Different types of headaches can cause various symptoms and are typically located in different parts of the head. For instance, cluster headaches often occur behind or around one eye, and migraine typically occurs only on one side.

There are many types of headache, and they may require professional care. Sometimes, this is because they stem from an underlying health condition. Nonetheless, medical care can help alleviate the pain even when no underlying condition is present.

Below, learn about the different types of headaches, including their causes and other symptoms.

Infographic showing the locations of different headache typesShare on Pinterest
Infographic by Diego Sabogal

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), almost half of all adults experience a headache at least once a year.

A headache results from inflammation in pain-sensitive parts of the head and neck. These areas include the following:

  • nerves
  • muscles
  • blood vessels

The International Headache Society classifies more than 150 types of headaches. More broadly, doctors recognize two categories: primary and secondary headaches.

When someone has a primary headache, the headache itself is the main concern — it is not a symptom of an underlying problem. A secondary headache results from a different health issue.

Symptoms of primary and secondary headaches can be similar, and a doctor can diagnose the headache type.

These are sometimes called “tension-type” headaches. They result from muscle tension in the shoulders, neck, scalp, or jaw.

Tension headaches are one of the most common types of primary headaches. Globally, up to 78% of people experience one at some point. They often start during a person’s teenage years.

Symptoms and location

Tension headaches typically involve a pressing, dull pain. People sometimes refer to these as “hatband” headaches because the pain typically occurs around the back of the head, the temples, and the forehead, almost as if a tight hat is squeezing the head.

The pain is usually mild to moderate but not severe. It often comes on without warning and can last from 30 minutes to several days.

Tension-type headaches may trigger a migraine attack in people with a history of migraine.

Causes

Researchers believe that tension headaches may occur in response to both genetic and environmental factors.

The most common cause is stress. Other possible causes include:

Migraine affects approximately 1 billion people worldwide. It can cause a moderate to severe primary headache that typically occurs on one side of the head. The pain and other symptoms can keep a person from doing their daily activities.

Migraine is more common among females than males. According to a 2021 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), women were almost three times more likely than men to have been bothered by a headache or migraine in the past 3 months.

Symptoms and location

During a migraine episode, a person may have moderate to severe throbbing or pulsing pain on one side of the head. The pain may last 4–72 hours and worsen with physical activity.

Some people experience migraine with aura. An aura is a set of sensory symptoms, which may include:

  • seeing bright or flashing lights
  • seeing geometric patterns
  • having auditory hallucinations
  • having numbness or tingling sensations

Other symptoms of migraine can include:

Causes

Migraine is thought to have a genetic cause since the condition tends to run in families.

Other factors that could trigger it include:

  • stress
  • anxiety
  • hormonal changes
  • bright or flashing lights
  • tobacco use
  • sleeping too much or too little
  • strong smells
  • certain foods, such as:
    • chocolate
    • matured cheeses
    • processed meats

Cluster headaches are a less common type of primary headache, affecting fewer than 1 in 1,000 adults, as the WHO reports.

The organization also notes that these headaches are more common in men than women and typically develop in or after a person’s 20s.

Symptoms and location

Cluster headaches are recurring, brief headaches, typically focused in or around one eye. The pain tends to be severe and may last between 15 minutes and 3 hours. It usually occurs at night.

Cluster headaches can be episodic or chronic. Episodic cluster headaches occur repeatedly over 2 weeks to 3 months. A person may not have another for months or years.

Chronic cluster headaches persist for more than a year without a remission — or with a remission shorter than 3 months.

Other symptoms of cluster headaches include:

Up to 33% of people with cluster headaches may also experience nerve pain.

Causes

The cause of cluster headaches is not yet clear. However, they may result from dysfunction in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus, which is involved in several physical functions.

Cluster headaches often develop in people who smoke.

This is also called a rebound headache, and it is the most common type of secondary headache.

A medication overuse headache results from excessive use of pain relief medications, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and opiates. It typically develops in people who have been taking large doses of pain relievers for at least 3 months.

For someone with a medication overuse headache, the pain is typically dull and constant, occurring on most days. The location of the pain varies from person to person.

Other possible symptoms include:

The sinuses are a network of air-filled cavities in the skull. The main sinuses sit inside the forehead, cheekbones, and nasal cavity. A sinus headache is a secondary headache, and the pain affects one or more of these areas.

Sinus headaches are usually a symptom of a sinus infection, and this type of infection is often bacterial.

Other possible symptoms of a sinus infection include:

This is a secondary headache that occurs in response to head trauma.

Post-traumatic headaches are the most common acute symptom after a traumatic brain injury. Experts estimate that around 18–58% of people with this type of brain injury experience a post-traumatic headache within the next year. However, the headache usually develops within 7 days of the injury.

A post-traumatic headache is often mild to moderate, and the pain may be pressing or dull. It frequently occurs in the following locations:

  • temples
  • forehead
  • neck

Less often, the headache may occur at the back and top of the head and around the eyes.

Other possible symptoms include:

  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • sensitivity to light and sound
  • impaired cognitive function
  • anxiety
  • depression
  • urinary incontinence

Less commonly, some headaches can be caused by a serious underlying health condition such as:

If a person has a sudden and severe headache that is accompanied by other symptoms such as a head injury, loss of vision, sudden memory problems, or a fever, they should seek urgent care.

How can I identify my headache?

A person may be able to identify their headache by the following factors:

  • location of the pain
  • whether it’s a throbbing, stabbing, or dull pain
  • duration of the headache
  • accompanying symptoms
  • triggers
  • frequency

What kind of headaches should I worry about?

A person should seek immediate medical attention if their headache is sudden and severe and is accompanied by the following symptoms:

  • a head injury
  • loss of vision
  • drowsiness
  • sudden problems with speech or memory
  • a fever

What does a dehydration headache feel like?

A dehydration headache may be felt at the front, back, on one side, or throughout the entire head. Movement or walking often makes a dehydration headache worse or more painful.

Different types of headaches can cause different types of pain. Headache pain also varies in severity, duration, and frequency.

There are two broad categories of headaches: primary and secondary, depending on whether the headache is caused by an underlying problem or not.

Anyone with new or more frequent headaches should contact a healthcare professional. It is especially important to receive medical care for any headache that occurs with concerning symptoms or is severe or otherwise keeps a person from their daily activities.