Primary headaches are those that exist independent from any other medical condition. This is in contrast to secondary headaches that are a result of an underlying medical issue or condition. The International Headache Society has classified over 150 different types of headaches, both primary and secondary. Here is a list of some of the more common primary headaches.
1. Migraine Headaches
Individuals who learn to recognize the phases of a migraine may be able to treat symptoms early on, limiting the duration of these painful and disruptive episodes. Early treatment may involve taking migraine medication immediately, drinking a caffeinated drink, taking a shower, or resting, and may arrest the progression of a headache to a full-blown migraine.2. Migraine with Aura
Many times, migraine headaches are preceded by some sort of visual disturbance known as an aura. They usually occur anywhere minutes to hours before the pain of a migraine starts. These symptoms typically last for anywhere from 10 to 25 minutes. The aura may occur without actual pain, and in these cases it is known as a migraine equivalent.3. Retinal Migraines
Imagine going about your normal daily activities when, suddenly, your vision seems to go haywire. Perhaps it is blurred or obscured by bright flashes of light and color. Or maybe, more frighteningly, a blind spot develops in one eye, causing you to lose all sight in that eye. These kinds of visual changes can signal a migraine episode called "retinal migraine." Sometimes these migraines are described as an ocular or eye migraine.4. Basilar Migraines
Basilar-type headaches are a subtype of a migraine with aura. Before a basilar-type headache begins, it may predict its own arrival with symptoms that can include confusion, dizziness, impaired hearing and perhaps even double vision. These symptoms can terrify a patient and easily be misunderstood by physicians and others.5. Hemiplegic Migraine
Migraine headaches are always painful and disruptive, but on rare occasions, the symptoms preceding a migraine can be downright terrifying. These symptoms resemble those of stroke, and may include dizziness, loss of motor control and one-sided paralysis. Such headaches are termed "hemiplegic headaches": Hemi-, for half (as in hemisphere), and -plegic, for paralysis (as in quadriplegic or paraplegic).6. Menstrual Migraines
Talk about double trouble: In addition to typical premenstrual syndrome (PMS), many women also endure migraine headaches during the same few days. Menstrual migraines are often more severe, last longer, involve vomiting and are more resistant to treatment than the usual migraines. But research is growing on how to treat and even prevent these crippling episodes.7. Migraine without Headache (Silent Migraines)
When is a migraine not a headache? While this might sound like a riddle, it actually has a serious answer. Surprisingly, migraines can occur without the classic pulsing head pain. In fact, about 3 to 5% of people with chronic migraines experience such headache-free migraines, known as "silent migraines."8. Tension-Type Headaches
Tension-type headaches are so called because they cause a dull aching pain that people describe a a band around their heads radiating to their neck. While it feels like the pain is related to tension, scientists are not certain what causes tension type headaches, hence the name "tension-type."9. Cluster Headaches
Cluster headaches are so named due to their frequent occurrence in clustered time periods lasting weeks or months, often striking with such regularity that they can be predicted with pinpoint accuracy by those who endure them. Sinisterly dubbed "suicide headaches," cluster headaches are quite rare, affecting less than 1% of the population. But for these few individuals, the potent pain caused by these headaches can be debilitating, significantly affecting their quality of life.
