The Complete Headache Chart

Type

Symptoms

PrecipitatingFactors
Alcohol,whichcauses
dilationandirritation
ofthebloodvesselsof
thebrainand
surroundingtissue.

Hangover
Headaches

Migrainelikesymptomsof
throbbingpainandnausea
notlocalizedtooneside.

Caffeine
Withdrawal
Headaches

Throbbingheadachecaused
byrebounddilationofthe
bloodvessels,occurring
Caffeine.
multipledaysafter
consumptionoflarge
quantitiesofcaffeine.

Treatment

Prevention

Liquids(includingbroth).
Consumptionoffructose
Drinkalcoholonlyin
(honey,tomatojuicearegood moderation.
sources)tohelpburnalcohol.

Inextremecases,treatby
terminatingcaffeine
consumption.

Avoidingexcessuseof
caffeine.

Causemustbeaccurately
Generalizedheadpainof
determined.Mostcommonly
shortduration(minutesto1 10%causedbyorganic
treatedwithaspirin,
hour)duringorfollowing
diseases(aneurysms,
indomethacin,orpropranolol. Alternativeformsof
physicalexertion(running, tumors,orbloodvessel
ExertionHeadaches
Extensivetestingisnecessaryto exercise.Avoidjarring
jumping,orsexual
malformation).90%
determinetheheadachecause. exercises.
intercourse),orpassive
arerelatedtomigraine
Surgerytocorrectorganic
exertion(sneezing,coughing, orclusterheadaches.
diseaseisoccasionally
movingone'sbowels,etc.).
indicated.
Localizedorgeneralizedpain,
canmimicmigraineor
Paincanoccurafter
relativelyminor
tensiontypeheadache
Possibletreatmentbyuseof
PostTraumatic
Standardprecautions
symptoms.Headaches
traumas.Causeofpain antiinflammatorydrugs,
Headaches
againsttrauma.
usuallyoccurondailybasis isoftendifficultto
propranolol,orbiofeedback.
andarefrequentlyresistant diagnose.
totreatment.
Painstrikesjustbefore
mealtime.Causedbymuscle
Regular,nourishingmeals
tension,lowbloodsugar,and Strenuousdietingor
containingadequateprotein Sameastreatment.
HungerHeadaches
rebounddilationoftheblood skippingmeals.
andcomplexcarbohydrates.
vessels,oversleepingor
missingameal.
Amusclecontractiontypeof
pain,sometimes
Causedby
Temporomandibul
Relaxation,biofeedback,useof
malocclusion(poor
accompaniedbyapainful
arJoint(TMJ)
biteplate.Inextremecases,
Sameastreatment.
"clicking"soundonopening bite),stress,andjaw
Headaches
correctionofmalocclusion.
thejaw.Infrequentcauseof clenching.
headache.
Short,jablikepainintrigger
Causeunknown.Pain
areasfoundintheface
aroundthemouthorjaw.
fromchewing,coldair,
TicDouloureux Frequencyandlongevityof touchingface.Ifunder Anticonvulsantsandmuscle
None.
Headaches
relaxants.Neurosurgery.
painvaries.Relativelyrare age55,mayresult
fromneurological
diseaseoftheneural
impulses;morecommonin disease,suchasMS.
womenafterage55.
Generalizedheadpainthat
developswithfever.Caused
Aspirin,acetaminophen,
FeverHeadaches
Causedbyinfection.
None.
NSAIDs,antibiotics.
byswellingoftheblood
vesselsofthehead.

