15 Types & Causes of Headaches

Migraine: A common type of headache that may occur with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light. In many people, a throbbing pain is felt oniy on one side of the head.

Tension headache: Pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck, usually associated with muscle tightness in these areas.

Cluster headache: One-sided head pain that may involve watering of the eyes and a stufI5 nose. Attacks occur regularly for one week to one year, separated by long pain-free periods that last at least one month, possibly longer.

Head injury: Goes without saying — an impact on the head does produce considerable headache.

Stroke: A sudden loss of consciousness resulting when the rupture or occlusion of a blood vessel leads to lack of oxygen in the brain.

Subarachnoid Haemorrhage (SAH): Bleeding in the subarachnoid space — the area between the brain and the thin tissues that cover the brain.

Tumour: Whether it is benign or malignant, turnouts are a certified cause of headaches.

Meningitis: Inflammation of the thin tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, called the meninges.

Encephalitis: An inflammation of the brain.

Hypertension: Blood pressure remaining abnormally high (a reading of 140/90 mm Hg or greater).

Sinusitis: Your sinuses are hollow air spaces within the bones surrounding the nose. They produce mucus, which drains into the nose. If your nose is swollen, this can block the sinuses and cause pain and infection.

Glaucoma: An eye disease that damages the optic nerve and impairs vision (sometimes progressing to blindness).

Chronic analgesic use and abuse: Medication Overuse Headaches (MOH), also known as rebound headaches, usually occur when analgesics are taken frequently to relieve headaches. They typically occur in patients with an underlying headache disorder such as migraine or tension headaches that “transforms” over time from an episodic condition to chronic daily headache due to excessive intake of acute headache medicarions.

High altitude: As altitude increases, the concentration of oxygen remains that of sea level (21 per cent) but the number of oxygen molecules per breath is reduced. It falls down to 40 per cent fewer oxygen molecules per breath, when you reach 12,000 feet. High altitude and lower air pressure also cause fluid to leak from the capillaries, which can cause fluid build-up in both the lungs and the brain.

Hypoglycaemia: Abnormally low blood sugar usually resulting from excessive insulin or a poor diet.