About Migraine/
Other headache types
Migraine is only one type of primary headache disorder
There are many other primary and secondary headache disorders, as defined by the International Classification of Headache Disorders.
Other primary headaches
- Tension-type headache
- Cluster headache (and other trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias)
- Hypnic headache
- Exercise or exertional headache
- Cough headache
- Stabbing ‘ice-pick’ headache
- New daily persistent headache
- Cold stimulus headache
- Hemicrania continua
Secondary headaches
There are many secondary causes of headache. Some are signs of serious underlying disease, that need to be ruled out before a migraine diagnosis is confirmed. These include infection, stroke, hypertension, cancer, bleeding in the brain, hypoxia, hypertension, low or increased intracranial pressure.
Some have a fairly obvious cause, such as headache due to trauma or injury, alcohol-induced headache, and substance withdrawal (e.g. withdrawal from caffeine, opioid or estrogen). Migraine can co-exist with or be mistaken for secondary headaches, most commonly:
- Medication overuse headache
- Sinusitis (‘sinus headache’)
- Cervicogenic headache
- Eye disorders
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder
