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A dull, steady ache. Tightness or pressure on both sides of the head. <\/p>\n
If these symptoms sound familiar \u2014 you\u2019re not alone. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
Although tension headaches are common and not life-threatening, symptoms can vary per person. So how do you know if what you\u2019re experiencing is just a headache or something more serious?<\/p>\n
The big difference between primary and secondary headache is that a primary headache isn\u2019t caused by a medical condition \u2014 it happens on its own.<\/p>\n
A secondary headache is the result of an underlying health condition, medication or something serious like a brain tumor, blood clot or aneurysm.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat’s the question that doctors think about every time a new patient comes in with a headache that needs evaluation,\u201d said Rashmi B. Halker Singh, M.D.<\/a>, a headache neurologist and member of HealthyWomen\u2019s Women\u2019s Health Advisory Council<\/a>. \u201cWe ask ourselves if this is a primary headache disorder, like migraine<\/a> or tension headache, or a secondary headache disorder where the headache is something else.\u201d <\/p>\n Symptoms of secondary headache can include:<\/p>\n \u201cThe big one is what we call thunderclap headache,\u201d Halker Singh said. \u201cYou have the worst headache of your life that goes from zero to 10 in less than 60 seconds. If this happens, you should go to the ER immediately because it might indicate something serious is going on that\u2019s potentially life-threatening.\u201d<\/p>\n If you\u2019re having symptoms of secondary headache, you should see a clinician right away.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n While secondary headaches can be potentially life-threatening, primary headaches can also be serious and seriously affect quality of life.<\/p>\n Migraine attacks<\/a> can have a wide variety of symptoms, but some common symptoms of a migraine attack include:<\/p>\n \u201cIf you have at least two of those symptoms, it’s probably migraine,\u201d Halker Singh said. \u201cAnd if that\u2019s the case, then it’s a good idea to see a doctor because we have lots of things we can do to help.\u201d<\/p>\n Treatment options<\/a> such as hormone therapy<\/a>, prescription triptans taken with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like ibuprofen, and CGRP antagonists may help with migraine. <\/p>\n Read: Migraine Toolkit >><\/em><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cMigraine is very common in women, and it’s much more common in women compared to men. In fact, about 1 out of 5 women have migraine whether they know it or whether they’ve recognized it or not,\u201d Halker Singh said.<\/p>\n This is especially important to note for women in perimenopause as migraine disease<\/a> can flare up or even start during this time because of fluctuating estrogen<\/a> levels. Women may also have heavier or more frequent periods during perimenopause, which can trigger menstrual migraine attacks.<\/p>\n\n
\nHow to tell the difference between headache and migraine <\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\nPerimenopause increases the risk for migraine<\/strong><\/h3>\n