Headaches: The Difference Between Primary and Secondary

One of the most annoying pains that you can deal with is the dreaded headache. Headaches can be felt on either side of your head, including the center top, front, or back, and can be radiating or fixed. Headaches are versatile and can feel like:

• The throbbing pain - you can’t explain it.

• An annoying ache - for goodness’ sake!

• Quick, sharp pain - whoa, that was insane.

• A vice grip around your head - just want to go to bed.

• It can last for seconds or a couple of days - you just hope it goes away.

• It can occur quickly, slowly, or all at once - ouch! What was that impulse?

What Causes Headaches?

There are many types of headaches and reasons for headaches. Recurring and chronic headaches are some of the most common conditions that doctors, neurologists and pain management specialists treat.

Headaches do not discriminate, as they affect both - women and men globally. There are two categories that correlate to headaches. These categories are secondary and primary.

Factors that can trigger headaches include:

• Falling

• Car accidents

• Herniated discs

• Spinal diseases

• Medical conditions

• Certain medications

• Vision-related issues

• Nerve impingement

• Muscle stress/strain on your spine

Since living with chronic headaches can be debilitating to a person’s day-to-day life, it is essential to seek immediate help. Your primary care doctor can help you manage your headaches and live a happier life.

What Is a Primary Headache?

Primary headaches are triggered due to actual pain-sensitive structures in your head. For reasons that are not known, these structures malfunction or become overactive. However, these headaches are not due to any underlying issues.

Another factor that can make you prone to headaches is your genes. Yes, your genes can make you a prime candidate for primary headaches. Types of primary headaches include:

• Cough headaches

• Cluster headaches

• Tension headaches

• Exertion headaches

• Chronic daily headaches

• Migraine headaches — with and without aura

Common primary headache triggers:

• A drop in sugar can cause headaches - so be sure to eat.

• Insomnia - Get some sleep, or your headache may recur.

• Select foods and their additives - like nitrates, aspartame, etc.

• Posture up - Keep your posture straight to prevent a primary headache.

• Stress is good for no one - and neither is the headache that comes with it.

• Red wine — red wine felt great, until it brought on the headache.

What Is a Secondary Headache?

Secondary headaches are brought on by other underlying health issues, which can cause painful

sensitive nerves in your head that can trigger your headache. Conditions that can cause secondary headaches include:

• Meningitis

• Concussion

• Dental issues

• Toxoplasmosis

• Brain aneurysm

• High blood pressure

• Panic attacks and other panic disorders

• Encephalitis — inflammation of the brain

• Arterial tears — carotid or vertebral dissections

• Pseudotumor cerebri — Pressure within your skull

• Trigeminal neuralgia and other facial and brain issues

• Blood clots in the brain (venous thrombosis) — not stroke

• Giant cell arteritis — inflammation of the lining of the arteries

• Chiari malformation — a structural problem at the base of your skull

• Brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM) — unusual formation of blood vessels

• Intracranial hematoma — a blood vessel ruptures, causing bleeding in and around the brain

Types of secondary headaches can include:

• Brain freeze headaches

• Brain tumor or aneurysm headache

• Rebound headaches — triggered by the misuse of pain medication.

• External compression headaches — pressure triggered by helmets, etc.

• Sinus headaches — Inflammation including congestion within the sinus cavities

• Thunderclap headaches — a multitude of disorders with just as many causes that consist of sharp, intense headaches.

• Cervicogenic headache — Caused by an underlying condition of the neck, like a degenerative disc disease.

• Post-traumatic headache — due to a distressing incident, like a car or other serious accident.

• Spinal headaches — due to a low volume of cerebrospinal fluid pressure, thought to be due to a leak, spinal anesthesia, or a spinal tap.

Treatment for Your Headaches

Medication is the go-to relief for headaches from most primary care physicians and some specialists. However, not everyone is keen on dealing with the side effects of those medications if there is another option that can be explored.

Quite a few headaches have been linked to ongoing issues in your upper cervical spine or your bones, and this can cause secondary or primary headaches to begin. How? Well, your C1 and C2 vertebrae (the top bones of your neck) inclusive of the entire upper cervical spine were created to protect the brainstem from injury.

With the brainstem being the main line of communication to and from the brain, the C1 or C2 mustn't become misaligned. If a head or neck injury occurs, it can cause misalignment, thus putting pressure on the brainstem and disrupting communication. This pressure can also interfere with the flow of blood and cerebrospinal fluid to and from the brain, which can lead to headaches.

How Will Headaches Be Treated?

Your doctor or pain management specialist will work with you to locate and correct the issue through safe, gentle, and effective spinal cord stimulation and regenerative medicine to relieve your pain outside of surgery.

Treatment also depends on underlying issues. A comprehensive medical history and physical exam inclusive of lab work and possible imaging, CT scans or MRIs may be ordered.

Some possible treatment options include:

• BOTOX® injections may prevent migraine headaches

• Nerve blocks and other injections

• Anti-inflammatory injections to relieve muscle spasms and knots.

• Herniated discs and spine-related problems may warrant surgical or non-surgical treatment.

• Physical therapy may help.

If you're having debilitating headaches, and you're ready for some real relief, contact your doctor today to schedule an appointment. In the meantime, head over here to visit our blog, and we look forward to helping you soon.