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 may feel like a tight band around the head
- Pain is from mild to severe and can vary during the day
- Tightness in head and neck muscles
- Problems with focus
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 pulsating and is worse when you move
- 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, you may have:
- 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 you go to sleep
- Can wake you from sleep
- May last up to 3 hours
- May happen with restlessness and agitation
During the headache, you may also have:
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Redness or watering of the eye
- Droopy eyelid
- Very small pupils in the eye
- Swelling of your 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 from mild to severe
- Pain that is worse first thing in the morning
- Pain that feel worse when you bend over
-
Headache along with other signs of sinusitis:
- Nasal congestion
- Thick nasal drainage
- Post nasal drip
- Fever
- Tiredness
- Stuffy ears
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Puffiness around the eyes
Last reviewed December 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board
Rimas Lukas, MD
Last Updated: 1/11/2019
