Which condition is commonly associated with a "pounding" headache?

A "pounding" headache is often associated with a hypertensive crisis. In this situation, excessively high blood pressure can lead to a significant increase in intracranial pressure, which often presents as a throbbing or pounding sensation. This type of headache tends to be intense and can be accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and visual disturbances, all of which are indicative of the body responding to the stress of high blood pressure.

While migraines can also present with a throbbing quality and may be intense, they typically have other accompanying features like aura, sensitivity to light, or nausea. Tension headaches are generally characterized by a dull, pressing pain rather than a pounding sensation. Cluster headaches, although extremely painful, often present in short bursts and are usually unilateral, marked by features such as eye watering or nasal congestion rather than a consistent pounding sensation.