Migraine: The most common of vascular headaches, migraines are thought to involve abnormal functioning of the brain’s blood vessels. Migraines cause severe pain on one or both sides of the head, upset stomach, and, at times, disturbed vision. People often describe migraine pain as pulsing or throbbing in one area of the head. During migraines, people become very sensitive to light and sound. They may also become nauseous and vomit. Women are more likely than men to suffer migraines.
Toxic: The second most common type of vascular headache, toxic headache, occurs during fevers from disease.
Cluster: Cluster headaches cause repeated, intense bouts of pain lasting from 15 minutes to three hours or more.
Tension: Ninety percent of all headaches are tension headaches. They are brought on by stressful events and involve the tightening or tensing of facial and neck muscles. Pain is mild to moderate and feels like pressure is being applied to the head or neck. Tension headaches normally disappear after the period of stress is over.
Chronic: Chronic muscle-contraction headache may last for weeks or months. The pain is often described as a tight band around the head or a feeling that the head and neck are in a cast. “It feels like somebody is tightening a giant vise around my head,” says one patient. Pain is steady, and usually felt on both sides of the head. Chronic muscle-contraction headaches can cause sore scalps—even combing one’s hair can be painful.
Traction and Inflammatory: Less common than tension and migraine headaches, these headaches usually are symptomatic of other disorders, ranging from sinus infection to stroke.
When headaches occur three or more times a month, treatment is typically recommended. Pain medication, biofeedback training, stress reduction, and elimination of certain foods from the diet are the most common methods of controlling and preventing vascular headaches. Regular exercise, including swimming or vigorous walking, can also reduce the number and severity of migraines.
Not all headaches require medical attention. But some types signal more serious disorders and call for prompt medical care. These include:
Headaches are felt in different parts of the brain, as shown here:
Face pain may be dull and throbbing or an intense, stabbing discomfort in one or both sides of the face or forehead.
Pain that starts in the face may be caused by a nerve disorder, an injury, or an infection in a structure of the face. Face pain may also begin elsewhere in the body.
Sometimes face pain occurs for no known reason.
Follow the treatment prescribed for the cause of the pain.
Painkillers may provide temporary relief. If the pain is severe or persistent, call your primary health care provider or dentist.
In emergency situations (such as a possible heart attack), you will first be stabilized. Then, the health care provider will take a medical history and perform a physical examination. For tooth problems, expect a referral to a dentist or orthodontist.
What part of your face is in pain?
Is the pain on both sides?
If the pain is only on one side, which side is it on?
Is the pain over a sinus (forehead, cheekbones)?
Did the pain begin suddenly?
Is face pain occurring repeatedly (is it recurrent)?
How long have the episodes of face pain lasted (for how many months)?
How long does each episode of pain last (how many seconds)?
Is the pain worse when speaking, chewing, or swallowing?
Does the pain develop when touching a specific part of the face (trigger point)?
Did face pain occur before the start of a brain or nervous system problem (weakness, speech loss)?
What other symptoms do you have?
Dental x-rays (if a tooth problem is suspected)
ECG (if heart problems are suspected)
Tonometry (if glaucoma is suspected)
X-rays of the sinuses
Neurological tests will be performed if nerve damage is suspected.
