Primary headaches are the most common cause of head pain. While secondary headaches result from another medical condition, like hypertension, primary headaches occur on their own. They can be felt on any part of the head including the neck, face, or scalp. They may also vary in severity, frequency, occurring more acutely or chronically. Migraines and tension headaches are the most common types but there are other types.
Medications like Tylenol, Advil or Aleve can often treat more mild headaches. Severe or chronic headaches may require prescription medications or other therapies.
If you have frequent or severe headaches, or if your headaches come with other symptoms, see a healthcare professional.
What are most common types of headaches?
There are different types of primary headaches, which are headaches not caused by an underlying medical condition. The most common types are:
- Migraines: These are severe, recurrent headaches that often cause throbbing pain on one side of the head. They may also come with other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound.
- Tension headaches: These are the most common type of primary headache. They are characterized by a feeling of pressure or tightness on both sides of the head, neck, or scalp.
- Cluster headaches: These are a type of headache that occurs in cycles, or clusters. They are characterized by severe pain on one side of the head, often around the eye, and may come with other symptoms like redness in the eye, a runny nose, and swelling around the eye.
How do you tell the difference between a migraine and a tension headache?
Migraines and tension headaches can be hard to tell apart because they can have similar symptoms. However, there are some key differences between the two types of headaches:
- Location of pain: Migraines often cause throbbing or pulsating pain on one side of the head, while tension headaches tend to cause a feeling of pressure or tightness on both sides of the head.
- Duration: Migraines can last for several hours to several days, while tension headaches tend to be shorter, lasting for several hours to a day.
- Associated symptoms: Migraines are often accompanied by other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, and changes in vision. Tension headaches may not have any additional symptoms.
- Frequency: Migraines tend to be more recurrent than tension headaches, with many people experiencing several migraines per month. Tension headaches may occur less often.
How do you tell the difference between a migraine and a cluster headache?
Migraines and cluster headaches are two different types of primary headaches that can have similar symptoms but also have some key differences. Here are some ways to tell them apart:
- Location of pain: Migraines often cause throbbing or pulsating pain on one side of the head, while cluster headaches tend to cause severe pain on one side of the head, often around the eye.
- Duration: Migraines can last for several hours to several days, while cluster headaches tend to be shorter, lasting for 15 minutes to three hours.
- Associated symptoms: Migraines are often accompanied by other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, and changes in vision. Cluster headaches may come with additional symptoms like redness in the eye, a runny nose, and swelling around the eye on the affected side.
- Frequency: Migraines tend to be more recurrent than cluster headaches, with many people experiencing several migraines per month. Cluster headaches occur in cycles, or clusters, with periods of time when the headaches are more frequent followed by periods of time with no headaches.
How do you tell the difference between a migraine and a sinus headache?
There are a few differences between a migraine and a sinus headaches:
- Location of pain: Migraines often cause throbbing or pulsating pain on one side of the head, while sinus headaches tend to cause a dull, constant pain in the front of the head, nose, or cheekbones.
- Duration: Migraines can last for several hours to several days, while sinus headaches may last for a few days to a week.
- Associated symptoms: Migraines are often accompanied by other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, and changes in vision. Sinus headaches may come with additional symptoms like a stuffy or runny nose, sinus pressure or congestion, and pain or tenderness in the face or forehead.
- Cause: Migraines are caused by changes in brain chemistry and blood flow, while sinus headaches are caused by inflammation or infection in the sinuses.
How do you tell the difference between a tension headache and a sinus headache?
Tension and sinus headaches can be difficult to differentiate because they may have similar symptoms. However, there are some key differences between the two types of headaches:
- Location of pain: Tension headaches tend to cause a feeling of pressure or tightness on both sides of the head, neck, or scalp, while sinus headaches tend to cause a dull, constant pain in the front of the head, nose, or cheekbones.
- Duration: Tension headaches can last for several hours to a day, while sinus headaches may last for a few days to a week.
- Associated symptoms: Tension headaches may not have any additional symptoms, while sinus headaches may come with symptoms like a stuffy or runny nose, sinus pressure or congestion, and pain or tenderness in the face or forehead.
- Cause: Tension headaches are caused by muscle tension in the head and neck, while sinus headaches are caused by inflammation or infection in the sinuses.
It’s important to note that these characteristics can vary from person to person, and it’s always best to consult a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis.
