Secondary Headache

A secondary headache is a symptom of a disease that can activate the pain-sensitive nerves of the head. Any number of conditions — varying greatly in severity — may cause secondary headaches.

Sources and causes of secondary headaches can include:

• Arterial tears (carotid or vertebral dissections)

• Blood clot (venous thrombosis) within the brain — separate from stroke

• Brain aneurysm (a bulge in an artery in your brain)

• Brain AVM (arteriovenous malformation) (an abnormal formation of brain blood vessels)

• Brain tumor

• Carbon monoxide poisoning

• Chiari malformation (structural problem at the base of your skull)

• Concussion

• Encephalitis (brain inflammation)

• Giant cell arteritis (inflammation of the lining of the arteries)

• Glaucoma

• Hangovers

• Influenza (flu)

• Intracranial hematoma (blood vessel ruptures in the brain)

• Medications to treat other disorders

• Meningitis (inflammation of the membranes and fluid surrounding your brain and spinal cord)

• Monosodium glutamate (MSG)

• Overuse of pain medication

• Post-concussion syndrome

• Pressure from tight-fitting headgear, such as a helmet or goggles

• Pseudotumor cerebri (increased pressure inside the skull)

• Sinus inflammation and congestion

• Stroke

• Trigeminal neuralgia (disruption of the nerve connecting the face and brain)

Specific types of secondary headaches include:

• External compression headaches (a result of pressure-causing headgear)

• Ice cream headaches (commonly called brain freeze)

• Rebound headaches (caused by overuse of pain medication)

• Sinus headaches (caused by inflammation and congestion in sinus cavities)

• Spinal headaches (caused by low levels of cerebrospinal fluid, possibly the result of trauma, spinal tap or spinal anesthesia)

• Thunderclap headaches (caused by low levels of cerebrospinal fluid, possibly the result of trauma, spinal tap or spinal anesthesia)