Table of contents:
- What are the different types of headaches?
- Primary headache
- 1.Tension headaches (tension headache)
- 2. Migraine
- 3. Cluster headaches
- 4. Hypnic headaches
- Secondary headache
- 1. Sinusitis headaches
- 2. Rebound headache
- 3. External compression headaches
- 4. Sudden headaches orthunderclap headache
- 5. Hormonal headaches
- 6. Spinal headache
Headaches can be mild and fleeting or even very severe and protracted. Well, the different symptoms of headaches that you feel may be influenced by the various types and causes that are also different. Each type may also require more specific treatment than just headache medicine at the pharmacy.
Therefore, it is important to know the types of headaches so that you can find out the right way to deal with them.
What are the different types of headaches?
Headaches based on the cause are divided into two types, namely primary and secondary headaches. From these two categories, the types of headaches can be divided into several types. The following is a complete explanation of the types or types of headaches:
Primary headaches are the type most commonly experienced by many people. Primary causes of headaches are the activity of hormones produced by the brain, problems in the structure of the head, disorders of the muscles around the head and neck, or a combination of these factors. One thing is for sure, primary headaches are not a symptom of a particular disorder or disease.
All kinds of bad lifestyle factors can increase a person's risk of experiencing primary headaches, such as:
- Alcohol consumption, especially red wine (red wine).
- The habit of eating certain foods, such as processed meats that contain nitrates.
- Changes in sleep habits or lack of sleep.
- The habit of practicing bad posture.
- The habit of skipping meals.
- Stress.
Primary headache itself covers several types of derivatives, namely:
1.Tension headaches (tension headache)
Tension headaches are the most common type and can be experienced by anyone. This type of headache is mild to moderate pain, which feels like you are being pressed or have a tight knot in the head. Generally, tension headaches involve both sides of the head.
The most common cause of this headache is muscle tension in the back of the head and neck. Stress is the most common trigger for tension headaches.
This type of headache can last for hours or days, and go on and off for three months. However, if the headache lasts more than 15 days a month and recurs for at least three consecutive months, then you are experiencing a chronic headache.
2. Migraine
Migraine is a type of headache characterized by throbbing pain of moderate to severe intensity. This type of headache usually occurs on one side of the head and is often accompanied by other symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting, blurry vision, sensitivity to smells, noise, or light.
In some cases, migraines can be accompanied by an aura, which is a symptom of visual disturbances in the form of flashes of light or points of light, or other disorders, such as tingling on one side of the face, arms or legs, and difficulty speaking. Auras can appear right before or at the same time as migraine symptoms.
The common cause of migraine is a hereditary nerve disorder that makes a person more sensitive to migraine triggers so that he is prone to attacks.
3. Cluster headaches
Cluster headaches are a type of headache that occur in a cyclic pattern or cluster period. This type of headache is rare and is usually characterized by intense pain from one side of your head to the back of your eye.
The different areas of the head that can be affected by cluster headaches are:
- Left headache
- Right side headache
- Front headaches
- Back headache
The onset of pain can last for weeks or months, which is usually followed by a period of remission, when the headache stops, for months or even years. The cause is not known for sure, but the suspicion so far is due to abnormalities in the structure of the hypothalamus of the brain.
4. Hypnic headaches
This is a fairly rare type of headache because it usually occurs in people between the ages of 40-80. The pain in hypnic headaches usually lasts on both sides of the head for 15-60 minutes and generally occurs at night, often waking your sleep.
Hypnic headaches often last more than 10 days a month. Sometimes, the symptoms are similar to those of a migraine, which is a headache accompanied by nausea.
The cause is not well known. However, in people with new hypnic headaches, doctors will generally make sure there are no certain medical conditions that cause it, such as sleep apnea, high blood pressure or low blood sugar at night, and drug discontinuation.
In addition, doctors also confirmed that they did not have other primary headache disorders with similar symptoms, such as cluster headaches and migraines.
Secondary types of headaches usually occur due to other health conditions in the body that trigger pain in the head area. Health conditions that become triggers usually attack the part of the head and surrounding areas that are sensitive to pain.
The types of conditions that may cause secondary headaches are as follows:
- Brain tumor.
- Dehydration.
- Ear infection.
- Glaucoma.
- High blood pressure.
- Flu.
- Sinus infection.
- Long-term use of painkillers.
- Panic attack.
- Stroke.
- Brain aneurysm.
- Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis).
- And others.
Each condition that causes headaches may show different symptoms, of course, in addition to the main symptoms of the disease or condition. Types of headaches that fall into secondary types, namely:
1. Sinusitis headaches
A sinusitis headache can cause you to feel a throbbing pressure in your head that extends to the cheeks, eyes and forehead. The pain may also get worse when you lie down or bend your body forward. You will also feel tired and your front teeth will hurt when you experience this type of headache.
The types of headaches caused by sinusitis usually last for a few days or longer. Headaches usually come along with other sinus symptoms, such as runny / stuffy nose, ringing in the ears, fever, and sore throat.
2. Rebound headache
Rebound headache occurs due to excessive or long-term consumption of headache medications. Usually, this type of headache occurs when you take headache relievers more than a few days a week.
Headache in sufferersrebound headache usually feel pain in the head most days, and often wake you up in the morning. This type of headache usually gets better with the consumption of headache medication, then returns when the drug wears off. Some symptoms may also occur with this type, such as nausea, difficulty concentrating, or memory problems.
3. External compression headaches
External compression headaches can occur when something that is worn on the head, such as a helmet, goggles, or sports equipment, presses on the forehead and skin causing pain. This type of sufferer is usually a construction worker, military person, police officer, or athlete who experiences headaches after sports.
However, other people wearing a tight hat or headband are also at risk of experiencing similar pain. The symptoms you feel are usually in the form of moderate and constant pain that occurs in the area that is pressing on the head. The pain can also get worse if something that ties the head is used longer.
4. Sudden headaches orthunderclap headache
Just like his name,thunderclap headacheis a type of headache that occurs suddenly or suddenly like a lightning strike. These headaches usually occur very quickly and are at their peak in about a minute. The pain is often accompanied by other symptoms, such as nausea or vomiting, fever, or seizures.
Thunderclap headache is a rare condition. However, this is a dangerous type of headache because it can be a sign of a potentially life-threatening medical condition, such as bleeding in and around the brain. Therefore, if you experience sudden headache symptoms, you should immediately seek medical help.
5. Hormonal headaches
Headaches can also occur due to hormonal fluctuations that generally occur in women, such as menstruation or menstruation, pregnancy, and so on. Headaches during menstruation are commonly referred to as menstrual migraines. This usually occurs right before, during, or after menstruation, which is triggered by changes in estrogen.
6. Spinal headache
Spinal headacheor spinal headaches are a fairly common complication in patients undergoing itspinal tap(lumbar puncture) or anesthesia in the spine.
Reporting from the Mayo Clinic, both procedures require punctures in the hard membrane that surrounds the spinal cord, and in the lower spine, namely the lumbar and sacral nerve roots. Meanwhile, if the cerebrospinal fluid in the spine leaks as a result of the puncture, you may experience spinal headaches.
In this type of headache, the symptoms are usually a throbbing pain of mild to severe intensity. Usually the pain gets worse when you sit or stand and decreases or even goes away when you lie down. This pain is often accompanied by other symptoms, such as dizziness, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, blurred vision, nausea and vomiting, neck stiffness, or seizures.