All headaches can be put into one of two categories: primary and secondary.
Secondary headaches develop as result of an illness or injury. Head trauma, fever, and sinus infections can all cause secondary headaches. So can a cold or flu, strep throat, ear infection, or certain medications. You may even see a headache caused by more serious illnesses like meningitis or temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ) and other jaw-related problems.
Primary headaches develop by themselves, instead of as an effect of an injury or illness.
A tension or stress headache is a primary headache. You may feel a tightening or pressure in the back of the head, at the base of the skull, or in the muscles of the neck.
A migraine is a primary headache. Migraines can be disabling, with severe head pain accompanied by symptoms including nausea, vomiting, seeing light auras, and sensitivity to light and sound. A migraine can pop up at any time and can be triggered by uncontrollable things like weather changes and menstrual cycles or controllable things like bright light, certain foods, and certain beverages. Women typically suffer from migraines more frequently than men.
A cluster headache is a primary headache. Cluster headaches are usually disabling and involve a sharp, stabbing pain on one side of the head. They come in cycles, lasting as long as two months with intense headache attacks coming anywhere from twice a day to ten times a day. Headaches last on average forty-five minutes, but can be as short as ten minutes and as long as several hours. Men typically suffer from cluster headaches more frequently than women.
Not sure what kind of headache you have? You can try a self evaluation quiz at the Headache Care Center. Keep in mind that only a doctor can diagnose and treat you properly! Use your quiz results as a guide when you talk to your doctor about your headaches.