What type of headaches is caused by irritation of the meninges and blood vessels?

Vascular headaches are typically characterized by alterations in blood flow within the brain and its surrounding tissues, specifically due to irritation of the meninges and the blood vessels. This irritation can lead to inflammation and pain, which is often experienced during these headache episodes. Conditions such as migraines are considered vascular headaches because they involve vascular changes, including vasodilation and associated discomfort.

In contrast, tension headaches are primarily related to muscle tension and stress rather than vascular changes; thus, they do not involve the same mechanisms of irritation in the blood vessels or meninges. Cluster headaches are also distinct as they present with severe unilateral pain and a specific pattern of occurrence but are not driven by the irritation of the meninges and blood vessels in the same way. Vasculogenic headaches, while they may imply a vascular origin, are not a commonly recognized clinical term in headache classification and might cause some confusion in this context.

Ultimately, the identification of vascular headaches as those stemming from irritation of the meninges and blood vessels aligns with the understanding of inflammatory processes that can lead to headache symptoms.