by EBSCO Medical Review Board

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
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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
IMAGE
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