Primary Headaches
Some important ones are:
- Migraine (& its variants)
- Tension Headache (most common type)
- Cluster Headache
Migraine vs. Tension Headache (Comparison)
| Feature | Migraine | Tension Headache | Cluster Headaches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Usually unilateral | Mostly bilateral/generalized | Unilateral |
| Cause | Due to vasoconstriction | Due to tense muscles | Unknown - may be Hypothalamus, which somehow affects the trigeminal nerve |
| Nausea/Vomiting | Yes | No | //////// |
| Neuro Features | May be present | No | yes |
| Triggering Factors | Similar | Similar | unknown |
| Aura | Often present | No | No |
| Pain Quality | Usually throbbing | Tight band like | Severe |
| Light/Sound Sensitivity | Yes | Yes | //////// |
| Treatment | Analgesics, ergotamine, triptans etc. | Simple analgesics only (relaxon) | Acute: O2 / triptants Chronic: Verapamil, lithium tablets |