Headaches are commonly differentiated as follows:
Type | Definition | Categories |
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1° (Primary) |
The pain is the illness. | Tension and Pressure Headaches. Migraine Headaches. Cluster Headaches. Exertion Headaches. |
2° (Secondary) |
The pain results from an underlying illness. | Various conditions including: Brain Tumor, Infection, Head Injury, Bleeding in Brain, Glaucoma etc. |
Barometric Pressure Headache symptoms and intensity vary considerably between people as does the individual’s sensitivity and warning period prior to a full-blown headache developing. In some cases this can unfortunately lead to an actual Barometric Pressure Headache sufferer being diagnosed and treated for an entirely different category of headache that happens to have certain traits in common. Keeping a Headache Diary is essential in order to ascertain whether an individual is barometric pressure sensitive, the degree of their sensitivity and the precise weather or altitude conditions that cause their headaches or trigger their migraines.
The following shows symptoms that a person with a Barometric Pressure Headache may experience, as well as other distinct types of headache that may share a common trait:
Barometric Pressure Non-Migraine Headaches
Possible Symptoms | Other conditions and their distinguishing trait |
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Unilateral pain (only on one side) may be diagnosed as:
Bilateral pain (both sides of the head) can be diagnosed as:
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Pain centered around forehead and nasal bridge region. | May be diagnosed as a Sinus Headache which is due to allergies, infection or irritation of the sinus. |
Pounding type pain in the back and lower rear (occipital) region of the head. | May be diagnosed as an Occipital Headache (Occipital Neuralgia) or even an Eye Related Headache. |
Although it is possible for a person with Barometric Pressure Migraine Headaches to experience some of the symptoms noted above, they will in addition, exhibit more than one of the following migraine symptoms shown below:
Possible Symptoms | Other conditions and their distinguishing traits |
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Migraines are a category of Primary Headache where the pain and symptoms are the illness. Therefore, a person who has been medically diagnosed as being a migraineur will experience certain symptoms, which though debilitating, will not be due to any serious or life threatening underlying medical condition.
However, a person that has not been clinically diagnosed as a migraineur and who begins to exhibit some of the listed symptoms e.g.unusual or particularly intense or prolonged stomach pains or vomiting or diarrhea, numbness, altered perception, impaired speech, depression etc. should consider seeking medical advice in order to rule out any serious underlying illness or condition. Numerous medical conditions unrelated to migraines exhibit some of the symptoms listed. Erring on the side of caution is advisable but do remember that in the vast majority of cases, the cause will not be serious or life threatening e.g. a disc issue in the neck region can cause numbness or tingling, a seasonal virus may produce vomiting or diarrhea, winter depression can be caused by seasonal affective disorder and of course, the person may be experiencing a migraine! |
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May be diagnosed as a Transformed Migraine which tend to develop in people in their 20-30’s who have had a history of migraines in their earlier years and may have other health issues such as depression or hypertension. Transformed Migraines are chronic, daily vascular (throbbing) headaches, often less severe than typical migraines but can still be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. They are often misdiagnosed as Tension Headaches. Transformed Migraine sufferers are at higher risk from painkiller over-medicating and addiction including Rebound Headaches (particularly associated with medication containing caffeine) due to the high frequency and daily nature of their headaches ( refer to Caffeine and Headaches and see Caffeine Disadvantages). |