A headache is the most common form of pain. It’s one of the main reasons people miss days at work or school or visit the doctor (1). In fact, the National Headache Foundation estimates that 28 million Americans suffer from migraines alone (2).
Because headaches have so many different causes, from the cold to premenstrual syndrome, it can be difficult for sufferers to understand what kind of headache they are experiencing and how to manage their condition.
Types of Headaches
The most common headaches are caused by either vascular problems (high blood pressure, toxic overload, etc.), muscle contractions (tension, stress, etc) and inflammation (infection) (3).
1. TMJ Headache
A TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) headache is caused by problems with the jaw, jaw joint and lower facial muscles. This can be due to teeth grinding or clenching, tension in the jaw, dislocation of the jaw joint and arthritis. This pain doesn’t just occur in the jaw, it can also spread upwards towards the cheeks, temples and ears or downwards to the neck and shoulder (4).
2. Sinus Headache
As its name implies, a sinus headache occurs when sinuses become inflamed or blocked. This can cause pain behind the cheeks, nose and eyes that gets worse when your bend forward or when you wake up. Common causes include allergic reaction, a tumor, or an infection. Depending on its underlying cause, symptoms can closely resemble those of a migraine (5).
3. Cluster Headache