Painatthebackofheador
neck.Intensifieson
movement.Causedby
Causeofpainis
Antiinflammatorydrugs,
ArthritisHeadachesinflammationoftheblood
None.
unknown.
musclerelaxants.
vesselsoftheheadorbony
changesinthestructuresof
theneck.
Usuallyfrontal,bilateralpain, Muscleimbalance.
Eyestrain
directlyrelatedtoeyestrain. Uncorrectedvision,
Correctionofvision.
Sameastreatment.
Headaches
Rarecauseofheadache.
astigmatism.
Aboring,burning,orjabbing
paincausedbyinflammation
ofthetemporalarteries.
Causeisunknown.May
Steroidsafterdiagnosis.
TemporalArteritis Pain,oftenaroundear,on beduetoimmune
None.
Confirmedbybiopsy.
chewing.Weightloss,
disorder.
eyesightproblems.Rarely
affectspeopleunder50.
Painprogressivelyworsens,
projectilevomiting,possible
visualdisturbancesspeechor
Ifdiscoveredearly,treatwith
personalitychanges;
Causeoftumoris
TumorHeadache
surgeryornewerradiological None.
problemswithequilibrium, usuallyunknown.
methods.
gait,orcoordination;
seizures.Extremelyrare
condition.
Rest,aspirin,acetaminophen,
ibuprofen,naproxensodium,
Dull,nonthrobbingpain,
combinationsofanalgesicswith Avoidanceofstress.Use
ofbiofeedback,
frequentlybilateral,
caffeine,icepacks,muscle
TensionType
Emotionalstress.
relaxationtechniquesor
associatedwithtightnessof
relaxants.Antidepressantsif
Headaches
Hiddendepression.
antidepressant
scalporneck.Degreeof
appropriate,biofeedback,
medication.
severityremainsconstant.
psychotherapy.Ifnecessary,
temporaryuseofstronger
prescriptionanalgesics.
Certainfoods,thePill Icepacks;isometheptene
Biofeedback,
ormenopausal
mucate,combinationproducts betablockers
hormones,excessive containingcaffeine,ergotamine,(propranolol,timolol),
Severe,onesidedthrobbing
hunger,changesin
DHEinjectableandnasalspray, anticonvulsant
Migrainewithout pain,oftenaccompaniedby
5HTagonists;analgesicsor
altitude,weather,
(divalproexsodium).
Aura
nausea,vomiting,coldhands,
medications,whichconstrict Calciumblockersand
lights,excessive
sensitivitytosoundandlight.
thebloodvessels.For
smoking,and
NSAIDsmaypreventor
prolongedattackssteroidsmay treatmigraine
emotionalstress.
Hereditarycomponent. behelpful.
headaches.
Similartomigrainewithout
aura,exceptwarning
Atearliestonsetofsymptoms,
treatusingbiofeedback,
symptomsdevelop.May
Preventwithsame
includevisualdisturbances, Sameasmigraine
ergotamine,dihydroergotamine
MigrainewithAura
techniquesasmigraine
withoutaura.
ora5HTagonist.Oncepainhas
numbnessinarmorleg.
withoutaura.
begun,treatmentisidenticalto
Warningsymptomssubside
migrainewithoutaura.
withinonehalfhour,
followedbyseverepain.

Excruciatingpaininvicinityof
eye.Tearingofeye,nose
congestion,flushingofface.
Painfrequentlydevelops
duringsleepandmaylastfor Alcoholicbeverages,
ClusterHeadaches
severalhours.Attacksoccur excessivesmoking.
everydayforweeks/month,
thendisappearforuptoa
year.80%ofclusterpatients
aremale,mostages2050.

Menstrual
Headaches

Oxygen,ergotamine,
sumatriptanorintranasal
applicationoflocalanesthetic
agent.

Migrainetypepainthat
occursshortlybefore,during,
Variancesinestrogen
orimmediatelyafter
Sametreatmentasmigraine.
levels.
menstruationoratmidcycle
(attimeofovulation).

Useofsteroids,
ergotamine,calcium
channelblockersand
lithium.

Smalldosesof
vasoconstrictorsand/or
antiinflammatorydrugs
beforeandduring
menstrualperiodmay
preventheadaches.
Hysterectomydoesnot
curemenstrual
headaches.

Generalizedor"hairband"
Severehypertension:
Treatwithappropriateblood Toprevent,keepblood
typepain,mostsevereinthe
over200systolicand
morning.Diminishes
pressuremedication.
pressureundercontrol.
110diastolic.
throughoutday.
Symptomsmaymimic
frequentmigraineorcluster
headaches,causedby
balloonlikeweaknessor
bulgeinbloodvesselwall.
Congenitaltendency. Ifaneurysmisdiscoveredearly, Toprevent,keepblood
Aneurysm
Mayrupture(stroke)orallow
pressureundercontrol.
Extremehypertension. treatwithsurgery.
bloodtoleakslowlyresulting
inasudden,unbearable
headache,doublevision,rigid
neck.Individualrapidly
becomesunconscious.
Gnawingpainovernasal
area,oftenincreasingin
severitythroughoutday.
Causedbyacuteinfection,
Infection,nasalpolyps,
usuallywithfever,producing
Treatwithantibiotics,
anatomical
blockageofsinusductsand
SinusHeadaches
None.
deformities,suchasa decongestants,surgical
preventingnormaldrainage.
deviatedseptum,that drainageifnecessary.
Sinusheadachesarerare.
blockthesinusducts.
Migraineandcluster
headachesareoften
misdiagnosedassinusin
origin.
Seasonalallergens,
Antihistaminemedication;
Generalizedheadache.Nasal suchaspollen,molds. topical,nasalcortisonerelated
AllergyHeadaches
None.
congestion,wateryeyes.
Allergiestofoodare spraysordesensitization
notusuallyafactor. injections.
Hypertension
Headaches

Source:http://www.headaches.org/press/NHF_Press_Kits/Press_Kits__The_Complete_Headache_Chart