Headache is a very common condition that affects virtually everyone. Some individuals have more debilitating headaches than the others severely affecting their quality of life.
The two commonest type of headaches seen in clinical practice are migraine and tension headache.
Headaches: What It Is, Types, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
When you're experiencing a severe headache, you might not be able to do all the things that you need to do in your everyday life. This can be stressful, on top of having a headache that is already painful and irritating.
Headaches are a feeling of discomfort or pain in the general face and head area. Broadly speaking, there are a few different kinds of headaches, like migraine headaches, cluster headaches, thunderclap headaches, and tension headaches. Regardless of the kind of headache you experience, it is possible to find relief. Let's discuss headaches so that you can be more informed. This article is part of our guide to understanding brain aneurysm headaches. For a complete overview, visit, Brain Aneurysm Headaches: When to Worry and What Different Headaches Mean.
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Common Questions About Headache Types, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
What are the different types of headaches?
Headaches can occur for many different reasons and are generally classified into two main categories:
Primary headaches
Primary headaches occur without another underlying medical condition causing the pain.
Common examples include:
Tension headaches
These are among the most common types of headaches and may feel like:
- Pressure or tightness around the head
- A band-like sensation
- Mild to moderate discomfort
They may be associated with:
- Stress
- Poor posture
- Muscle tension
- Fatigue
Migraine headaches
Migraines are neurological conditions that may cause:
- Moderate to severe headache pain
- Throbbing sensations
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Nausea or vomiting
- Visual disturbances (aura in some patients)
Cluster headaches
Cluster headaches are less common but can cause:
- Severe pain around one eye
- Eye watering
- Nasal congestion
- Repeated attacks occurring in clusters
Secondary headaches
Secondary headaches occur due to another underlying condition.
Possible causes include:
- Brain aneurysm
- Stroke
- Brain tumour
- Head injury
- Infection
- Blood vessel disorders
- Increased pressure inside the skull
Secondary headaches require assessment because treating the underlying cause is important.
What causes headaches?
Headaches can have many possible triggers or underlying causes.
Common causes include:
Lifestyle-related causes
- Stress
- Lack of sleep
- Dehydration
- Skipping meals
- Excessive screen time
- Poor posture
Neurological causes
- Migraine
- Nerve-related pain
- Brain inflammation
Vascular causes
Problems involving blood vessels may contribute to certain headaches, including:
- Brain aneurysms
- Bleeding around the brain
- Blood vessel abnormalities
Medication-related causes
Frequent use of some headache medications may contribute to medication-overuse headaches.
A proper assessment helps determine whether headaches are primary or related to another condition.
When should I worry about a headache?
Most headaches are not caused by serious conditions. However, certain warning signs require medical assessment.
Seek urgent medical attention if you experience:
- A sudden severe headache that reaches maximum intensity quickly
- A headache described as the “worst headache of your life”
- A new headache unlike your usual headaches
- Headache after a head injury
- Headache with weakness, numbness or speech difficulties
- Headache with seizures
- Headache with confusion or loss of consciousness
- Headache associated with vision changes
These symptoms may indicate a more serious neurological or vascular condition.
Can a headache be a sign of a brain aneurysm?
A brain aneurysm may sometimes cause headaches, although many unruptured aneurysms do not cause symptoms.
A sudden, severe headache can occur if a brain aneurysm ruptures.
Warning signs of a ruptured brain aneurysm may include:
- Sudden intense headache
- Neck stiffness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of consciousness
- Seizures
- Sudden neurological symptoms
If a headache is sudden, severe or associated with neurological symptoms, emergency assessment is required.
What is the difference between a migraine and a dangerous headache?
Migraines and serious secondary headaches can sometimes have overlapping symptoms, but there are differences.
| Feature | Migraine | Possible Serious Headache |
|---|---|---|
| Onset | Often develops gradually | May occur suddenly |
| Pattern | May follow a familiar pattern | New or unusual headache |
| Symptoms | Light sensitivity, nausea, aura | Neurological symptoms, confusion, loss of consciousness |
| Assessment | Usually managed based on symptoms | May require urgent investigation |
A change in headache pattern or the development of warning symptoms should always be assessed.
Headaches Symptoms
There are a variety of symptoms that you might experience when you have a headache. For example, you might feel like you're sick to your stomach, and you might even vomit. However, you might just feel lightheaded and sensitive to any light that is around you.
Usually, you're going to feel pain on either both or one side of your head. Your head might even hurt to the touch, and in some instances, you might feel like your eyes are watering and your eyelids are drooping.
Headaches Causes
The cause of your headache varies, depending on the kind of headache you're experiencing. It might be caused by things like medicine, lack of water and food, or hormonal imbalances. However, a headache could be caused by things like a neck injury, eye problems, infections, and teeth issues.
Diagnoses of Headaches
Depending on the frequency and severity of your headache, you might find that it's beneficial to have an official diagnosis. If you're in pursuit of a diagnosis, a healthcare professional might decide to do an MRI, which is important if you're having troubling symptoms. For example, if you're having long headaches, sudden headaches, or new headaches, an MRI is important because it will determine if other, more severe issues are occurring. If none of these symptoms are happening, you will simply need a clinical assessment or a physical examination.
Different Types of Headaches
There are several different types of headaches. A primary headache refers to a headache that is the primary medical issue. So, if you get a headache that is a primary headache, your main medical issue is the headache itself.
