A Brief Overview of Headaches and Migraine
Published: 22 March 2023
Published: 22 March 2023
Headaches are a varied and common symptom of many conditions. In fact, about 15% of Australians are estimated to be taking medication for a headache at any given time (Better Health Channel 2015).
The term ‘headache’ refers to any pain in the head area (Healthdirect 2021).
Headaches vary in severity, frequency and length. The pain may be sharp, throbbing or dull, with gradual or sudden onset, and may last from less than an hour to several days (Mayo Clinic 2020).
Headaches are common because there are so many different causes (Better Health Channel 2015). In fact, the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3) recognises over 200 types of headaches (The International Headache Society 2018).
Headaches are divided into two categories:
(Mayo Clinic 2020; QLD Health 2017)
A headache can be caused by anything that stimulates the pain receptors in the head or neck (Better Health Channel 2015).
Primary headaches can be related to chemical activity in the brain, nerves or blood vessels surrounding the skull, the muscles in the head and neck, or a combination of these. Some people may have a genetic predisposition to develop primary headaches (Mayo Clinic 2020). Some common types of primary headaches include:
(Mayo Clinic 2020)
Primary headaches may be caused by factors such as:
(Mayo Clinic 2020)
When an underlying condition or external cause activates the pain-sensitive nerves in the head, the individual may experience a secondary headache (Mayo Clinic 2020). Secondary headaches can include:
(Mayo Clinic 2020; Headache Australia 2022)
There are many possible causes of secondary headaches, varying in severity. These include, but are not limited to:
(Mayo Clinic 2020)
Please note this is not a complete list of possible causes.
Migraine is a neurological disorder charactrised by moderate to severe headaches accompanied by nausea. It affects about 4.9 million people in Australia (Migraine & Headache Australia 2021).
Migraine headaches can last between four hours and three days. Some people might experience one or two per year, while others might have two or three per week. Women are commonly more affected than men, which is thought to be related to reduced levels of oestrogen during menstruation (Better Health Channel 2014).
According to diagnostic criteria from the International Headache Society, the symptoms of migraine are:
(Migraine & Headache Australia 2021)
Other migraine symptoms can include:
(Migraine & Headache Australia 2021)
Also known as ‘classic migraine’, this type of migraine is characterised by recurrent migraine symptoms accompanied or preceded by visual and sensory disturbances known as aura (Mayo Clinic 2021; Jesani & Simerson 2019).
Aura symptoms most commonly begin within an hour before migraine symptoms, though sometimes they will occur without a migraine (Mayo Clinic 2021). Aura symptoms may include:
(Mayo Clinic 2021)
Headaches can be caused by a combination of factors and in some cases, a serious underlying issue. Recurring headaches might require tests such as scans, eye tests and sinus x-rays to determine their cause (Better Health Channel 2015). The following factors may be considered when diagnosing a headache:
(Better Health Channel 2015)
Treatment depends on the cause of the headache. If the headache is recurring, it may be triggered by a lifestyle factor or particular behaviour (QLD Health 2017). The following strategies may help to alleviate the pain:
(Healthdirect 2022; QLD Health 2017)
The following strategies may help to prevent headaches:
(QLD Health 2017; Healthy WA 2015)
Most headaches are not serious but in rare cases can indicate a serious medical condition such as a stroke, meningitis or encephalitis (QLD Health 2017). A patient should seek medical attention if they are experiencing:
(Mayo Clinic 2020; QLD Health 2017; Healthy WA 2015)
Question 1 of 3
True or false: Women are more prone to migraines than men.