05/23/2025
Tension headaches
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 commonTrusted Source types of primary headaches. Globally, up to 78%Trusted Source of people experience one at some point. They often startTrusted Source during a person’s teenage years.
Symptoms and location
Tension headaches typically involveTrusted Source 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
ResearchersTrusted Source believe that tension headaches may occur in response to both genetic and environmental factors.
The most common cause is stress. Other possible causes include:
a lack of sleep
depression
anxiety
Migraine
Migraine affects approximately 1 billion people worldwide. It can cause a moderate to severeTrusted Source 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)Trusted Source, 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 hoursTrusted Source and worsen with physical activity.
Some people experience migraine with aura. An aura is a set of sensory symptoms, which may includeTrusted Source:
seeing bright or flashing lights
seeing geometric patterns
having auditory hallucinations
having numbness or tingling sensations
Other symptoms of migraine can includeTrusted Source:
sensitivity to light, sounds, and smells
nausea and vomiting
weakness
unexplained mood changes
Causes
Migraine is thought to have a genetic cause since the condition tends toTrusted Source run in families.
Other factors that could trigger it include:
stress
anxiety
hormonal changes
bright or flashing lights
to***co use
sleeping too much or too little
strong smells
certain foods, such as:
chocolate
matured cheeses
processed meats
Cluster headache
Cluster headaches are a less common type of primary headache, affecting fewer than 1 in 1,000Trusted Source 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:
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 33%Trusted Source 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.
Medication overuse headache
This is also called a rebound headache, and it is the most commonTrusted Source 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:
nausea
vomiting
stomach pain
diarrhea
disturbed sleep
restlessness
Sinus headache
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
Post-traumatic headache
This is a secondary headache that occurs in response to head trauma.
Post-traumatic headaches are the most commonTrusted Source acute symptom after a traumatic brain injury. Experts estimate that around 18–58%Trusted Source of people with this type of brain injury experience a post-traumatic headache within the next year. However, the headache usually develops within 7 daysTrusted Source 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 includeTrusted Source:
nausea
vomiting
sensitivity to light and sound
impaired cognitive function
anxiety
depression
urinary incontinence
Underlying health conditions
Less commonly, some headaches can be caused by a serious underlying health condition such asTrusted Source:
a brain tumor
meningitis
a brain aneurysm (unruptured or ruptured)
a spinal fluid leak
stroke
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.
Frequently asked questions
How can I identify my headache?
A person may beTrusted Source 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.