A primary headache includes:
- Migraine headache
- Cluster headache
- Tension-type headache
A secondary headache, on the other hand, refers to a headache that is caused by another underlying medical issue. You might have a neck injury, teeth and gum issues that cause pain, or meningitis. Usually, a headache is a primary headache, and several different kinds of headaches fall under this category. They are also known as 'organic" headaches and may occur due to head injury or another disorder. They can include:
- Tumor
- Highblood pressure
- Infections
- Other headache diseases and disorders
Migraine Vs Headache
The difference between a migraine and a headache is that migraines are neurological condition that affects both your nerve pathways and the chemicals in your brain. When there are changes in the way your brain is working, it will trigger a plethora of symptoms, like fatigue, pain, dizziness, and nausea. Simple headaches are not necessarily a migraine because of a difference in the way your brain functions.
People can sometimes mistake a brain aneurysm for a migraine because the symptoms of these two conditions can overlap, making it difficult to differentiate between them. Read in our article, "Migraine vs. Brain Aneurysm" and the reasons why this confusion can occur and mislead patients.
When to Consider a Headache Specialist Assessment in Singapore
Many headaches are caused by common conditions such as migraines or tension headaches. However, certain headache patterns require further evaluation to identify possible neurological or vascular causes.
Consider seeking specialist assessment if you:
- Have a new headache that is different from your usual pattern.
- Experience sudden severe headaches.
- Have headaches associated with weakness, numbness, speech difficulties or vision changes.
- Have been diagnosed with a brain aneurysm or vascular abnormality.
- Have persistent headaches that affect daily activities.
- Have headaches that continue despite treatment.
- Want a second opinion regarding the cause of your headaches.
At the Supreme Vascular and Interventional Clinic, headache assessment focuses on identifying whether symptoms may be related to underlying vascular or neurovascular conditions. Your specialist will review your symptoms, medical history and relevant imaging to determine whether further investigation or treatment may be appropriate.
Seek emergency medical attention immediately if you experience a sudden severe headache, loss of consciousness, seizures, sudden weakness, difficulty speaking or other sudden neurological symptoms.
Learn more about our assessment and headache management techniques.
Additional Headache Management Techniques
For patients who don't respond well to medication or experience significant side effects, there are additional options called interventional headache management techniques. These techniques are offered as an alternative and can be combined with medical treatment for better results.
Managing your headache is possible when you use medicine and newer injection-based treatements. These methods are proven to help those with headaches find relief.
Interventional Headache Management
Interventional headache management treatments for headaches involve procedures like nerve blocks (typically guided by ultrasound) and botox injections. They can reduce the severity of headaches. These treatments are usually performed in a clinic setting, and patients can go home right after the procedure. If you experience headaches, it can be a non-specific neurological symptom of brain aneurysm. What is a brain aneurysm headache? A brain aneurysm headache is a severe and sudden headache when patients experience the worst headache of their lives. Learn more about the different types of brain aneurysm headaches in our brain aneurysm resources.
If you're thinking, 'I need a headache clinic near me or a headache doctor near me' or 'Is my headache a brain aneurysm?', visit Supreme Vascular and Interventional Clinic. Our team and headache and brain aneurysm specialist, Dr. Manish Taneja, is committed to helping people in Singapore find relief from their headaches. Find more answers to commonly asked brain aneurysm and stroke questions from our patients with Dr. Manish Taneja
Whether you're looking for a neurointerventional doctor or a neurointerventional clinic in Singapore, we are here to help. We encourage you to reach out for more information or to schedule a consultation with one of our specialists.
Supreme Vascular and Interventional Clinic Treatments
There are more several types of neurointerventional conditions we offer to treat different problems including headache and brain aneurysm in Singapore. Swipe to learn more.
Read More About Neurointerventional Treatments on Our Blog
To dive deeper into the types of neurointerventional treatments, head over to our clinic’s blog and view our helpful video guides. Read our recommended neurointerventional treatments related blog posts to stay informed.
What is a brain aneurysm? Read our helpful ultimate guide post to learn brain aneurysm causes, symptoms, treatment options, and more.
- Stroke Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment: A Complete Guide
- Brain Aneurysm Q&A with Dr. Manish Taneja
- 10 Brain Aneurysm Questions Answered
- The Ultimate Guide to Brain Aneurysm
- Conversation with Dr. Manish Taneja on Brain Aneurysm Advances and Care
- The Dangers of Brain Aneurysm
- Brain Aneurysm: Best Minimally Invasive Treatments
- Types of Stroke: Ischaemic, Hemorraghic, and TIAS
- Brain AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation)
Brain Aneurysm Resources
Discover brain aneurysm resources that go beyond the basics designed for patients. Understand the meaning of a brain aneurysm condition, the causes, symptoms, signs, and more. Connect with your brain health.
Put Brain Aneurysm on Your Health Radar
Did you experience the worst headache of your life? Thoughts could be racing through your mind. A brain aneurysm is a weak spot in a blood vessel in the brain that can change over time. The key concern is when an aneurysm ruptures, which can disrupt blood flow, affect brain tissue, and lead to serious brain damage. Controllable conditions like high blood pressure can increase this risk and treatment options can depend on the condition. Surgical clipping is one option that prevents blood from entering the weakened area. In many cases, minimally invasive treatments can also be used to restore normal blood flow and reduce risk. We have created structured guides to help you explore each stage in more detail:
A simple (computed tomography) CT scan could be just what the doctor ordered and the first step in early detection and prevention of a brain aneurysm. Come in for an easy consultation with our brain aneurysm specialist in Singapore to be on your health radar.
Neurointerventional Treatments
The Supreme Vascular and Interventional Clinic, is your "go-to" facility for various conditions and pain management. Our state-of-the-art facilities and dedication to patient satisfaction ensure we help you best with a positive outcome. To learn more about how to deal with headaches, contact us to arrange an appointment on our website with Dr. Manish Taneja, or call us at +65 6904 8084.