Headache - Types, Causes, Treatment & More

Symptoms for Different Headache Types

Symptoms of Tension Headaches

For tension headaches, which are the most common kind among teenagers and adults, the primary symptom is a mild or moderate dull, aching pain that flares up occasionally.

Symptoms of Migraines

Migraine headaches often come with a consistent throbbing ache that may last hours or even days. Symptoms of migraine headaches include:

• A throbbing pain on one side of your head, which is often accompanied by nausea.
• Flashing lights before the migraine start.
• Extra sensitivity to light.
• Nausea and vomiting.

Symptoms of Cluster Headaches

These are among the most acute and get their name due to their occurrence in groups. Symptoms are:

• A constant or throbbing, piercing or burning pain behind or around an eye.
• On the pain-afflicted side of the face, the eye may redden or tear up, with the pupil shrinking or eyelid drooping.
• Runny nostrils.

Symptoms of Rebound Headaches

These are also known as medication overuse headaches, which occur after you over-consume migraine medication or painkillers while a headache is taking place. Here are their symptoms:

• A dull, ongoing pain that feels similar to a tension headache.
• The pain returning, stronger, after any anti-headache medication you have taken wears off.

Symptoms of Thunderclap Headaches

Thunderclap headaches get their name from the speed at which they strike, as well as the lack of prior warning or signal you’re about to get one. The pain peaks about one minute in, while the headache itself lasts at least five. Here are some potential symptoms of a thunderclap headache:

• A quick, sharp pain in your head that reaches its most intense level after one minute and continues for at least five
• Sensations of numbness or weakness
• Seizures
• Vision changes and confusions
• Difficulty speaking

Symptoms of Chronic Daily Headaches

These occur at least 15 times a month for more than three months. Their duration varies but can last as long as four hours. Here are the four categories of chronic daily headaches:

• Hemicrania continua
• Daily persistent headache
• Chronic migraine
• Chronic tension headache

Symptoms of Injury-Related Headache

If you’ve had a head injury, you may be at risk of developing post-traumatic headaches about two to three days after. While many of these symptoms may improve over the course of a couple of weeks, book an appointment to visit a doctor if the following persist:

• A sensation of vertigo
• A steadily worsening dull ache
• Light-headedness
• Difficulties with concentration
• Problems remembering things
• Easy tiredness
• Irritability

Headache vs Migraine

A migraine is a specific category of primary headache. People tend to think of migraines as the most severe type of headache, though this isn’t always necessarily the case – thunderclap headaches, for example, tend to be far more painful. There are a number of specific symptoms of migraines that don’t occur with other headaches. These migraine symptoms include:

• The attack usually only takes place on one side of the head.
• Aura: Migraines are often accompanied by visual artifacts.
• Extra sensitivity to noise and/or light.
• Nausea or vomiting.

When to See a Doctor for Headaches

If the symptoms of your headache begin to intensify in frequency and severity – particularly when dealing with headaches that began after you sustained any kind of head injury – it’s important to book an appointment to see your doctor as soon as possible. Another red flag is when non-prescription medications fail to improve the symptoms of your headache and if it is interfering with your ability to work, sleep or take part in regular day-to-day life.

Prior to commencing any programme of treatment for migraine or headaches, your doctor will usually ask a series of questions to try and gain a clearer picture of your particular condition. They will generally ask about:

• What was your age when the headaches began, the frequency of your headaches and how long you’ve been having them.
• The parts of your head you feel pain in.
• The causes of your headaches.
• The symptoms you have with each kind of headache (if you suffer from more than one kind of headache).
• Your family history with regards to headaches – particularly parents and siblings.
• Duration of your headaches and what time(s) of the day they tend to occur in.
• About the presence of an aura.

There is a range of diagnostic tests your doctor may order to try and detect underlying conditions that may be causing your headaches and determine whether it is a primary or secondary headache. These tests include urinalysis, CT scans, blood chemistry, MRI, a sinus X-ray, EEGs and eye exams.