Share |

Headache symptoms, overviews, and treatment information

Headaches are among the most common of all neurological disorders, experienced in one way or another by nearly everyone. There is a wide variety of types of headaches, some of which are common and helped by simple treatment strategies, while others can be extremely debilitating. Headaches that initially seem manageable can become more frequent and more difficult to treat over time, requiring a physician to evaluate the clinical characteristics of the headache syndrome. Painful headache, persistent headache, or any headache with symptoms that make daily activities hard to perform need investigation and possibly specific treatment that can be prescribed only by a physician.

The links to the information below offer you an opportunity to learn about some of the common types of headaches - such as migraine headache, with our without aura; sinus headache; and tension headache - as well as some of the other disorders that are less common and involve severe or troublesome symptoms - such as cluster headache. Each section offers a description of the headache, who it tends to affect, what you may try to relieve symptoms yourself, what some of the common headache causes are, when you should notify your doctor, and what therapies your doctor might prescribe. You may find your headaches resemble those described below, and the information might prepare you for what to expect at a doctor's visit, or it might help you learn a little more about a headache you have been diagnosed with. While the headache information included here is not a substitute for the judgment and expertise of a doctor, it might give you an idea of when to involve a professional and how one might approach a particular headache disorder.

Immediately seek medical attention if you or someone you are caring for experiences any of the following:
  • Stiff neck and a high fever associated with headache
  • Sudden onset of a severe headache
  • Loss of motor function, the ability to think clearly, or convulsions associated with headache
  • Head injury
  • Increased intensity and/or frequency of headaches
Best Matches - Click a disease below to see additional images and learn more.
Migraine, Chronic Chronic migraine is defined as daily or nearly daily headaches 15 or more days per month for more than 3 months. It is also called transformed migraine or chronic daily headache by some. Additionally, the affected…
Tension Headache, Chronic Chronic tension headache is a syndrome of headaches that are mild to moderate in intensity, involve "tightness" or "pressure" on both sides of the head, and are not aggravated by routine physical activity. Nausea…
Cluster Headache Cluster headache is considered a primary headache syndrome, one of a group of headaches with distinctly different features compared to other common headache syndromes (eg, tension headache and migraine). The…
Migraine, Common and Classical Migraine is a collection of symptoms that usually includes headache as the prominent complaint. Sometimes called "sick headache," "weekend headache," and other names, it is very common and most people know…
Medication Overuse Headache Medication overuse headache is a chronic headache syndrome with 3 core criteria: The use of a medication meant to terminate headache is beyond a critical dose and duration (which is specific to the type of…
Sinus Headache Sinus headache involves head pain in the setting of irritation of the sinuses (air-filled chambers present in several bones of the face). This irritation can be secondary to infection of the sinuses by viruses…
Headache (Tension Headache) Tension headache involves intermittent episodes of head discomfort that are mild to moderate in intensity, include non-throbbing "tightness" or "pressure," generally on both sides of the head, and are not…