Headache Center
Are all headaches alike, or are there different types?
Several types of headaches exist, and each type is classified by specific symptoms. Headaches are very common, with 90% of adults experiencing some type of headache pain.
Tension-type headaches are the most common type of headache; about 3 in 4 adults experience these headaches. More women than men have tension-type headaches. The identifying characteristics of these headaches include mild-to-moderate, steady, pressing pain, and pain emanating from both sides of the head. The pain may last from a few hours to several days and is usually treated by self-care approaches or nonprescription (over-the-counter) medications, such as aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol®), or ibuprofen (Advil®).
People who suffer from migraine headaches usually seek medical attention; about 18% of women and 6% of men suffer from migraines. Migraine pain is characterized as a moderate-to-severe, pulsating, throbbing pain often focused on one side of the head. This pain is intensified by simple physical activity. Migraine pain can be managed by a combination of nonprescription and prescription medications and self-care approaches and by avoiding triggers that set off migraine attacks.
Cluster headaches are rare. They occur in less than 1% of the population, and most cluster headache sufferers are men. Cluster headaches include these symptoms: extremely severe one-sided pain around an eye; pain that lasts from 15 minutes to 3 hours; headaches recur with a frequency ranging from once every other day to 8 times per day. Additional symptoms are typical in cluster headache attacks. Doctors prescribe a variety of prescription medications for treating and preventing cluster headaches.
The RealAge Headache Center contains a great deal of useful information. There are many places that you can explore to learn more about headaches, their causes, and how to treat them.
To learn more about tension-type headaches select from these Learn More topics:
- Tension Headaches
- Treatment of Episodic Tension-Type Headaches
- Treatment of Chronic Tension-Type Headaches
To learn more about migraine headaches select from these Learn More topics:
- Migraine Headaches
- Common Migraines and Classic Migraines
- Migraine Auras
- Phases of a Migraine Attack
- Menstrual Migraines
- Recommendations for Treating Migraine Headaches
- Pharmacological Treatment of Migraine Pain
To learn more about cluster headaches read Treatment of Cluster Headaches.
To compare your headache symptoms to those of tension, migraine, and cluster headaches, complete the RealAge Headache Assessment.
