When it comes to headaches, the severity of pain can range from mild to agonizing pain that may even cause nausea. Headaches can be classified into two categories: primary and secondary.
Primary Headache
Includes tension-type, migraine, cervicogenic, and cluster headaches and are not typically caused by underlying medical conditions.
Secondary Headache
Results from other medical conditions, such as infection or increased pressure in the skull due to a growth.
Majority of all headaches (more than 95%) are classified as primary headaches, meaning that they are not caused by a disease. The types of primary headaches are tension/cervicogenic, migraines, or cluster headaches.
Tension/Cervicogenic Headaches
The greatest majority of primary headaches are cervicogenic headaches. These originate from disorders of the neck and are recognized as a pain in the head. Cervical headaches are often precipitated by neck movement and/or sustained awkward head positioning. Hours spent in one fixed position or posture (such as sitting in front of a computer) can increase joint irritation, ultimately causing your head to ache.
Migraines
Migraines affect 25 to 30 million people in the United States. Often, people will feel a migraine “coming on” with sensitivity to sound and light. Migraines are headaches that may last anywhere from 4-72 hours and are accompanied by potential disability. Other symptoms include throbbing pain, nausea (sometimes vomiting), disturbance in vision, and pain that is aggravated by physical activity.
Cluster Headaches
Cluster headaches are much more common in men than in women. They are often felt around the eyes or temporal regions. Before the headache symptoms, patients often get congestions, facial sweating, and red eyes. These can last for 15-180 minutes and cause sharp, stabbing pain. While the exact cause is unknown, cluster headache patterns suggest abnormalities in the body’s biological clock. Alcohol can also affect cluster headaches.
