According to medical data worldwide, 40% of people suffer from headache at least once a year.. It is a common health problem that makes even the simplest tasks insurmountable, and can ruin what could be a good day.
Some people have a headache without being able to identify the cause. That is why in this article we are going to see what are the 15 types of headaches you may suffer, as well as their causes and symptoms. Knowing them we could have the possibility to act accordingly to help our body to heal.
The 15 main types of headache according to typology: primary and secondary
When we suffer from headache we do not usually go much further in analyzing our pain. We are generally unaware of the different types of headache that exist, and it is difficult for us to identify the specific cause.
In any case, the primary difference to be made first of all between the different types of headache is the origin of the pain.. This fundamental difference provides us with an important differentiation between pains.
If the headache itself is the disease that affects us, it is classified as primary headache. If, on the other hand, the pain is caused by some other underlying disease, it is classified as a secondary headache.
Primary headaches
Good habits or certain avoidance behaviors can help us to relieve or avoid headache pain. The main causes of primary headaches are dehydration, alcohol and food intake, and stress.. That is why we invite you to make some simple consumption and lifestyle changes if you suffer from headaches.
Below we will look at the types of primary headaches that exist, which will help you understand how to avoid behaviors that may promote them.
1. Throbbing headache
The throbbing headache gives a not very severe pain that always appears very localized.. Specifically, this headache has its origin in an affectation in the first branch of the trigeminal nerve.
The twinges are of brief and low intensity, and usually do not require medical consultation. It is related to some abrupt maneuvers, such as changes in posture or head movements, and passes within a short time after its onset.
2. Tension headache
Tension headache refers to headaches of a muscular type.. It is a general term often used by physicians to indicate a pain that gives the sensation of tightness or constriction in the skull. It can originate in different organs or body structures: eyes, arteries, nerves, brain, etc., but the most frequent cause is the tension of muscles and ligaments.
It seems that the skull is just a few bones joined together, and the truth is that there are many muscles that are used, for example, for the movement of the eyes, the jaw, to show the mood, etc.
3. Migraine
Migraine should not be confused with tension headache, which is caused by muscle tension. In the case of migraine, the pain is more throbbing and not oppressive..
The root is in the blood vessels and the release of chemicals from the surrounding nerves. Nerve cells send impulses to the blood vessels, causing vasoconstrictions and vasodilatations, and releasing prostaglandins, serotonin and other inflammatory substances that cause pain.
4. External pressure headache
External pressure headache is the result of wearing something that compresses the head for a long time.. The origin can be something as basic as for example having worn a motorcycle helmet for hours. It can also happen when wearing diving goggles, a cap, etc. It is an annoying pain but it should not last more than an hour, so it is one of the least worrisome of the list.
5. Cryostimulus headache
Cryostimulus headache occurs on exposure to cold.. It usually occurs when we bathe in water with very low temperature or when we suffer a lot of cold. It can also appear if we expose our head to direct contact with ice (for example, due to trauma) or if we inhale or ingest something cold.
6. Tussigenic headache
Cough headache is also known as benign cough headache. It is triggered by intense exertion in a short period of time, such as coughing, laughing, sneezing, lifting weights, defecation, etc.
The location of the pain is variable, and the duration is usually very short, and differs from other headaches in that it is not associated with other symptoms (nausea, discomfort with light or sound, tearing, etc.).
7. Headache due to physical exertion
At the peak of prolonged physical exertion during physical activity, a person may experience a headache.. The pain can be bilateral and is of pulsating type, and can appear together with vomiting and nausea. It usually disappears when you stop exercising.
8. Sexual activity headache
In the headache for sexual activity the form of pain is variablebut it is usually bilateral and it is associated with other symptoms such as tachycardia, nausea, heat or dizziness. It may occur before, during or after intercourse, but usually subsides shortly after sexual activity ceases.
9. Hypnic headache
Hypnic headache is characterized by nocturnal episodes of headache pain in which the individual periodically awakens from sleep.. It is of moderate or severe intensity, and usually appears in people over 50 years of age. It is associated with some type of alteration of biological rhythms.
Secondary headaches
In these cases the headache is a side effect of another disease.. Unlike many of the above, sometimes there is not much that can be done about the cause of the pain.
In any case, only understanding the origin of these pains can give us peace of mind, and in any case we have to try to solve the disease that is generating them.
10. Traumatic headache
In the event of a head injury, it is possible to suffer a headache.. It is necessary to think that the severity of the traumatisms can vary, being able to become very serious and be cause of death.
When someone complains of headache caused by a trauma, injuries must be ruled out, as there could be a hydrocephalus or some kind of hematoma.
It should also be noted that headache that appears after a surgical intervention is classified in this type of headache.
11. Headache due to vascular disorder
When a person has alterations in the blood vessels, the headache can also appear.. There are different causes that can end up leading to a headache. For example, this can happen in case of congenital anomalies in arteries and veins, although cases of vascular accident and arteritis should also be highlighted.
12. Allergy headache
Allergies sometimes cause headaches because they cause blockage of the sinuses and pressure in the head. They are usually accompanied by other symptoms such as watery or itchy eyes, or pain affecting the face.
Seasonal allergies are the most common and treatment includes antihistamine and cortisone medications prescribed by the physician.
13. Substance-related headache
Also called withdrawal syndrome, this is a headache caused by substance abuse or withdrawal.. This can be a drug as soft as those found in coffee or tobacco, i.e. caffeine or nicotine. Alcohol and benzodiazepines are other notable examples due to their prevalence.
14. Medication-induced headache
Some headaches are triggered by the use of certain medicinesSome headaches are triggered by taking certain medications: oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy, antibiotics, antihistamines, … and, in some cases, the headache medications themselves.
Abusing anti-inflammatory drugs or triptans causes the body itself to react by producing headache. Sometimes it is a vicious circle that is difficult to break, since the patient does not expect that the medication to treat the headache will also produce a headache.
15. Infection headache
There are cases in which an infection by microorganisms can trigger headache.. A common example of this could be the flu, although there are more delicate intracranial infections such as encephalitis or meningitis.