Headache Types

Headache is pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck. The severity, symptoms, and causes can vary, and they can stop the strongest people in their tracks. Enormous progress has been made, and we are now using new medications and non-drug therapies to prevent, stop, and manage some of the toughest headaches.

The most common types of headache include the following five types (this is not an exhaustive list):

Tension Headaches, which account for 90% of all headache. Often related to stress, depression, or anxiety, with pain typically generalized all over the head.

Cluster Headaches, which affect more than 1,000,000 in the U.S., 10% of them with chronic cluster. Pain is sharp and extremely painful, occurring several times a day for months until it goes away.

Migraine Headache, which is a disease more common than asthma, diabetes, and coronary heart disease combined. Many experts consider them inherited. They usually occur on one side of the head with throbbing and moderate to severe pain worsened by physical activity.

Menstrual Migraine, which affects 70% of women with migraine, is primarily caused by estrogen fluctuations.

Rebound Headache, which is caused by overuse of medications, including both prescription and over the counter medications (most commonly: narcotics, Advil, Aleve, Excedrin, triptans, caffeine, Codeine, Oxycodone, and other similar medications).