Headache & Migraine

Headache Network Canada

Headache Network Canada is a registered charitable organization dedicated to providing educational services to headache sufferers and their families.

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There are two main types of headaches: primary headaches (tension, migraine or cluster) and secondary headaches (caused by another medical condition or medication over-use). For primary headaches, the exact cause is not known in most cases, but many appear to be due at least in part to genetic factors. In a way, then, they are part of a person's biochemistry. Although things like stress may make some of them worse, these headaches disorders are not caused by psychological factors, but rather are medical disorders.

1. Migraine:
   Migraine is a chronic biological disorder that makes an individual prone to recurrent headache attacks. Migraine is more than just a headache. Many people with migraine will have nausea and even vomiting with their attacks. Others experience marked sensitivity to light and sound during their headaches. A minority of people with migraine, up to a third, will have neurological symptoms (an aura) before some or all of their headaches, like disturbed vision or numbness and tingling. Fortunately, these symptoms are temporary and usually last less than an hour. People often worry that they are having a stroke when they occur, but unlike a stroke, aura symptoms generally do no harm.
2. Tension headache:
   These come in both intermittent attacks (episodic tension type headaches) and in a form where the headache is very frequent or even continuous. The pain is usually less severe than in migraine, and nausea and light sensitivity is unusual.
3. Cluster headache and related headaches:
   Cluster headaches occur mainly in men, are always one sided, and headache attacks are short (under 3 hours in duration). They may occur several times a day, and often occur at night during sleep.
4. Other primary headaches:
   Included here are a number of different headache types, including new daily persistent headache. This headache type causes a kind of daily headache which starts one day and can persist for many months and even years.