What Are the Types of Headaches?
Tension headaches:
- Tension-type headaches are the most common type of headaches among adults and adolescents. The pain is likely caused by muscle contractions of the skull. Tension headaches occur in response to physical or emotional stress, conflicts, anxiety, depression, colds or the flu. You are more likely to get tension headaches if you skip a meal, work too much, don’t get enough sleep, or consume alcoholic beverages.
Migraines:
- Fatigue, stress, fasting, alcohol, caffeine, menses, and changes in hormone levels, wake-sleep pattern may trigger migraines. Some medications such as reserpine, nitrates, and postmenopausal hormones can also trigger migraines.
Mixed headache syndrome:
- Also known as transformed migraines, this is a combination of migraine and tension headaches. Both adults and children experience this type of headache. The cause of mixed headache syndrome is similar to the tension-type and migraine headaches.
Cluster headaches:
- Cluster headaches are the most severe but the least common type of primary headache. People with cluster headaches commonly suffer from one-sided head pain and they cannot sit still during an attack. The pain is located behind one eye or in the eye region. The pain is intense and lasts for a long time. These headaches are more common in men than women. They can occur at any age but are most common in adolescence and middle age. One cause of cluster headaches appears to be related to the bodys sudden release of particular hormones such as histamine or serotonin. Alcohol, smoking, high altitudes, bright light, heat, foods high in nitrites, certain medications, cocaine may also trigger cluster attacks.
Sinus headaches:
- Sinus headaches are associated with a deep throbbing pain in the cheekbones, forehead, or bridge of the nose. Sinus headaches occur when infection of the sinus (air filled cavities around your nose, eyes, and cheeks) causes inflammation in your sinuses.
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