When Is a Headache More Than Just a Headache?

A dull, steady ache. Tightness or pressure on both sides of the head. If these symptoms sound familiar — you’re not alone. Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. About 3 out of 4 people in the U.S. experience tension headaches at some point in their lives. And women are more likely to get them than men. Although tension headaches are common and not life-threatening, symptoms can vary per person. So how do you know if what you’re experiencing is just a headache or something more serious?Primary vs. secondary headache The big difference between primary and secondary headache is that a primary headache isn’t caused by a medical condition — it happens on its own.A secondary headache is the result of an underlying health condition, medication or something serious like a brain tumor, blood clot or aneurysm.“That's the question that doctors think about every time a new patient comes in with a headache that needs evaluation,” said Rashmi B. Halker Singh, M.D., a headache neurologist and member of HealthyWomen’s Women’s Health Advisory Council. “We ask ourselves if this is a primary headache disorder, like migraine or tension headache, or a secondary headache disorder where...