Learning About the Different Headache Types
Headaches are generally divided into categories based on symptoms and severity of the headaches. Most people, when they have a headache, have what is called a primary headache. These are the most common types of headaches and are the least dangerous and usually the least severe. They can be quite painful and can cause problems if they persist, though. Your life may not be in danger from primary headaches but your quality of life may suffer as a result of persistent primary headaches. It is important to get treatment if you have chronic primary headaches that are affecting your life in a negative way. Most primary headaches respond well to over the counter medicines.
Cluster headaches are more serious and often much more painful than primary headaches. These are not usually life threatening but the pain can cause people to behave irrationally. Cluster headaches often occur in groups over a period of time and then won’t happen for quite awhile. They are difficult to treat because of their random nature so it is hard to prevent them from happening.
Cluster headaches can be debilitating due to the extreme pain. They often are accompanied by a runny nose, watery eyes and pain that seems to be focused behind the eyes. The pain from these headaches can be overwhelming. If you experience cluster headaches, you should get treatment for them right away from your doctor because over the counter medicine generally does not help.
Secondary headaches are much more dangerous because they often are a sign that you have a much more serious illness or problem that is threatening your life. These headaches should not be ignored because they can be a symptom of a very serious, life threatening problem like a brain tumor, low blood pressure or bleeding in the brain. Get help right away for recurring painful headaches to make sure you do not have something more serious going on. It is important to rule out a more serious condition or get treatment for the underlying problem causing the headaches.
Most people only get primary headaches. Most primary headaches, as many as 90% of them, are stress and tension related. Tension headaches are caused by stress which causes the muscles in your head to contract and put pressure on your head which causes you pain. The pain usually is focused around the eyes and at your temple. Luckily, these can usually be handled by taking over the counter medicines.
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- Available Headache Treatments
- Contact us
- Dealing with Hormonal Headaches
- Determining the Causes of Headaches
- Frequent Headaches Make Life More Difficult
- Headache Clinics: Help for People with Severe and Chronic Headaches
- Headache Medicines Available for Treating Headaches
- Learning About the Different Headache Types
- Pinpointing the Causes of Migraine Headaches
- What are Cluster Headaches and How are they Treated?