What types of headaches are most common?

The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (ICHD-3), categorizes primary headache disorders into four main types: migraine, tension-type headache (TTH), cluster headache, and other trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs). Migraines are characterized by moderate to severe pulsating pain, often unilateral, and can be accompanied by nausea, photophobia, and phonophobia. Migraine attacks can last from a few hours to several days and may include an aura with visual disturbances. Tension-type headaches are the most common, presenting as a bilateral, pressing or tightening pain of mild to moderate intensity, typically without nausea or the sensory sensitivities seen in migraines. Cluster headaches are severe, unilateral headaches, often around the eye, occurring in clusters over weeks or months, with accompanying autonomic symptoms like lacrimation and nasal congestion. Other TACs, such as paroxysmal hemicrania and SUNCT/SUNA syndromes, involve shorter, more frequent headache attacks with similar autonomic features. These classifications help in the accurate diagnosis and management of headache disorders, facilitating targeted treatment approaches .