As our London Pain Clinic Doctors regularly explain: “headaches are a common condition that most people will experience many times during their lives. The main symptom of a headache is pain in your head or face. There are several types of headaches, & tension headaches are the most common. An while most headaches aren’t dangerous, certain types can be a sign of a serious underlying condition” [1]
Did You Know?
There are over 150 different categories of headache. The latter can differ in regard to the:
- Type of pain
- Location
- Frequency, and
- Severity
Moreover, different types of head and face pressure can generate:
- Throbbing
- Sharp pain, or
- Dull pain [1]
Getting Things Sorted
If you are suffering from chronic headaches that continually come and go, the smart move is to book an online or in-person appointment with one of our world-class Pain Doctors as soon as possible. Unlike a GP, a Pain Specialist has undergone substantial additional years of training and in-clinic expertise, thus empowering them to be able to give patients a highly accurate diagnosis. – This is extremely important so that anything more serious than a common regular headache, is ruled out or treated right away.
Primary & Secondary Headaches
When you have a consultation with one of our Pain Specialists, once they have provided you with an accurate diagnosis, they will then explain the type of headaches you are suffering from. There are two main categories, primary and secondary headaches.
Primary Headaches
Over-activity or malfunction of pain-sensitive features within the head, generate primary headaches. However, as our Pain Consultants regularly point out, it is important to understand that primary headaches are not due to, or a symptom of, an underlying medical disorder. Moreover, a percentage of patients could have a genetic vulnerability to developing this class of headaches. Forms of primary headaches comprise:
- The most experienced category of headache, tension-type headaches
- Cluster headaches
- Migraine headaches
- NDPH (new daily persistent headaches) [1]
Here at the London Pain Clinic, our Pain Consultants often advise patients that a percentage of primary headaches can be set off by certain situations or lifestyle factors. These incorporate:
- Alcohol (especially the consumption of red wine)
- Particular food types, for example, nitrate-containing processed meats such as salami
- Nicotine
- Insomnia
- Sub-optimal posture
- Exercise and other forms of physical activity
- Skipping meals
- Straining on the toilet
- Blowing one’s nose
- Sneezing or coughing
- Strong laughter
- Intense crying
And whilst it has to be said that generally speaking, primary headaches are not dangerous, they can nonetheless, disrupt your day-to-day living, and be extremely painful [1]. To that end, after you have had your online or in-person consultation with one of our Pain Doctors, as soon as you have received your accurate diagnosis, they will draw up a Holistic Personalised Treatment Plan that you can get started on right away. This is likely to include both conventional and the latest state-of-the-art treatment, therapies and injectables (including pain blockers).
Secondary Headaches
Some forms of secondary headaches are not dangerous, and after successful treatment of the underlying condition, they should disappear. Such underlying conditions include:
- Headaches due to dehydration
- Headaches due to sinus issues
- Headaches due to the overuse of pharmaceuticals [1]
Conversely, some types of secondary headaches can serve as a symptom of a potentially life-threatening of grave condition. These can be due to:
- Spinal headaches (these comprise overwhelming headaches that come into force when spinal fluid leaks from the spinal cord membrane, (normally usually after a spinal tap/lumbar puncture)
- The majority of spinal headaches [1]
Of note: if left untreated, spinal headaches can generate life-threatening complications such as seizures and subdural hematoma [1]. And this is why it is crucial to arrange a diagnosis with a Pain Doctor as soon as possible.
Reference
[1]. Cleveland Clinic (2025). “Headaches.”
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9639-headaches
