Our Health Library information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Please be advised that this information is made available to assist our patients to learn more about their health. Our providers may not see and/or treat all topics found herein.
Types of Headache
Topic Overview
It can be hard for your doctor to tell whether you have migraine headaches, tension headaches, sinus headaches, cluster headaches, or a combination of these types. The symptoms of these headaches are often the same, and no test can diagnose headaches.
Listing a few key features of your headaches may help your doctor find out what type of headache you have. This can help your doctor treat your headaches.
For example, you may think that your headaches are sinus headaches. But if they happen often and interfere with your daily life, they probably are migraines. A true sinus headache is caused by a sinus infection.
Common types of headacheType | Where the pain is | How bad the pain is | Things that make it worse | Symptoms |
|---|
Migraine | Usually on one side of your head with pressure behind one eye | Throbbing, pulsating headache that is moderate to severe | Pain gets worse with normal physical activity. | - Nausea or vomiting
- Feeling worse around light and noise
- Runny or stuffy nose can occur along with other symptoms, such as diarrhea and fatigue.
- May begin at night and wake you from sleep
|
Sinus | Around your eyes, cheekbones, forehead, and bridge of the nose | Deep and constant headache pain | Leaning over, sudden movement, or exercising may make the headache worse. | - A fever
- Green or gray discharge from your nose that lasts more than 7 to 10 days
- A runny or stuffy nose
- A feeling of fullness in the ears, or plugged ears
- Swelling or puffiness in the face
|
Tension | On both sides or all over your head | Deep, pressing, tightening headache that does not throb or pulse and is mild to moderate | Physical activity does not make headache worse. | - No nausea or vomiting
- May be worse around light or noise (but not both)
- May last for minutes to several days
|
Cluster | On one side of the face, head, or neck; does not switch sides | Piercing pain that gets very bad very fast, usually within 5 to 10 minutes | Lying down makes it worse. | - Watery eyes and small (constricted) pupils
- Nasal congestion or runny nose
- Droopy or swollen eyelids
- Sweating on the forehead or face
- May wake you at night.
|
Credits
Current as of: August 4, 2020
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Anne C. Poinier MD - Internal Medicine
Martin J. Gabica MD - Family Medicine
Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine
Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine
Current as of: August 4, 2020
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:Anne C. Poinier MD - Internal Medicine & Martin J. Gabica MD - Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine
