Types Of Headaches

There are several types of headaches, and the medical community has established a definite set of categories for each.

The vast majority of headaches that patients suffer can be easily fit into the first category, or primary headache. Primary headaches occur to almost everyone, and are not a serious or life threatening issue. Primary headaches can occasionally become very painful, or can become a chronic problem. Although this isn't life threatening, it sometimes presents an obstacle to daily functioning. Fixing these kinds of primary headaches can be crucial to restoring enjoyment of daily life activities. Correcting issues regarding primary headaches is usually possible with just over the counter medication.

Cluster headaches present with a far greater pain level. Although not life threatening in itself, the associated is very serious and often debilitating. Cluster headaches are so called because they occur in chronological groupings, and can be very hard to predict. This means that treatment over the course of a lifetime is difficult, resulting in attacks that usually cannot be avoided. A cluster headache can disable an individual, so great is the pain. Pain usually centers behind one or both eyes, and presents with visible symptoms like runny and watery eyes and nose. Patients can become overwhelmed with the pain associated with cluster headaches. Treatment of this pain should be the immediate and overriding concern. Over the counter medications may do little to help under these circumstances.

Secondary headaches are the third and rarest form of types of headaches. As the name implies, a secondary headache is actually a symptom of another problem. Secondary headaches signify a problem in the brain that may or may not be life threatening. In the most serious of cases, a secondary headache can be a sign of a brain tumor. There are dozens of other possible secondary headache causes. Regular headaches should be a sign to see the doctor.

The vast majority of headaches fall into the primary categorization. As many as 90% of primary headaches result from the "tension" variety of headache. A tension headache occurs when the muscles over the skull contract tightly, putting a painful amount of pressure on the head. The pain can typically be felt around the temples and around the eyes. Relief can usually be found with a variety of over the counter medications.