Topic overview

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Primary headaches have distinct patterns: tension-type pain is typically bilateral and pressing, migraine often features throbbing pain with light or sound sensitivity and nausea, and cluster headache causes severe unilateral orbital or temporal pain with autonomic symptoms. Secondary headaches may arise from trauma, infection, vascular disease, or medication overuse. The SNOOP4 framework highlights warning features that call for further assessment, including sudden onset, neurologic findings, systemic symptoms, and papilledema. Management varies by headache type and may involve acute medicines, preventive therapy for frequent or disabling migraine, and attention to medication-use patterns. The full lesson develops these concepts into a structured approach to diagnosis and treatment.