{"id":20136,"date":"2023-01-17T14:12:21","date_gmt":"2023-01-17T19:12:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/?p=20136"},"modified":"2023-03-03T14:48:11","modified_gmt":"2023-03-03T19:48:11","slug":"identifying-common-types-of-headaches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/identifying-common-types-of-headaches\/","title":{"rendered":"Identifying Common Types of Headaches"},"content":{"rendered":"

Headaches can be a real pain in the neck, which most if not all people will experience multiple times throughout their lives. A<\/span> headache<\/span><\/a> is a pain in your head, face or neck which can include pressure that\u2019s throbbing, constant, sharp or dull. It can vary significantly in pain type, severity, location and frequency. Chronic headaches may greatly hinder quality of life if someone is constantly in pain.<\/span><\/p>\n

The first step toward reducing the frequency and severity of headaches is to pinpoint what type of headache you are experiencing, which will help determine the underlying cause. Use our guide to differentiate between the most common types of headaches and to learn how they can be effectively treated.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Cluster Headaches<\/h2>\n

One of the most painful types is the cluster headache, which occurs in cyclical patterns or cluster periods. These may wake you in the night with intense pain in or around one eye, on one side of the head. Bouts of frequent attacks could last weeks or even months. Those<\/span> most affected<\/span><\/a> are often ages 20 to 40. The cause is unknown, but cluster headache patterns suggest that abnormalities in the hypothalamus, which helps regulate the autonomic nervous system in the brain, play a role.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cluster headaches strike quickly, usually without warning, and tend to have recognizable<\/span> symptoms<\/span><\/a>:<\/span><\/p>\n