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.
Below, learn about the different types of headache, including their causes and other symptoms.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO),
A headache results from inflammation in pain-sensitive parts of the head and neck. These areas include the:
- nerves
- muscles
- blood vessels
The International Headache Society classifies more than 150 types of headache. 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.
These are sometimes called “tension-type” headaches. They result from muscle tension in the shoulders, neck, scalp, or jaw.
Tension headaches are the
Symptoms and location
Tension headaches
The pain is usually mild to moderate but not severe. It often comes on without warning, and can last from
Tension-type headaches can coexist with migraine, and one may trigger the other.
Causes
The most common cause is stress. Other possible causes include:
- a lack of sleep
- depression
- anxiety
- skipping meals
- alcohol use
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 2018 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), women were
Symptoms and location
During a migraine episode, a person may have moderate-to-severe throbbing or pulsing pain on one side of their 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:
- neck pain and stiffness
- sensitivity to light, sounds, and smells
- nausea and vomiting
- weakness
- insomnia
- unexplained mood changes
Causes
Experts believe that migraine may have a genetic cause, since the condition tends to run in families.
Other factors that could trigger it include:
- stress
- anxiety
- hormone changes in females
- bright or flashing lights
- tobacco use
- caffeine and alcohol consumption
- 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
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
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:
- eye redness or watering
- drooping or swelling of the eyelid
- reduced pupil size in one eye
- facial sweating
- a runny or blocked nose
- restlessness
Up to
Causes
The cause of cluster headaches is not yet clear. However, they
Cluster headaches often develop in people who smoke.
This is also called a rebound headache, and it is the
A medication overuse headache results from the regular 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:
- nausea
- vomiting
- stomach pain
- diarrhea
- disturbed sleep
- restlessness
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:
- a runny nose
- green nasal discharge
- tenderness in the area
- painful teeth
- bad breath
- coughing
- a fever
- fatigue
This is a secondary headache that occurs in response to head trauma.
Post-traumatic headaches are the
A post-traumatic headache is often mild to moderate, and the pain may be pressing or dull. It frequently occurs in the:
- temples
- forehead
- neck
Less often, the headache may occur at the back and top of the head and around the eyes.
Other possible symptoms
- nausea
- vomiting
- sensitivity to light and sound
- impaired cognitive function
- anxiety
- depression
- urinary incontinence
Different types of headache can cause different types of pain. Headache pain also varies in severity, duration, and frequency.
There are two broad categories of headache: primary and secondary, depending on whether the headache is the primary concern or whether it results from another health condition.
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.