What are the five main types of headaches?

Prepare for the NBEO Systemic Disease Exam. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions to test your knowledge. Each question includes hints and explanations. Enhance your understanding and readiness for the exam.

The identification of the five main types of headaches highlights the most clinically relevant categories typically seen in practice. In this context, the types listed in the chosen answer encompass the major classification of primary and secondary headache disorders.

Migraines, which are recurrent headaches characterized by moderate to severe pain, are accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. Cluster headaches, known for their excruciating pain concentrated around one eye, occur in cyclical patterns or "clusters." Tension-type headaches, the most common form, are characterized by a feeling of tightness or pressure around the head and are often linked to stress or muscle tension.

While brain tumors and hypertension may cause headaches, they are not classified as primary headaches. Brain tumors represent a secondary cause, similar to how other conditions can lead to headache symptoms but are not categorized within the primary headache types. Temporal arteritis, involving inflammation of the blood vessels, can lead to headaches, particularly in older adults, and while it is significant, it is also regarded as a secondary cause of headache rather than a primary type.

Therefore, focusing on migraine, cluster, and tension headaches as the three prominent primary types, along with the inclusion of temporal arteritis as a notable secondary headache type

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