Head pain happens with all headaches. Each type of headache has its own symptoms.
Tension Headache
Tension headaches usually start slowly and build:
- Constant, steady pain and pressure
- Dull and achy pain
- Pain that is often on both sides of the head, in the forehead, temples, and the back of the head
- Pressure that may feel like a tight band around the head
- Pain that is mild to severe and can vary during the day
- Tightness in the head and neck muscles
- Problems with focus
Tension Headache: Areas of Pain |
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Migraine Headache
Migraines happen in phases that may include:
-
A warning in the hours or days before in the form of:
- A change in mood
- Feeling tired
- Tense muscles
- Yawning
- Food craving
-
An aura that lasts about 15 to 60 minutes with:
- Flashing lights or spots
- Short term, partial loss of eyesight
- Speech problems
- Weakness in an arm or leg
- Numbness or tingling that starts in the hands and spreads to the arms, face, and mouth
- Restlessness
- Confusion
-
Migraine pain that starts within an hour of the aura ending:
- A headache, usually on one side but may be on both
- A headache that is intense, throbbing, or pulsing and is worse when moving
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Sore or achy muscles
- Lightheadedness
- A post headache period that often lasts for 4 to 72 hours and often goes away
with sleep. After the headache, there may be:
- Problems with focus
- Tiredness
Cluster Headache
Cluster headacheshave stabbing and burning head pain that:
- Is on one side of the head
- Often starts around the eye and spreads to the same side of the head
- Can happen every day or almost every day for 4 to 8 weeks
- Can happen 1 to 8 times a day
- Often happens at about the same time each day
- Gets worse over time
- May start 2 hours after going to sleep
- Can cause wakening during sleep
- May last up to 3 hours
- May happen with restlessness and agitation
Symptoms of a Cluster Headache |
Copyright © 2002 Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. |
During the headache, you may also have:
- A stuffy or runny nose
- Redness or watering of the eye
- A droopy eyelid
- Very small pupils in the eye
- Swelling of the face
Sinus Headache
Sinus headache problems are:
- Pain and tenderness behind the forehead and cheeks and around the eyes
- Pain in the back of the neck or upper teeth
- Pain that is mild to severe
- Pain that is worse first thing in the morning
- Pain that feel worse when bending over
-
Headache along with other signs of sinusitis:
- Nasal stuffiness
- Thick nasal drainage
- Post nasal drip
- Fever
- Tiredness
- Stuffy ears
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Puffiness around the eyes
Sinus Headache: Areas of Pain |
Copyright © 2002 Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. |
References
Cluster headache. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/cluster-headache. Accessed March 9, 2022.
Headache information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website. Available at: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Headache-Information-Page. Accessed March 9, 2022.
Migraine in adults. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/migraine-in-adults. Accessed March 9, 2022.
Tension-type headache. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/tension-type-headache. Accessed March 9, 2022.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Rimas Lukas, MD
- Review Date: 11/2021
- Update Date: 03/09/2022