Headaches
Definition and TypesHeadache Definition
A headache is defined as pain or discomfort in the head (except for the area of the face below the eyes) or in the back of the neck where it connects to the skull.
Headaches are among the most common physical complaints in the general population.
Most headaches are caused by musculoskeletal problems and can be treated without the use of medical procedures or medications. Read more about causes of headaches and about our headache treatments.
What are the different types of headaches?
In medical literature, headaches are divided into two groups: primary headaches and secondary headaches.
- Primary headaches (90% of all headaches)
These are headaches that have no underlying diseases or pathologies. The most common primary headaches are:- tension-type headache (also called muscular headache): This is the most common type of headache. About 80% of headaches experienced by the general population are tension headaches. Tension headaches are muscular (myofascial) in origin and are caused by a sustained contraction of the neck, shoulder, or face muscles.
Read more about how tight muscles can cause headaches. - migraine headache: This is the second most common type of headache, affecting about 13% of the general population. The mechanism of migraines is related to altered signal transmission between different parts of the brain, resulting in a combination of the dilation of blood vessels in the brain and the release of chemicals from nerve fibers that coil around these blood vessels. There is no brain pathology or disease associated with migraines. People outside the medical community frequently use the word migraine to describe excruciating headaches of any origin. Migraines frequently coexist with tension-type headaches. Read more about the relationship between migraines and tension headaches and its significance in the clinical management of migraines.
- cluster headache and other trigeminal autonomic headaches: These headaches, just as migraine headaches, are neurological in nature.
- post-traumatic headache: headaches which occur after a trauma to the head, blow to the head.
- drug withdrawal headache, also called rebound headache
- exertional headache
- tension-type headache (also called muscular headache): This is the most common type of headache. About 80% of headaches experienced by the general population are tension headaches. Tension headaches are muscular (myofascial) in origin and are caused by a sustained contraction of the neck, shoulder, or face muscles.
- Secondary headaches (10% of all headaches)
Secondary headaches are caused by serious pathologic processes or diseases, such as aneurysms, inflammatory diseases, abnormalities of the spinal fluid, brain tumors, etc. Secondary headaches require medical management and cannot be treated conservatively.
Headaches can also be named according to their causes:
- muscular headache: All tension-type headaches (see above), most cervicogenic headaches (see below), and TMJ headaches are muscular headaches. Read more about how tight muscles can cause headaches.
- cervicogenic headache: In a cervicogenic headache, pain perceived in the head and/or face originates from the neck structures (e.g., muscles, joints, discs, ligaments of the neck). Read more about how neck joints can cause headaches.
- TMJ headache: In a TMJ headache, head pain is referred from one or more sources in or around the jaw (e.g., jaw joint, disc, face muscles) and is perceived in one or more regions of the head and/or face. Read more about how tight face muscles can cause headaches.
- postural headache: Postural headaches are headaches that result from poor posture. Since poor posture leads to abnormal tightening of the neck-shoulder muscles and may also cause cervical joint dysfunctions, it is ultimately the tight muscles or involved joints of the neck that refer pain to the head and/or face. Most tension headaches and cervicogenic headaches belong to the category of postural headaches.
- vascular headache: Vascular headaches are caused by dilation (or swelling) of the blood vessels in the head and scalp. Migraine headaches, cluster headaches, and toxic headaches are examples of vascular headaches.
- hormonal headache: Hormonal headaches are caused by hormonal fluctuations.