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Discovery Fit & Health
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There are different types of headaches with different causes. The three primary types of headaches are:
- Tension headache: the most common kind, with feelings of pressure and squeezing sensations
- Migraine headache: more severe than a tension headache and often with distorted vision, throbbing and nausea
- Cluster headache: which has the most intense bursts of pain
The International Headache Society has cataloged more than 150 types of headaches. Here are some of the others that are less well known:
- Exertion or exercise headache: usually a result of physical activity
- Mixed headache: with symptoms of both tension and migraine headaches
- Ice cream headache or "brain freeze": caused by cold foods pressing against the palate
- Migraine equivalent: when the pain seems to come from somewhere other than the head
- Hemiplegic migraine: that causes temporary paralysis and sensory loss on one side of the body, followed by a severe headache
- Chronic daily headache: when headaches occur for at least 15 days a month. The category includes chronic migraine, tension and cluster headaches.
Aside from these primary types, there are secondary types of headaches. These can result from injury or illness. Sinus infections are common causes of secondary headaches, where the infection's swelling, pressure, and inflammation cause severe local pain. Secondary headaches can be serious, however. Among the causes of secondary headaches are brain tumors, infections and strokes. It's important to know that secondary headaches can indicate a serious condition that requires urgent medical care, and they are considered early-warning signals.
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