
upper neck
back of the head

10 to 40% of lumbar punctures cause spinal headaches, according to research. Symptoms typically appear within 2 to 3 days but may take months. Spinal headache symptoms include:

nausea
neck pain
dizziness
visual changes
tinnitus
hearing loss
radiating pain in the arms

When To See A Doctor

Some headaches need emergency medical intervention. If you have any of these symptoms with your headache, get medical attention immediately:

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

Diagnosing A Headache & Treatment

There are several ways to diagnose headaches, as there are different varieties. To treat your headache effectively, you must determine whether it's primary or secondary. Physical exams and medical history are used to diagnose headaches. Each headache should include:

duration
intensity
location
possible triggers

Your PCP may recommend you to a neurologist. Some headaches may need testing to pinpoint the reason. This includes:

MRI or CT scan
lumbar puncture
blood tests

Headaches are treated differently. Not everyone responds to the same headache remedies. Treatments vary from dietary changes to invasive treatments. If you can't treat your headaches, see a doctor.

Tension headache

An OTC pain medication may cure your occasional headache. These painkillers include:

aspirin
ibuprofen (Advil)
naproxen (Aleve)
acetaminophen and caffeine

If OTC isn't working out, your doctor may recommend prescription medication, such as:

indomethacin
meloxicam (Mobic)
ketorolac

Cluster headache

A doctor may recommend these meds to provide relief for the symptoms:

oxygen therapy
sumatriptan (Imitrex)
local anesthetic (lidocaine)

Your doctor will establish a preventative strategy after a diagnosis. The following may reduce cluster headaches:

corticosteroids
melatonin
topiramate (Topamax)
calcium channel blockers

Migraine

Triptans may be used if OTC pain medications don't treat migraine discomfort. Triptans reduce brain inflammation and blood flow. Sprays, tablets, and injections are available. Options:

sumatriptan (Imitrex)
rizatriptan (Maxalt, Axert)

Consult a doctor about daily migraine medication if you have:

debilitating more than three days a month
somewhat debilitating four days a month
lasting longer than six days a month

Preventive migraine meds include:

propranolol (Inderal)
metoprolol (Toprol)
topiramate (Topamax)
amitriptyline

Hemicrania continua

Hemicrania continua have a complete response to NSAID indomethacin. Low doses three times daily with meals ease symptoms in 24 hours. Indomethacin may have adverse effects, particularly at large dosages, taking the lowest adequate amount.

Ice pick headache

Preventive interventions may lower the frequency or severity of future headaches. Included are:

indomethacin
gabapentin
cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors
melatonin
external hand warming

Thunderclap headache

If another ailment causes your thunderclap headache, address that issue. Primary thunderclap headaches are produced by nothing else. NSAIDs like indomethacin may help. Other therapies include:

calcium channel blockers
beta-blockers
topiramate
lithium
triptans

Allergy or sinus headache

Mucus buildup causes sinus pressure and headaches. Examples:

Nasal steroid sprays
OTC decongestants like phenylephrine (Sudafed PE)
antihistamines like cetirizine

A sinus infection might cause a headache. In such circumstances, your doctor may prescribe medicines to remove the infection and reduce your symptoms.

Hormone headache

Pain treatments like naproxen (Aleve) or frovatriptan (Frova) may help. Alternative medicines may reduce headaches each month. Helpful hints:

relaxation techniques
yoga
acupuncture
eating a modified diet

Caffeine headache

Caffeine headaches may be prevented by limiting or discontinuing caffeine.

Exertion headache

OTC pain medications like aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil) usually help. If you have exertion headaches, visit a doctor. In certain situations, they may signal a severe illness.