Approximately 88 percent of women and 69 percent of men experience tension headaches. Nearly 30 million people suffer from migraines, while another 15 million experience chronic headaches of other types. Headaches and migraines range from temporary and annoying to chronic and debilitating.
Tension Type
Very tight, or tense, head and neck muscles characterize tension-type headaches. The onset of these headaches is gradual. Although they are associated with stress, evidence suggests they result from problems with the central nervous system.
Sinus
These headaches are caused by an inflammation of the sinuses. The pain from a sinus headache is dull and throbbing. It is often accompanied by facial pain and fever.
Cluster
Extremely painful headaches that occur in cycles are cluster headaches. Repeated headaches occur over weeks or months, then go into remission. These headaches can cause temporary facial distortions such as a drooping eyelid, redness or swelling near the eye.
Migraine
Migraines are headaches that occur with other symptoms such as sensitivity to light or sound, nausea and vomiting. Migraines can occur with or without an aura. An aura happens before the headache and typically consists of visual disturbances such as shimmering lights.
Rebound
Rebound headaches, also known as medication overuse headaches, occur when headache medications are used too often. If headache medications are used more than two to three times a week, rebound headaches can occur.
References
- Migraine Headache
- Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases; Cluster Headache; Elizabeth Leroux and Anne Ducros; July 2008
- Neurologic Clinics; Tension Type Headache; Lars Bendtsen and Rigmor Jensen; Volume 27, 2009
