CONDITIONS

Headache

Headaches are pain that occurs in your head, upper neck or even your face. There are several different types of headaches. Migraines and tension headaches are the most common. Other types are cluster headaches and rebound headaches.

Migraines

A migraine is an intense, pounding headache. You can get them once or often, and they can last for hours or days. Migraines are more common in women than men.

Tension headaches

Tension headaches often are brought on by stress. They frequently start in the middle of the day. They may be mild or severe and get worse over time.

Sinus headaches

Sinus headaches are caused by sinus pressure. Your sinuses are small, air-filled spaces located behind your nose, cheekbones, and forehead. When your sinuses get irritated by an infection or allergies, these spaces can swell (become inflamed). This irritation also triggers your sinuses to begin overproducing mucus. Both of these contribute to sinus pressure.

Cluster headaches

A cluster headache is a rare type of headache. Cluster headaches typically start all of a sudden and occur once or more each day for a period of time. Often, they occur at the same time(s) each day. The period may last days or up to 12 weeks.

On average, each headache lasts about 45 to 90 minutes. The most common times for cluster headaches to occur are between 1 and 2 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m., and around 9 p.m. Cluster headaches are more common in men than women.

Rebound headaches

People who have problems with medicine or substance abuse get rebound headaches. These headaches occur most days early in the morning. They also are sometimes referred to as medication-overuse headaches.

Causes

The exact cause of headaches varies and is not always known.

Migraines may be caused by:

• Change in body chemicals.
• Genetics
• Environmental factors.

A lot of factors can cause tension headaches. These include:

• Stress
• Sleep problems.
• Sinus and allergy problems.
• Stiff or sore muscles, which can be brought on by jaw clenching or poor posture.
• Depression.
• Stress
• Hormonal changes in women.
• Certain medicines.
• Certain foods and beverages.

Cluster headaches do not appear to be related to health conditions or diseases of the brain. Some of the triggers of cluster headaches include:

• Taking certain medicines, such as nitroglycerin.
• Heavy smoking.
• Drinking alcohol.
• A change in your normal sleep pattern.
• Abnormal levels of certain hormones.
• Problems with your hypothalamus, which is the part of your brain that controls your body’s “biological clock.”

Overuse of medicine is the main cause of rebound headaches. Be careful taking too much of certain medicines. These include:

• pain medicines
• over-the-counter medicines
• sedatives
• tranquilizers
• ergotamine medicines
• other prescriptions

If you get rebound headaches, these medicines should not be taken more than 2 days a week. Talk with your doctor to find out if you should stop taking these medicines altogether.

Symptoms of headaches

The main symptom of headaches is head pain. Other symptoms vary, based on the type.

Migraines

Migraines are defined by pounding or pulsing head pain. The pain may begin in your forehead, the side of your head, or around your eyes. Migraines often get worse and are hard to get rid of. Movement, bright lights, and loud noises can make the pain worse. Nausea and vomiting are common. You also may have blurry vision or be lightheaded.

Tension headaches

The pain from tension headaches is constant and dull. You may feel it on both sides of your head or around your head, like a band. In addition to pain, you may feel tightness or pressure. The headaches can cause aches in your jaw or neck.

Sinus headaches

Sinus pressure results in headache-like pain in your forehead, around your eyes, or around your nose and cheeks. Straining or sudden movement makes the pain even worse. You may have other symptoms, as well. These include a runny nose, swollen face, and sometimes fever. Your ears may also feel stopped up or like they have pressure, too.

Cluster headaches

The pain from cluster headaches often is severe. It may occur behind or around one or both eyes. The headaches can cause your eyes or nose to become red and swollen. They also can make you feel restless.

Rebound headaches

The pain and symptoms from rebound headaches can vary. Nausea and vomiting are common. You may be anxious, irritable or depressed, or have trouble sleeping.

Diagnosis

Your doctor often can tell what kind of headache you have. He or she can do this by examining you and reviewing your symptoms. It may help if you keep track of the time and pattern of your headaches, as well as how they feel. This can help determine what the causes, or triggers, are and how to treat them. It also helps to rate your level of pain on a scale.

In rare cases, the doctor may perform tests to aid in a diagnosis. These could include lab tests to check your blood or chemical levels. They also could include imaging tests, such as X-rays, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.