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. There are several types of headaches, and tension headaches are the most common. While most headaches aren’t dangerous, certain types can be a sign of a serious underlying condition.
What are the types of headaches?
Primary headaches
Dysfunction or over-activity of pain-sensitive features in your head causes primary headaches. They’re not a symptom of or caused by an underlying medical condition. Some people may have genes that make them more likely to develop primary headaches.
Types of primary headaches include:
Tension-type headache
Migraine Headache
Cluster Headache
Secondary headaches
An underlying medical condition causes secondary headaches. They’re considered a symptom or sign of a condition.
Types of secondary headaches that aren’t necessarily dangerous and resolve once the underlying condition is treated include:
Dehydration headache
Sinus Headache
Medication overuse headaches
What’s the difference between a headache and a migraine?
A migraine is a type of primary headache disorder.
A migraine is a common neurological condition that causes a variety of symptoms, most notably a throbbing headache on one side of your head. Migraines often get worse with physical activity, lights, sounds, or smells. They usually last at least four hours or even days.