In this Article

• What is a headache?
• How are headaches classified?
• What are primary headaches?
• What are secondary headaches?
• What are cranial neuralgias, facial pain, and other headaches?
• What causes tension headaches?
• What are the symptoms of tension headaches?
• How are tension headaches diagnosed?
• How are tension headaches treated?
• What causes cluster headaches?
• What are the symptoms of cluster headaches?
• How are cluster headaches diagnosed?
• How are cluster headaches treated?
• Can cluster headaches be prevented?
• What diseases cause secondary headaches?
• How are secondary headaches diagnosed?
• What are the exams and tests for secondary headaches?
• When should patients with headache seek medical care?
• Headache at a Glance
• Headache & Migraine Triggers - Slideshow
• Patient Discussions: Headache - Effective Treatments
• Headache Glossary
• Headache Index

When should patients with headache seek medical care?

A patient should seek medical care if their headache is:

• The "worst headache of your life"
  
  
• Different than your usual headaches
  
  
• Starts suddenly or is aggravated by exertion, coughing, bending over, or sexual activity
  
  
• Associated with persistent nausea and vomiting
  
  
• Associated with fever or stiff neck
  
  
• Associated with seizures
  
  
• Associated with recent head trauma or a fall
  
  
• Associated with changes in vision, speech, or behavior
  
  
• Associated with weakness or change in sensation
  
  
• Not responding to treatment and is getting worse
  
  
• Requires more than the recommended dose of over-the-counter medications for pain
  
  
• Disabling and interfering with work and quality of life

Headache At A Glance

• The head is one of the most common sites of pain in the body.
  
  
• The most common types of headache can be classified as 1) primary, 2) secondary, and 3) cranial neuralgias, facial pain, and other headaches.
  
  
• The most common types of primary headaches are 1) tension, 2) migraine, and 3) cluster.
  
  
• Tension headaches are the most common type of primary headache and usually are treated with over-the-counter medications for pain
  
  
• Secondary headaches are a symptom of an injury or an underlying illness.
  
  
• Patients should seek medical care for new onset headaches, fever, stiff neck, change in behavior, vomiting, weakness or change in sensation.

References: International Headache Society, "The Classification," http://ihs-classification.org/en/02_klassifikation/

Previous contributing author and editor: Dennis Lee, MD and Harley I. Kornblum, MD, PhD

Headache - Effective Treatments

The MedicineNet physician editors ask:

What kinds of treatments have been effective for your headache?

Comment submissions for this question have ended.
See 25 Viewer Comments

View Comments

Suggested Reading by Our Doctors

• ibuprofen, Advil, Children's Advil/Motrin, Medipren, Motrin, Nuprin, PediaCare Fever, etc. - Explains the medication ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin, Medipren) a drug used for the management of mild to moderate pain, fever, and inflammation. Article includes descriptions, uses, drug interactions, and side effects.
• Liver Blood Tests - Learn about liver blood tests used to detect liver damage disease such as fatty liver, cirrhosis, hepatitis, Tylenol liver damage, and more. This includes measuring the aminotransferases enzymes (AST and ALT levels)
• Swine Flu - Get the facts on swine flu (swine influenza A H1N1 virus) history, symptoms, how this contagious infection is transmitted, prevention with a vaccine, diagnosis, treatment, news and research.

Read more Headache related articles »

Latest Medical News

• My 10-Day Ordeal With the Swine Flu
• Shingles Recurs More Often Than Thought
• Migraine With Aura Can Double Stroke Risk
• Money Woes Keeping Many Couples From Fertility Treatments