Which type of headache is characterized by severe, one-sided pain often associated with nausea?

Prepare for the ANCC Family Nurse Practitioner Test. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with hints and explanations to succeed. Ace your exam!

The type of headache characterized by severe, one-sided pain often associated with nausea is a migraine headache. Migraines typically present with intense throbbing or pulsating pain, usually on one side of the head, and can also include additional symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. The one-sided nature of the pain and the accompanying nausea are hallmark features that differentiate migraines from other types of headaches.

While tension headaches can cause persistent discomfort, they are generally characterized by a dull, aching pain that is often bilateral and not typically associated with nausea. Sinus headaches are linked to sinus conditions and usually manifest with pressure and pain around the sinus areas, not with severe pain that is unilateral or frequently accompanied by nausea. Cluster headaches, although they also present with severe, one-sided pain, are distinct in their pattern of occurrence, often occurring in cyclical patterns or clusters, and are frequently accompanied by other autonomic symptoms like tearing or nasal congestion rather than nausea.

Thus, the identification of a migraine headache as the correct answer emphasizes its specific characteristics of severe, unilateral pain and the potential for nausea, setting it apart from other headache types.

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