Headaches can be the result of medical, physical, emotional, or environmental factors. The right treatment will depend on their underlying cause.
Factors that lead to headaches may be:
emotional, such as
,
, or
medical, such as
or
physical, such as an injury
environmental, such as the weather
Frequent or severe headaches can affect a person’s quality of life. Knowing how to recognize the type of headache and its cause can help a person take appropriate action.
A headache can affect any part of the head, and pain may be present in one or several locations. Headaches also cause various types of pain. Classifying the pain can help a doctor reach a diagnosis.
Doctors also categorize headaches based on whether an underlying health condition is responsible for the pain. In other words, a headache may be primary or secondary, notes the
International Headache Society
.
Primary headaches
A primary headache is not a symptom of an underlying illness. Instead, these headaches result from problems involving the structures of the head and neck.
A primary headache may be due to overactivity of — or problems in — pain-sensitive structures in the head, including:
specific areas of the brain
blood vessels
muscles
nerves
brain chemicals
Common primary headache disorders include migraine,
, tension, and medication overuse headaches.
Secondary headaches
This form of headache is a symptom of an underlying medical condition. The cause of a secondary headache may be:
pregnancy
, such as an infection
brain
According to an article in
, secondary headaches that occur during pregnancy are often caused by underlying conditions like
and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES).
Secondary headaches can result from serious health issues. A
lists red flags that are considered life threatening and require immediate attention:
neurological symptoms like
,
, and
fever
thunderclap headaches
headache worsened by coughing, sneezing, or exercise
headache occurring in those with a history of tumors
onset after the age of 50
It is also important for a person to seek medical advice if their headache:
is severe or disruptive
is persistent
occurs regularly
does not improve with medication
occurs alongside other symptoms, such as confusion,
, sensory changes, or sudden neck stiffening
Some of the various kinds of headaches include:
Tension-type headache (TTH)
This is the most common form of headache, affecting
of the general population. Tension-type headache was previously called muscle contraction headache. It is associated with the muscles of the neck, face, and jaw.
A person with TTH may feel:
as if they have a tight band around their head
a constant, dull ache on both sides of the head
pain spreading to or from the neck
may be episodic or chronic. Episodic attacks usually last for a few hours, though they can last for several days. When TTHs occur on
per month for at least 3 months, they are considered chronic.
Migraine
Based on a 2021 survey, migraine affects almost
of the U.S. population.
A migraine headache may involve pulsating, throbbing pain. It often occurs on one side of the head but may switch sides.
During an episode, a person may also experience:
sensory disturbances, such as changes in vision, known as an
sensitivity to
or sound
nausea, possibly with vomiting
Migraine headaches can significantly impact quality of life.
A migraine episode may last from
when untreated or unsuccessfully treated. The frequency of episodes can vary greatly.
Medication overuse headache (MOH)
Also known as rebound headaches and medication-misuse headaches, this type occurs in people who take medications to treat their headaches too often. MOH typically occurs when patients overuse medications for greater than
.
People with primary headache disorders like migraine often develop medication overuse headaches. These can cause migraine episodes to occur more frequently and become more severe.
Instead of alleviating symptoms, the medications cause headaches and increase their intensity and frequency. MOHs tend to result from taking
, such as those that contain codeine or morphine.
Beyond the headache, a person may experience:
restlessness
a feeling of
reduced sleep quality
The location, severity, and frequency of MOHs vary from person to person, but they often occur daily or nearly daily and are present upon waking up. MOH can cause dull pain like a tension headache to more severe pain similar to a migraine headache.
Cluster headache
These headaches usually last between
, and they may occur one to eight times per day.
Cluster headaches may frequently arise for 4–12 weeks, then disappear. They tend to happen at around the same time each day.
Between the clusters, the person may have no symptoms. These remission periods may last months or years.
often involve brief but severe pain around or behind the eye on one side of the face. This pain can radiate to other parts of the face.
The following may accompany a cluster headache:
red or
or swollen eyelids
blocked or
a smaller pupil (constricted) in one eye
sweating on the forehead
sense of restlessness or agitation
Thunderclap headache
These are sudden, severe headaches that people often describe as the
. They reach maximum intensity in about 30 seconds to a minute and slowly fade within a few hours.
A
is a secondary headache that can indicate a life threatening condition, such as:
an
reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome
pituitary apoplexy
(hemorrhage)
blood clot in the brain
People who experience these sudden, severe headaches should receive immediate medical care.
Rest and pain relief medication are the main treatments for headaches.
Options include:
over-the-counter pain relief medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
prescription pain relief medications
preventive medication for specific conditions, such as migraine
other treatments for underlying conditions
It is crucial for a person to follow their doctor’s guidance to prevent medication overuse headaches.
Treating medication overuse headaches involves reducing or stopping the medication. A doctor can help develop a plan to ease off the medication safely. In extreme cases, a person may need a short hospital stay to manage withdrawal safely and effectively.
Several alternative forms of headache treatment, now known as integrative treatments, are available. However, it is important for a person to consult a doctor before making any significant changes or beginning new treatments.
Some of these approaches include:
cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
herbal and nutritional health products
meditation
A
found acupuncture therapy to be more effective than medications in treating chronic tension-type headaches, similar to the findings of a
. Meanwhile, a
found that using CBT decreased the frequency of migraine in children and adolescents.
Some
has suggested that migraine episodes may be more likely to occur when a person has low levels of
and
. While the evidence is not conclusive, a person may find that taking 400–500 milligrams of magnesium oxide per day helps prevent episodes.
Migraine headaches may also benefit from the use of certain medical devices,
:
gammaCore: This handheld device can help block pain signals by transmitting a mild electric current in the neck.
Cefaly: Head pain associated with migraine may ease through the use of this small device that delivers electric impulses to the forehead.
Nerivio: Putting this device on the arm and managing it via a smartphone app can cause electric impulses that may help with migraine pain relief.
sTMS: This device delivers a small magnetic current when an individual activates it and places it on the back of their head.
Nutrient deficiencies may result from the quality of a person’s diet, malabsorption issues, or other medical conditions.
Certain care strategies can help prevent headaches or ease the pain. A person may try:
using a heat or ice pack against the head or neck, but avoiding extreme temperatures and never applying ice directly to the skin
avoiding stressors whenever possible and using healthy coping strategies for unavoidable stress
eating regular meals, taking care to maintain stable blood sugar levels
getting enough sleep by following a regular routine and keeping the bedroom cool, dark, and quiet
exercising regularly to boost overall health and lower stress
limiting alcohol intake and drinking plenty of water
taking breaks when working to stretch and prevent eye strain
The characteristics of a headache — and the effects on daily life — can vary. A headache may:
affect one or both sides of the head
radiate from a central point
involve sharp, throbbing, or dull pain
have a vise-like quality
come on gradually or suddenly
last from under an hour to several days
The features of the pain depend, to some extent, on the type of headache.
A doctor can usually diagnose a type of headache after asking the person about:
their symptoms
the type of pain
the timing and pattern of attacks
In some cases, the doctor may perform or request tests to rule out more serious causes of head pain. The tests may involve blood samples or imaging, such as a
or
scan.
Many people experience a headache at least once in their lives. While commonly not a cause for concern, some headaches may be too disabling and severe, affecting a person’s daily life.
Anyone who experiences severe or recurring headaches should consult a doctor or otherwise receive professional care.