MENU
CLOSE

Understanding the different types of headaches and their causes and symptoms is the first step in this care journey.

Headache types fall into two categories:

PRIMARY

happen more than once and have unknown causes

SECONDARY

linked to specific causes, such as trauma or neck pain
  • Tension-type
  • Migraine
    • 36.9% of veterans experience migraines vs 12.7% of non-veterans1
  • Cluster
  • Medication overuse
  • Post-traumatic headache (PTH)
    • 92% of veterans who had a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) experience PTH within seven days2
  • Cervicogenic

PRIMARY

happen more than once and have unknown causes
  • Tension-type
  • Migraine
    • 36.9% of veterans experience migraines vs 1.7% of non-veterans1
  • Cluster

SECONDARY

linked to specific causes, such as trauma or neck pain
  • Medication overuse
  • Post-traumatic headache (PTH)
    • 92% of veterans who had a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) experience PTH within seven days2
  • Cervicogenic

Headache symptoms vary depending on the underlying cause6,7:

Chronic pain and discomfort

Sensitivity to light, sound or odor

Vision changes

Nausea and vomiting

Outline of a person's head with a lightning bolt to indicate headache symptoms

Dizziness and lightheadedness

Fatigue

Depression

Poor concentration

I sent him to war a whole, healthy strong man, and they returned a
broken shell of a man to me. It can be a very lonely road.

Lee Karcher, caregiver to her husband, Mark, who suffers from PTSD and migraine headaches caused by TBI8
American Legion Magazine, “Upside Down Lives” by Ken Olsen

It’s crucial for veterans to seek proper medical care to manage their migraine and headache disorders.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT TREATMENT OPTIONS

References

  1. National Headache Foundation. Published May 1, 2024. Accessed May 1, 2024. https://headaches.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Operation-Brainstorm-Brochure-PDF.pdf
  2. National Headache Foundation. Published May 1, 2024. Accessed May 1, 2024. https://headaches.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Operation-Brainstorm-Brochure-PDF.pdf
  3. National Headache Foundation. Published May 1, 2024. Accessed May 1, 2024. https://headaches.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Operation-Brainstorm-Brochure-PDF.pdf
  4. Headache. Mayo Clinic. Published May 1, 2024. Accessed May 1, 2024.  https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/headache/basics/causes/sym-20050800
  5. Smith, J. Operation Brainstorm presentation at the 2023 American Legion National Convention
  6. National Headache Foundation. Published May 1, 2024. Accessed May 1, 2024. https://headaches.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Operation-Brainstorm-Brochure-PDF.pdf
  7. National Headache Foundation. Published May 1, 2024. Accessed May 1, 2024. https://headaches.org/how-post-traumatic-headache-impacts-our-veterans/
  8. Olsen, K. Upside Down Lives. American Legion Magazine. Published May 1, 2024. https://www.legion.org/magazine/212983/upside-down-lives