Headaches: types and causes

In short: Headaches are among the most common health complaints and have very different causes and forms. The main types are tension headache, migraine, and cluster headache.

In more detail: A distinction is made between primary headaches with no identifiable underlying disease and secondary headaches that are a symptom of another condition.

In detail

• Tension headache: The most common type, often described as a pressing pain on both sides, frequently triggered by stress or muscle tension.

• Migraine: Usually one-sided, throbbing pain, often accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light and noise.

• Cluster headache: Rarer but extremely severe, one-sided pain occurring in recurring attacks.

• Triggers: Lack of sleep, dehydration, certain foods, and screen time can trigger headaches in many people.

• Medication overuse: Taking painkillers too frequently can paradoxically cause headaches itself.

• Warning signs: Sudden onset of extremely severe headache or accompanying symptoms such as visual disturbances require medical evaluation.

• Prevention: Regular sleep, sufficient fluids, and stress management reduce the frequency of many types of headache (schlafhygiene-besser-schlafen, stress-abbauen-und-entspannen).

• Note: Not a substitute for medical advice.