A headache is a pain in your head or face that’s often described as a pressure that’s throbbing, constant, sharp or dull. Headaches can differ greatly in regard to pain type, severity, location and frequency. Headaches are a very common condition that most people will experience many times during their lives. They’re the most common form of pain and are a major reason cited for days missed at work or school, as well as visits to healthcare providers. While most headaches aren’t dangerous, certain types can be a sign of a more serious condition.

There are more than 150 types of headaches. They fall into two main categories: primary and secondary headaches.
Primary headaches
Dysfunction or over-activity of pain-sensitive features in your head cause primary headaches. They’re not a symptom of or caused by an underlying medical condition. Some people may have genes that make them more likely to develop primary headaches.
Types of primary headaches include:
Tension-type headaches (most common type of headache).
Migraine headaches.
Cluster headaches.
New daily persistent headaches (NDPH).
Some primary headaches can be triggered by lifestyle factors or situations, including:
Alcohol, particularly red wine.
Certain foods, such as processed meats that contain nitrates (food-triggered headaches).
Consuming nicotine (nicotine headache).
Changes in sleep or lack of sleep.
Poor posture.
Physical activity, such as exercise (exertion headaches).
Skipped meals (hunger headache).
Coughing, sneezing, blowing your nose, straining (such as when having a bowel movement), or laughing or crying vigorously (primary cough headaches).
Primary headaches typically aren’t dangerous, but they can be very painful and disrupt your day-to-day life.

Secondary headaches
An underlying medical condition causes secondary headaches. They’re considered a symptom or sign of a condition.
Types of secondary headaches that aren’t necessarily dangerous and resolve once the underlying condition is treated include:
Dehydration headache.
Sinus headaches.
Medication overuse headaches.