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Headache, Migraine, Tension Type Headache, Cluster Headache



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Headaches are a very common condition that most people will experience many times during their lives.
The main symptom of a headache is a pain in your head or face.
This can be throbbing, constant, sharp or dull.

Headaches can be treated with medication, stress management and biofeedback.

If your head is throbbing, you’re not alone. Headache is one of the most common pain conditions in the world.
Up to 75% of adults worldwide have had a headache in the past year.

Headaches are a major cause of absenteeism from work and school.
They also take a toll on social and family life. For some people, continually battling headaches can lead to feeling anxious and depressed.

There are more than 150 types of headache. They fall into two main categories: primary and secondary headaches.

Primary headaches

Primary headaches are those that aren’t due to another medical condition. The category includes:

Cluster headaches.

Migraine.

New daily persistent headaches (NDPH).

Tension headaches.

Secondary headaches

Secondary headaches are related to another medical condition, such as:

Disease of blood vessels in the brain.

Head injury.

High blood pressure (hypertension).

Infection.

Medication overuse.

Sinus congestion.

Trauma.

Tumor

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Headaches are a very common condition that most people will experience many times during their lives.
The main symptom of a headache is a pain in your head or face.
This can be throbbing, constant, sharp or dull.

Headaches can be treated with medication, stress management and biofeedback.

If your head is throbbing, you’re not alone. Headache is one of the most common pain conditions in the world.
Up to 75% of adults worldwide have had a headache in the past year.

Headaches are a major cause of absenteeism from work and school.
They also take a toll on social and family life. For some people, continually battling headaches can lead to feeling anxious and depressed.

There are more than 150 types of headache. They fall into two main categories: primary and secondary headaches.

Primary headaches

Primary headaches are those that aren’t due to another medical condition. The category includes:

Cluster headaches.

Migraine.

New daily persistent headaches (NDPH).

Tension headaches.

Secondary headaches

Secondary headaches are related to another medical condition, such as:

Disease of blood vessels in the brain.

Head injury.

High blood pressure (hypertension).

Infection.

Medication overuse.

Sinus congestion.

Trauma.

Tumor.

What triggers headaches and migraines?

Common triggers of tension headaches or migraines include:

Alcohol use.

Changes in eating or sleeping patterns.

Depression.

Emotional stress related to family and friends, work or school.

Excessive medication use.

Eye, neck or back strain caused by poor posture.

Lighting.

Noise.

Weather changes.

What do headaches feel like?

Headache symptoms vary, depending on the type of headache you have.

Tension headaches

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. Tension headache pain tends to be:

Consistent without throbbing.

Mild to moderate.

On both sides of the head (bilateral).

Responsive to over-the-counter treatment.

Worse during routine activities (such as bending over or walking upstairs).

Migraines

Migraines are the second most common type of primary headaches. Symptoms of migraines include:

Moderate to severe pain.

Nausea or vomiting.

Pounding or throbbing pain.

Pain that lasts four hours to three days.

Sensitivity to light, noise or odors.

Stomach upset or abdominal pain.

Cluster headaches

Cluster headaches are the most severe type of primary headache. Cluster headaches come in a group or cluster, usually in the spring or fall. They occur one to eight times per day during a cluster period, which may last two weeks to three months. The headaches may disappear completely (go into remission) for months or years, only to recur later. The pain of a cluster headache is:

Intense with a burning or stabbing sensation.

Located behind one of your eyes or in the eye region, without changing sides.

Throbbing or constant.

Sinus headaches

Sinus headaches are the result of a sinus infection, which causes congestion and inflammation in the sinuses (open passageways behind the cheeks and forehead). People, and even healthcare providers, often mistake migraines for sinus headaches. Symptoms of sinus headaches include:

Bad taste in mouth.

Deep, constant pain in your cheekbones and forehead.

Facial swelling.

Feeling of fullness in ears.

Fever.

Pain that gets worse with sudden head movement or straining.

Mucus discharge (snot).
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Health
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