4 Common Types of Headaches – Symptoms & Duration
There are several hundred types of headaches, but there are four very common types: sinus, tension, migraine, and cluster. Headaches are always classified as either primary or secondary. A primary headache is a headache that is not caused by another condition or sickness. Causes of primary headaches include stress, sleep deprivation, alcohol, skipped meals, fatigue, and certain processed foods. Secondary headaches are due to another condition, such as an injury, infection, or sickness, and can range from harmless to very dangerous.
If you are experiencing headaches that occur more often than usual, are more severe than usual, do not improve with over-the-counter drugs, or keep you from participating in normal activities, please see a doctor.
Migraine
Symptoms: pain in the face or neck, throbbing in one area, sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, distorted vision
Duration: 4 to 72 hours
Primary or secondary: Primary
Tension
Symptoms: dull pain on either side of the head, and pressure across the forehead
Duration: 30 minutes to several hours
Primary or secondary: Primary
Sinus
Symptoms: pain in the face, sinuses, eyes, ears, or forehead, congestion, itching, runny nose, fever, swelling in the face
Duration: several days to weeks (if treated)
Primary or secondary: Secondary
Cluster
Symptoms: severe pain on one side of the head, usually around the eye, accompanied with a drooping eyelid, small pupil, tearing, runny nose or redness on the same side of the head
Duration: cluster periods can last for weeks or several months, usually followed by a period of remission that can last for several months or several years.
Primary or secondary: Primary
If you are in the Columbus, Ohio area and you are suffering from headaches, contact us to make an appointment at our Headache Clinic today! We can tell you what type of headache you are suffering from and help you find the relief you deserve.