13 Types of Headaches: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments

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There are several types of headaches, which are either primary or secondary. Primary headaches have no clear underlying cause. Secondary heads are the result of an underlying health concern.

The key to treating your headache is knowing what's causing it. You can help pinpoint the cause by describing your pain and symptoms. A migraine might occur on either the left or right side of your head. You'll typically feel sinus-related pain, in contrast, behind your eyes. A tension headache may cause pain at the back of the head or the top of the head.

Headaches are very common, with about 96% of people in the United States having at least one during their life. Read on to learn about different types of headaches, symptoms, and how to treat them.

Common Primary Headaches

Primary headaches have no apparent underlying cause, such as a disease or injury. These headaches are typically not dangerous but might negatively affect your quality of life.

1. Chronic Daily Headaches

You might have chronic daily headaches if you have headaches at least 15 days per month for more than three months. Chronic daily headaches typically occur on either the left or right side of the head. Other symptoms include eye swelling, ptosis (drooping eye), small pupils, stuffy nose, and watery eyes.

Primary headaches have no clear underlying cause, but risk factors include high caffeine intake, obesity, and sleep disorders. This type of headache may also evolve from chronic migraine, episodic tension-type headaches, or the overuse of pain relievers.

Treatment depends on what's causing your headaches. A healthcare provider might advise you to limit your medication use to see if that's causing your pain.

2. Cluster Headaches

Cluster headaches occur in groups or cycles. Each attack lasts about 15 minutes to three hours. Cluster headaches recur regularly, even multiple times per day, over a certain period. You may experience a headache-free period that lasts up to one year.

These headaches appear suddenly, usually two to three hours after you fall asleep. You might develop severe, debilitating pain on either the right or left side of your head. Other symptoms include eye swelling, red and watery eyes, and runny or stuffy nose on the same side as your head pain.

The cause of cluster headaches is unknown. A sudden release of chemicals, such as histamine or serotonin, in the body may cause cluster headaches. Triggers might include alcohol, certain foods, cigarettes, and high altitudes.

Treatment for cluster headaches is a two-pronged approach. You can help stop an attack with nasal spray, dihydroergotamine (DHE) injections, oxygen therapy, and triptan drugs. Allergy medicines, antidepressants, blood pressure medicines, and seizure medicines can help prevent future attacks. It's also essential to note what triggers your headaches and avoid them if possible.

3. Migraine Headaches

About 12% of Americans have chronic migraines. Migraines are severe headaches that cause a pulsing or throbbing pain on one side of your head. 

Other symptoms include a sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, and weakness. Aura, which includes visual changes (e.g., bright lights and wavy lines) and numbness, can precede a migraine.

The exact cause of migraines is not clear, but your genes might play a role. Triggers may include:

  • Anxiety and stress
  • Bright and flashing lights
  • Caffeine
  • Hormone changes
  • Loud noises
  • Medicines
  • Strong smells
  • Tobacco 
  • Too little or too much sleep
  • Weather changes

There is no cure for migraines, but you can relieve and prevent symptoms. Treatments include ergotamine or triptan drugs and pain relievers. Try resting with your eyes closed in a quiet, dark room if you have a migraine. Drinking plenty of fluids and placing a cool compress on your forehead might help alleviate symptoms.

4. Tension Headaches

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. Symptoms include a dull, non-throbbing constant pain, often on both sides of your head. Tension headaches are not as severe as migraines and are not usually caused by nausea and vomiting.

You might develop these headaches if you often have tight muscles in your neck, jaw, scalp, and shoulders. Risk factors include anxiety, depression, and stress. Certain habits, such as not eating well or getting enough sleep, working too much, and using alcohol, can contribute to tension headaches.

Treatment might include:

  • Antidepressants
  • Biofeedback, which measures certain bodily functions (e.g., blood pressure and heart rate) to help train you to control them
  • Ice packs
  • Muscle relaxants
  • Pain relievers (e.g., acetaminophen and ibuprofen), with or without caffeine
  • Psychotherapy
  • Rest 

Common Secondary Headaches

An underlying health concern causes secondary headaches. Causes might include caffeine withdrawal, illnesses, infections, and menstruation.

5. Caffeine Withdrawal Headaches

A caffeine withdrawal headache might occur if you normally have coffee every day at a certain time and then skip it. You might develop a throbbing headache as a result. People who consume large quantities of caffeine regularly may be at risk for withdrawal symptoms if they try to quit "cold turkey."

Consume caffeine to quell a withdrawal-related headache. You might need to temporarily experience this pain, however, if you are trying to limit or quit caffeine. It may help to decrease your caffeine intake gradually rather than all at once.

6. Dental Headaches

There are dental-related conditions that can trigger headaches or face pain. The pain may radiate to the back or side of your head or down into your neck. The pressure around your head can be either tension-type or migraine-like.

