Headache Symptoms, Headache Causes, and Types of Headaches

Knowing what type of headache you suffer from can help you determine how to relieve it, how to help prevent it and how to describe it to your doctor.

Tension headaches. These headaches are the most common. Muscle tension in the back of the head and neck causes the pain. They can last anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours to seven days.

Tension headaches can be described as:

• Mild to moderate pain or a pressing feeling on both sides of your head or a tight band around your head
• Steady ache in your forehead, temples, and back of your neck
• The pain is usually constant, non-pulsating, ranges from mild to moderate in severity and usually builds in intensity

With tension headaches, there are no other symptoms like nausea or vomiting and they are not made worse by routine physical activities. These headaches are usually the easiest to relieve.

Cluster headaches. Cluster headaches are rare and affect mainly middle-aged men. They commonly strike at night or early in the morning. Cluster headaches can last from 15 minutes to 3 hours (if not treated) and can occur up to 8 times a day over a period of several weeks. The pain associated with cluster headaches include:

• Excruciating, non-throbbing pain on one side of the head — usually behind one eye or temple
• Nasal congestion, tearing, facial sweating and droopy eyelids
• Flushing and hot skin over the painful area

Sinus headaches. A sinus headache is generally characterized as a throbbing around one or both eyes that lasts a few days. It is common after a head cold or due to allergies. The pain is caused by swelling of the membranes lining the sinuses (hollow chambers in the bones of the face). Sinus headaches are worse in the morning or when bending over or leaning forward. Find information about sinuses and tips on relieving and preventing sinus pain and congestion here. 

Migraine headaches. While the exact cause of migraines is unknown, it likely involves a nerve in the brainstem that causes inflammation of blood vessels in the brain. Migraines are usually characterized by intense, throbbing pain felt in the temple, forehead or around the eye, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting as well as intolerable sensitivity to light and noise. Some people experience an aura about an hour before the onset of the migraine. It is common for people who suffer from severe headaches to believe they are suffering from a migraine. Always check with your doctor to confirm whether you are suffering from migraines or not before undertaking any preventive measures. Find information and relieving and prevention tips on migraine pain here.