Overview
Everyone gets headaches, but not everyone gets the same kind. Some headaches are mild annoyances that go away with over-the-counter pain relievers and rest. Others, like migraines, can shut down a person's life during an attack. About 20 million Americans see a doctor each year for headaches.
Tension, migraine and cluster are types of headaches. The most common is a tension headache, usually from stress, which feels like a tight band around your head. Tension headaches usually go away with rest and over-the-counter medications.
Migraine and cluster headaches are types of vascular headaches. Physical exertion increases the headache pain in vascular headaches. The blood vessels in the tissue surrounding the head dilate or swell, causing your head to throb with pain. Cluster headaches are much less common than migraines, the most common type of vascular headache.
Cluster headaches usually strike several times in rapid succession - lasting weeks or months. Cluster headaches are more common among men and can be extremely painful.
Migraine headaches are different because they involve other parts of the body in addition to the brain. Affecting 28 million Americans, they usually cause severe pain on one or both sides of the head and can be accompanied by nausea and vomiting, light sensitivity, distorted vision and dizziness.
A rebound headache is common in migraine patients, but it can also happen if you take pain relievers more than two or three times a week.
Many people who think they are having sinus headaches may be actually suffering from migraines. A sinus headache usually means constant pain and tenderness over the affected sinus. It is characterized by a deep, dull ache made worse by head movements or straining.
Prognosis
Most headaches are not caused by serious conditions and usually can be treated with over-the-counter medicines. Migraines and other types of serious head pain may need prescription treatments and monitoring by a doctor.
More on Headache Tension Headaches
Headaches: Migraine or Sinuses?
Vascular Headaches
Headaches
Migraine Headaches
When There's a Knock to the Noggin: Dealing With a Head Injury
In the Encyclopedia: Acetaminophen
Antimigraine drugs
Migraine headache
Aspirin
Reye's syndrome
This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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