Head pain, also acknowledged as cephalgia, is classified into two groups, primary or secondary, and all headaches belong to one of these categories. Depending on which group it belongs to and what type of headache it is, the headache symptoms will be different. Primary headaches are standalone, which means they are not coupled with some other disease or syndrome, but are themselves the primary illness. This means that they are not associated with any other underlying pathology. Secondary headaches are those attributed to some other pathologic condition. Secondary headaches are the end result of contagious diseases, neoplasms (tumors), drug-inducements, and other causes of unidentified origin. Primary headaches involve tension headaches, migraine attacks, sinus headaches, along with cluster headaches, and are to a great extent more widespread than secondary types, which are seldom seen. The most commonly seen primary headache is tension-type and it has been estimated that up to 90% of adults experience this type. Women suffer from tension-type headaches two times as frequently as men. Tension-type headaches are repeatedly mistaken for migraines since they include many of the same symptoms. Typically the pain will be mild to moderate and feels similar to a tight band that has been positioned around the head. Tightness is felt from the forehead all the way around to the back of the head and neck. More often than not the pain is pounding in nature, affects the front, sides, back, or top of the skull, and can alternate from moderate to severe throughout the day. These types of headaches may last from a few minutes to several days. A good indication as to whether or not it's a migraine attack or stress headache is that stress-types don't have an effect on vision, equilibrium, or strength. Concerning primary type headaches migraine attacks are the second most frequent type, affecting as many as 30 million people in the United States. Migraines normally commence manifesting their signs and symptoms sometime between the time of puberty and young adulthood, but can also have an effect on kids. In children, migraine symptoms are experienced equally in females and males, but as adults, females are three times more apt than males to be diagnosed with migraine symptoms and signs. Most migraines are a one-sided throbbing pain. They are normally accompanied by transient neurological sensations such as bright flashes of light or zigzagging patterns of light. Additional symptoms and signs can include unsettled stomach, vomiting, and diarrhea. Irritated sinuses are the cause of sinus headaches. Sinuses are cavities in the cheekbones, brow area, and base of the nose that produces mucus which normally drains out the nose. Sinuses can grow to be red and irritated due to infections, allergic reactions, and additional disorders, which can prevent the natural flow of mucus. This buildup of mucus can cause enough pressure to result in a sinus headache. Classic symptoms and signs of a sinus headache are pain in the facial and forehead regions. In addition to the pain there is usually a high amount of nasal mucus flow, fever, and puffiness in the face. Cluster headaches, also called "suicide headaches," are a good deal more uncommon than tension-type or migraine and occur in just 0.1% of the population. They affect men the greater part of the time and "intense pain" is their well-known attribute. They are at variance from migraines in that they come on rapidly. They are nearly exclusively unilateral which is why they are often mistaken for brain tumors or even multiple sclerosis. Secondary headaches can be anywhere from mild to moderate to severe to life threatening. They can be caused by comparatively minor events such as caffeine withdrawal or discontinuance of pain medication and also from life threatening diseases such as tumors, strokes, and spinal meningitis. They can additionally be the consequence of coughing and eye strain. In addition to those listed there are lots of other headache types, with each possessing their own unique symptoms and signs. The vast majority fit in the primary category although a smaller percentage of headaches are classified as secondary. It is frequently complicated, even for the trained, to analyze the different types of headaches appropriately, as lots of the same symptoms overlap the various types.
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What is causing your headache symptoms? Are your headaches primary or secondary? What variety of headache symptoms do you suffer with? Migraine headache pain? Stress? Cluster? Sinus? Discovering the answers can be the first step to stopping your headache symptoms once and for all!
Dr. Joshua Harding, Doctor of Chiropractic, has helped countless patients find relief from their painful headaches over a 25 year career in the health field. As a headache expert there is nothing he enjoys more than relieving someone of their pain. You can sign up for his free 10-part headache mini course to learn more about headache symptoms.
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