It’s a tough workday and the stress is high. Suddenly, you’re hit with a dull throbbing that radiates across your head; all tasks halt abruptly as you clutch your face in your hands, taking deep breaths and hoping the pain will subside. Chances are, you’ve been here before. Headaches can be an unwelcome event no matter what stage or season of life you’re in.
First things first, headaches are classified into two categories: Primary and secondary. At least 90 percent of headaches are classified as primary, which means they occur without an underlying cause. Migraines, tension type headaches and cluster headaches are all considered primary. Secondary headaches are those induced by trauma, infections of the brain or central nervous system, TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder), or sinus issues. Less than 10 percent of headaches fall into the secondary classification.