Headaches are classified as either primary or secondary. For primary headaches, the headache pain itself is the illness. In contrast, for secondary headaches, the headache pain is secondary to, and a symptom of some underlying illness. Listed below are some of the different types of headaches.
Excedrin Tension Headache
Primary Headaches :
- Hunger Headaches - Normally occur just before mealtime and are caused by muscle tension, low blood sugar, and rebound dilation of the blood vessels and oversleeping or missing a meal. Usually associated with over zealous dieting or missing meals.
- Tension Type Headaches - Often described as a dull, non-throbbing pain and frequently bilateral. It's said the degree of severity remains constant mainly because it's caused by emotional stress and depression. A tension headache may also cause pain in the back of your neck at the base of your skull and tightness of the scalp.
- Migraine with Aura - Unlike migraine without aura, it involves very specific warning signs which are evident anywhere from ten to thirty minutes before the onset of a migraine attack. The symptoms are usually visual in nature, such as an bright zig-zag lines or a blinding out of vision or both.
The pain is often very intense and can last up to 2 days. Where the pain lasts more than 72 hrs, hospitalization is often recommended. Besides visual disturbances, a numbness in the arm or leg and altered consciousness are characteristics of such headaches.
- Migraine without Aura - Does not have the same warning signs as a migraine with aura and also starts more slowly than a classic migraine with aura. Symptoms include generalized head pain, fatigue, mental confusion, nausea, vomiting, cold hands, sensitivity to sound and light. Causes include certain foods, the Pill or menopausal hormones, changes in weather, bright lights, smoking too much, and stress.
- Cluster Headaches - With all the different types of headaches, cluster headaches are uncommon and tend to affect men (rather than women) between the age of 20 50. Attacks can occur every day for weeks, then disappear for up to a year. Symptoms include excruciating pain in the vicinity of the eyes, tearing of the eyes, nose congestion and flushing of face. Causes include alcoholic beverages and excessive smoking.
- Exertion Headaches - 90% are related to different types of headaches such as migraine or cluster headaches while 10% are caused by such as tumors or malformed blood vessels. A generalized head pain of short duration (minutes to 1 hour) is often experienced and usually follows, or can be during, any form of physical activity such as running, sneezing, coughing or even sexual intercourse.
The above information thankfully comes from theheadacheinfosite.com at the following link.