Headaches occur when a person experiences pain or discomfort in the skull cavity or the face. This could be in the nerves, with a connection over a specific area around the head covering the face and forehead, or it can extend to your shoulders and neck.
Classifications of a Headache
Headaches are classified into primary and secondary classes. Some types of headaches occur in the cervical part (neck).
- The primary headaches are usually migraine, tension, or clusters. They are a prime medical condition themselves.
- Secondary headaches occur due to any medical condition. They are caused by any sort of infection that is affecting a certain part of the head, any sort of injury, or a disease.
Other types include hormonal, exertional, and hypertension pain, which is caused by improper blood pressure levels.
Primary Headaches
Migraine Headache
Causes
These can be the potential causes for migraine:
- Hormonal imbalances
- Food allergies
- Stress/improper sleep patterns
- Weather effect
The cure of primary headaches includes addressing the triggers that cause them.
Symptoms
For primary headaches, there are common symptoms that most people experience when they are going through migraine episodes:
- Throbbing or palpitating pain around the head
- Nauseating effect
- Acute triggers are by sharp light, sound, and smell
Tension Headache
Causes
The most common type of headache, tension headache, can be due to these causes:
- Anxiety or stress
- Improper body posture
- Intense exposure to computer screens or long drives
Symptoms
In tension-type headaches, people suffer mild pain, which can be intense after some time. Other symptoms include:
- Band-like pressure around the forehead or back of the head
- A band headache that can extend to the neck
Cluster Headache
Causes
Cluster headaches are common in men, and there are two potential causes for them:
- Excessive smoking or consumption of alcohol
- Improper function of the hypothalamus (part of the brain)
Symptoms
Cluster headaches usually occur with a very sharp, tingling pain around one eye. Most of the common symptoms include:
- Piercing feeling in one eye
- Redness or sore eyes accompanied by nasal congestion on that side
- Happens in a cluster format for weeks or months
Secondary Headaches
Causes
Mainly, the causes of secondary headaches include sinusitis (sinus infection) that can be triggered due to an allergic reaction within the environment. Moreover, excessive use of medications like ibuprofen and triptans can cause secondary headaches.
Serious illnesses such as brain tumors, meningitis, or a stroke can cause secondary headaches. Furthermore, concussion or injury involving the parts around the head can become a potential factor for secondary headaches. These conditions should be addressed promptly, as they can worsen with time.
Symptoms
Symptoms for secondary headache usually vary, but some common indications can be seen as primary symptoms. For sinus, it could be:
- Nasal blockage
- Pain increases if the body is bent in a forward position
- Pressure increases pain around the head
- Excess medication can pose these symptoms
- Mild or severe headache on a daily basis
- People with a history of migraine
The headache that is induced by trauma can carry these symptoms:
- Pain in a specific area of the head
- Disorientation or dizziness
To Sum It Up
Headaches are a common condition, and they can range from mild to severe. Subsequently, it’s important to understand the difference between a primary and a secondary headache, which can help identify the root cause of the problem. Hence, identifying and addressing the problem at the right time can make life much easier.
Contact Sleep & Headache Solutions for headache problems and address them promptly with the help of medical professionals. Contact us at (832) 688-8886 and request an appointment now.