The brain itself has no pain receptors, so a headache comes from nearby tissues like muscles, vessels, and nerves. Causes include tension, migraine, and dehydration.
Why
The brain has no pain receptors. A headache comes from nearby structures: blood vessels, muscles, nerves and the meninges.
Common types
- Tension headache (most common).
- Migraine.
- Cluster headache.
Triggers
Stress, dehydration, lack of sleep, caffeine changes and screens.
What helps
Water, rest, OTC pain relievers.
Emergency
Sudden severe headache, stiff neck, confusion or weakness. Call 911.
Headache types and numbers
About half of adults worldwide have a headache at least once a year, according to the WHO. Tension-type headaches are the most common, affecting about 26 percent of people, and cause a band-like pressure on both sides. Migraines affect about 14 percent and cause throbbing pain, nausea and light sensitivity, lasting 4 to 72 hours.
- Cluster headaches cause severe pain around one eye and occur in clusters.
- Triggers include stress, poor sleep, dehydration, skipped meals, caffeine withdrawal, alcohol and hormonal changes.
- Medication overuse headache occurs when painkillers are taken more than 10 to 15 days per month.
Relief and emergencies
Rest in a dark, quiet room, hydrate, apply a cold or warm compress and take over-the-counter pain relievers as directed. Seek emergency care for a sudden “thunderclap” headache, headache after head injury, with fever and stiff neck, confusion, weakness, vision changes, or new headaches after age 50, since these can signal stroke, bleeding or infection.
Headache types and numbers
Tension type headaches affect about 40 percent of people worldwide, migraine about 14 percent, according to the World Health Organization. Tension headaches feel like a tight band, while migraines cause throbbing pain, nausea and light sensitivity. The brain itself has no pain receptors; pain arises from muscles, blood vessels and nerves around it.
Relief and emergencies
Over the counter pain relievers taken as directed, hydration, rest and caffeine can help. Limit pain medicine to under 10 to 15 days a month to avoid rebound headaches. Seek emergency care for the worst headache of your life, sudden onset, fever with stiff neck, confusion, weakness, vision loss or headache after a head injury.
Brain structures and pain
The brain itself has no pain receptors. Headache pain arises from meninges, blood vessels, nerves and neck muscles. Tension headaches affect 2 in 3 adults yearly. Migraines affect 39 million Americans, three times more common in women. Cluster headaches are rarer, with severe pain around one eye.
Diagnosis and red flags
Doctors use the SNNOOP10 list of red flags: systemic symptoms, neurologic signs, new onset after 50, onset sudden, pattern change, positional, precipitated by exertion or cough. Imaging is used if red flags occur. Treat with rest, hydration and medications. Triptans treat migraine attacks. Preventive options include propranolol, topiramate and CGRP blockers.
Based on data from the American Migraine Foundation and the American Academy of Neurology
