What are the causes of a throbbing headache?

From the Guidelines

Throbbing headaches are most commonly caused by migraines, which are often triggered by stress, hormonal changes, certain foods, alcohol, lack of sleep, or environmental factors like bright lights and strong smells. The causes of throbbing headaches can be multifaceted, including tension headaches, cluster headaches, sinus infections, high blood pressure, dehydration, caffeine withdrawal, and medication overuse. Migraines are a primary cause, and according to 1, the most consistent evidence exists for the use of aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, tolfenamic acid, and the combination agent acetaminophen plus aspirin plus caffeine as first-line therapy.

Key Causes and Triggers

• Migraines: triggered by stress, hormonal changes, certain foods, alcohol, lack of sleep, or environmental factors like bright lights and strong smells
• Tension headaches: result from muscle contractions in the head and neck due to stress, poor posture, or eye strain
• Cluster headaches: cause severe pain around one eye and occur in cyclical patterns
• Sinus headaches: stem from inflammation in the sinuses, usually during infections
• Other causes: high blood pressure, dehydration, caffeine withdrawal, and medication overuse

Treatment Options

• Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen (400-600mg every 6 hours) or acetaminophen (500-1000mg every 6 hours) can help mild headaches
• For migraines, triptans such as sumatriptan (50-100mg) may be prescribed, as recommended by 1
• Staying hydrated, managing stress, maintaining regular sleep patterns, and avoiding known triggers are essential preventive measures
• If headaches are severe, persistent, or accompanied by other symptoms like fever or vision changes, medical attention should be sought immediately, as suggested by 1 and 1

From the Research

Causes of Throbbing Headache

• Throbbing headaches can be caused by various factors, including primary headache disorders such as migraine, tension-type headache, trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias, and other primary headache disorders 2
• Secondary headache disorders, which are headaches due to an underlying medical condition, can also cause throbbing headaches 2
• Specific causes of throbbing headaches include:
  • Migraine, which is a primary headache disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of severe headaches, often accompanied by sensitivity to light, sound, and nausea 3, 2, 4
  • Tension-type headache, which is a primary headache disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of mild to moderate headaches, often accompanied by muscle tension in the neck and scalp 2, 4
  • Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias, which are a group of primary headache disorders characterized by recurrent episodes of severe headaches, often accompanied by autonomic symptoms such as lacrimation and nasal congestion 2, 5
  • Medication overuse headache, which is a type of secondary headache disorder caused by the overuse of pain medications 5
  • Giant cell arteritis, which is a type of secondary headache disorder caused by inflammation of the blood vessels in the head 5
  • Temporomandibular joint dysfunction, which is a type of secondary headache disorder caused by problems with the jaw joint 5

Underlying Medical Conditions

• Throbbing headaches can also be caused by underlying medical conditions such as:
  • Vascular disorders, such as stroke or transient ischemic attack 2
  • Neoplastic disorders, such as brain tumors 2
  • Infectious disorders, such as meningitis or encephalitis 2
  • Intracranial pressure/volume disorders, such as hydrocephalus or pseudotumor cerebri 2