Headaches are one of the most frequent causes of medical visits , according to the World Health Organization (WHO). However, not everyone is the same. There are pains caused by some disease, others that arise from stress, and those of a genetic type, better known as migraine.

In this article we will review the different types of headaches and their characteristics .

Primary and secondary headache

Headaches cause great suffering to the person who has it, but not all headaches are the same and can be classified into two categories. It is possible to differentiate between two major types of headache: primary and secondary headaches .

When we talk about primary headaches, we are referring to the fact that the headache itself is the disease. This is not the case with secondary headaches, in which the headache is a consequence of another illness, for example, a flu or a brain tumour.

Types of headache

But, going into detail, what types of headaches are there? What are their characteristics? Following the classification of the International Headache Society (ICHD-3), the types of headache are :

Primary headaches

There are several types of primary headaches:

1. Tension headache

Tension headache is a very common type of headache, in which a person has an oppressive pain, that is, pressure on the head. Unlike other types of headache, the pain usually affects both halves of the head .

Its causes can be varied: stress, fatigue, anxiety, excessive coffee or tobacco. It can occur at any age, but is most common in adolescents and adults.

2. Migraine

Migraine and tension headaches account for 95% of primary headaches , so if you’re in doubt about what’s wrong with you, this is most likely the phenomenon that’s taking place in your body, unless the symptoms are far from what’s shown here. It usually appears as recurrent attacks of headache on one side of the head, which can vary in frequency, intensity and duration. In addition, they often occur along with nausea, vomiting, and discomfort towards light and noise. Migraine is of genetic origin and is both a chronic and episodic condition.

  • There are different types of migraine. If you are interested, you can read about them in this article: “The 7 types of migraine (characteristics and causes)”

3. Primary TUIGENE HEADACH

This type of headache appears as a consequence of coughing, although it can also occur due to other waltzing manoeuvres, i.e. by exhaling air with the glottis closed or with the mouth and nose closed . Thus, it is the product of an action that is repeated over and over again, without us noticing it, in the case of a bad habit, or in a punctual way because of a sudden alteration in our state.

For example, from sneezing, laughing, bending, crying, weight training, etc. It usually appears suddenly just after the coughing blow and may affect one or both parts of the head. The pain may be oppressive or stabbing and the duration and intensity may vary depending on each case.

4. Primary stress headache

This type of headache is caused by prolonged physical exertion . It seems to be more frequent in men and neither the type of exercise nor the physical condition of the subject influences its appearance.

The person who suffers it usually presents bilateral and pulsatile pain that, sometimes, appears together with nausea and vomiting. It usually starts at the moment of maximum physical effort and partially improves at the same time that physical activity ceases.

5. Headache associated with sexual activity

This type of headache has its origin in intimate relationships . The symptomatology appears bilaterally and the pain may vary in its form: oppressive, stabbing, pulsating.It may be accompanied by tachycardia, hot flashes, nausea, facial flushing and even dizziness. It usually lasts from 30 to 60 minutes and can occur before or during or after an orgasm.

6. Primary Thunder Headache

Like the two previous ones, it can be started after a high intensity physical effort or by having intimate relations. However, is a type of explosive headache, which has a sudden onset and reaches its maximum intensity in the first few minutes . Its intensity is moderate-severe and although it can occur anywhere in the head, it usually has an occipital location. Sometimes, it occurs together with sensitivity to light and sound and with nausea and vomiting.

7. Cryostimulus headache

The cause of this type of headache is coming into contact with something cold , either inhaled, swallowed or placed on the outside of the head. Therefore, it may appear, for example, after exposure to a cold environment or when put in water with a very low temperature. The pain is located in the forehead, specifically in the middle area. It is of a stabbing type and of short duration. It is usually common in patients suffering from migraine.

8. External pressure headache

This headache appears due to the uninterrupted understanding of the head , specifically in the pericranial soft tissues. For example, from wearing a helmet, a cap or glasses.

The pain appears at the point of external compression. It usually subsides within 60 minutes of the release of the compression that caused it.

9. Primary Stabbing Headache

Primary throbbing headache, as its name suggests, presents a throbbing type of pain, generally intense and of a specific location (frontal or temporary), although it can also change location. It appears spontaneously as a result of some manoeuvres, for example, movements of the head, changes in posture, etc.

10. Nummular headache

This type of headache is located only on the scalp and is chronic . Its duration can be variable, and the pain appears with a series of characteristics: coin-shaped, with a perfect contour, a round, fixed size and 1-6 cm in diameter.

10 Horseshoeing headache

Appears during sleep (nighttime and naps) and interrupts sleep. It usually appears in people over 50, although occasionally younger people may suffer from it. It lasts approximately between half an hour and 3 hours and the pain can be of many types.

11. Persistent daily headache de novo

This kind of headache is also known as chronic daily headache of recent onset and is quite unusual. The symptoms can be similar to those of migraine or tension headache, although often the symptoms are similar to the latter. It comes on suddenly, and symptoms occur daily and uninterruptedly.

Secondary headaches

As said, these headaches are secondary to another pathology . There are several types:

  • Headache attributed to head or neck trauma : These are the most common, and can appear after trauma or whiplash. It occurs alone with the headache or together with other symptoms: dizziness, lack of concentration or motor slowing down.
  • Headache attributed to cranial and/or cervical vascular disorder : Usually appears together with vascular or cervical disorders, for example, a stroke.
  • Headache attributed to non-vascular intracranial disorder : The cause is other intracranial disorders that do not belong to the previous group
  • Headache attributed to the administration or suppression of a substance : Due to the use of medication or the withdrawal of medication
  • Headache attributed to infection : The cause is an infection, for example, the flu.
  • Headache attributed to homeostasis disorder : This type of headache occurs together with a homeostasis disorder, for example: high-altitude headache. immersion headache or sleep apnea headache
  • Headache or facial pain attributed to disorder of the skull , neck, eyes, ears, nose, sinuses, teeth, mouth or other facial or cranial structures.
  • Headache attributed to psychiatric disorder : Psychiatric disorders can be, for example, depression or anxiety.

What to do to cope with the headache?

Since there are many types of headaches, there is no universal solution to their symptoms and, in particular, to the discomfort they cause. On the other hand, there is no “cure” for these situations, since the headache is a manifestation of an underlying problem.

Once it has appeared, little can be done to make the pain go away automatically. What can be done is to intervene on the underlying problem and make it less likely that the headache will recur; for example, by improving the diet, getting more rest, resting the eyes, etc. In any case, it is necessary to have medical supervision and a diagnosis of what is happening in order to attack the root of the problem.