Headaches: Types, Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention

A headache is pain in the head or upper neck. They vary in intensity, duration, and associated symptoms (nausea, photophobia, aura). Common triggers include stress, dehydration, sleep disruption, certain foods, hormonal changes, and environmental factors.

Common Types

• Tension-type: Band-like pressure, mild-moderate, bilateral. Most common.
• Migraine: Throbbing, often unilateral, moderate-severe, with nausea, photophobia, phonophobia, sometimes aura.
• Cluster: Excruciating, unilateral periorbital pain, 15-180 minutes, with autonomic symptoms (tearing, nasal congestion). Occurs in cycles.
• Sinus: Facial pressure/pain with nasal congestion, purulent discharge, fever. Often misdiagnosed; true sinus headache is rare.

Red Flags (Seek Immediate Care)

• Sudden "thunderclap" onset.
• New headache after age 50.
• Headache with fever, stiff neck, confusion, focal weakness.
• Headache worsening with Valsalva or position change.

Prevention

Regular sleep, hydration, stress management, consistent meals, exercise, trigger avoidance, and limiting medication overuse (to prevent rebound headaches).