Causes and classification
1. primary, idiopathic headache without underlying disease:
- Tension headache
- Migraine
- Cluster headache
- Mixed and other, rarer primary forms.
2. secondary headache: the causes of secondary headache as a result of a disease, a particular condition or substances are numerous: head or cervical trauma:
- Posttraumatic headache
- Cervical spine acceleration trauma
Vascular disorders of the head or neck:
- Ischemic infarction
- Transient ischemic attack
- Cerebral vein thrombosis
Non-vascular intracranial disorders:
- Lumbar puncture
- Neoplasms
Substances or withdrawal from substances:
- Drug-induced headache
- Intoxicants and stimulants: cocaine, alcohol, cannabis
- Headache as an adverse effect of medications, e.g., nitrates, phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, oral contraceptives (hormonal contraception)
- After withdrawal of a substance, e.g., caffeine withdrawal headache, opioid withdrawal headache, estrogen withdrawal headache.
Food:
- Histamine headache, see histamine intolerance.
Infectious diseases:
- Meningitis
- Encephalitis
- Brain abscess
Disorders of homeostasis:
- Hypoxia, altitude sickness
- Hypertension
- Hypothyroidism
- Heat disorders such as sunstroke
Diseases of the skull, as well as the throat, eyes, ears, nose, sinuses, teeth, mouth, and others:
- Sinusitis
Psychiatric disorders:
- Somatization disorder
- Psychotic disorder
Some warning signs of serious headache
- Sudden onset
- Onset at an advanced age
- Increased frequency
- Associated symptoms such as stiff neck, fever, rash.
- Headache after head trauma
Drug treatment
See individual indications