Bruxism, for example, occurs if you clench, gnash, or grind your teeth. This health condition causes muscular hyperactivity, which can result in headaches and muscle spasms. Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) is another dental problem that affects the joints in your face, located just in front of your ear. These joints connect your jaw to your skull. Other symptoms include a painful clicking or popping of the joint, abnormal joint motion, and bite disorders.

Your dentist can diagnose these types of headaches. Treatment may include bite guards, pain relievers, physical therapy, or, in some cases, surgery. Reducing stress might also help.

7. Early-Morning Headaches

There are several possible culprits if you are waking up in pain. Migraines are most likely to happen in the morning, for example. Research has shown people with sleep apnea are also prone to headaches early in the day. This sleep disorder causes your breathing to stop or become shallow and then restart several times when sleeping. Consistently waking up with a headache might be a symptom of a brain tumor, although it's rare.

You can treat an early-morning headache with pain relievers. Addressing the underlying issue, such as chronic migraine or sleep apnea, may help.

8. Ice Cream Headaches

This headache, commonly known as a brain freeze, causes a shooting head pain when you consume an icy cold drink or treat on a hot day. Almost everyone gets a brain freeze at least once in their lifetime, but people with chronic migraine have a higher risk than others.

The temperature of the palate (the roof of your mouth) drops when you eat or drink a large quantity of very cold foods or liquids. The blood vessels constrict as a survival reflex to maintain your body's core temperature. These blood vessels then open up quickly, sending pain signals to your brain.

A brain freeze is not serious. Take a break from the frosty treat until the pain subsides. You can also sip warm water to help increase the temperature in your mouth.

9. Menstrual Migraines

Menstrual migraines affect about 60% of women who experience migraines. This type of severe headache usually occurs between two days before and three days after your period starts.

The sudden drop in estrogen right before your period can sometimes trigger a migraine. Oral contraceptives affect estrogen levels, so people who take birth control pills may have frequent menstrual migraines.

You can treat menstrual migraines with a combination of aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine (AAC). Other medications include pain relievers and triptan drugs. Some evidence suggests magnesium supplements might also alleviate period-related pain.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) minimally regulates supplements. The effects of magnesium supplements can vary and depend on many variables, including dosage, frequency of use, and interactions with medications. Talk to a healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting any supplements.

10. Orgasm Headaches

These headaches, which are caused by having an orgasm, are relatively rare and more common in younger adults, particularly men. Orgasm headaches usually start shortly after sexual activity begins and end in a "thunderclap" headache at climax. This severe headache comes on within one minute and lasts at least five minutes.

These headaches usually go away on their own. You may consult a healthcare provider if you often experience orgasm headaches. Rarely are they a sign of something severe. Taking a pain reliever before sexual activity may help ease the pain.

11. Rebound Headaches

The overuse of pain relievers for headaches, including aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or prescription drugs—can lead to rebound headaches. Rebound headaches often begin early in the morning, with the location and severity changing from day to day. You may also have anxiety, irritability, depression, nausea, and trouble sleeping.

Too much medication might cause your brain to shift into an excited state, triggering more headaches. Your headache might also be a symptom of withdrawal as the medicine wanes in your body.

How much medication is too much and too often? Limit pain relievers to no more than two days per week if possible. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out if you can change your prescription if a current medication is causing your headaches.

12. Sinus Headaches

Sinus headaches often cause gnawing pain in the nasal area, worsening over time. These headaches develop if the sinuses behind your cheeks, eyes, and nose become swollen. The pain might be worse in the morning or when you bend forward.

People often confuse sinus headaches with more common types of headaches, Peter Goadsby, MD, PhD, a headache medicine specialist at UCLA Health, told Health. Like sinus headaches, cluster headache causes a stuffy nose and watery eyes. A sinus headache, in contrast, develops from an infection and causes thick nasal discharge.

Sinus infections often resolve on their own or with antibiotics. You can typically alleviate sinus-related pain with decongestants and pain relievers.

13. Weekend Headaches

Some people may develop headaches that mainly show up on the weekends. These headaches typically occur if you are stressed during the week or go to bed late and oversleep on the weekends. Another cause might be caffeine withdrawal if you do not consume as much as you do during the week.

It's essential to stick with your regular sleep-wake schedule, even on the weekends. Pain relievers can also help.

How Can I Tell What Kind of Headache I Have?

You might be able to tell what kind of headache you have by where the pain occurs. Migraines, for example, typically occur on either the left or right side of your head. Cluster headaches also affect one side of your head but usually affect your eyes. Sinus headaches will usually happen behind your eyes.

Try keeping a diary of your headaches, when they occur, and what you are doing before symptoms start. You might see a pattern and be able to pinpoint possible causes or triggers. A menstrual migraine, for example, will occur right before or at the start of your period. You might have a dental headache if you note tooth-related symptoms.

When To Contact a Healthcare Provider

The vast majority of headaches are not dangerous and can be resolved at home. See a healthcare provider, however, if you have headaches that:

  • Are worse in the morning
  • Have changed in intensity
  • Last more than a few days
  • Make it hard to fall and stay asleep
  • Occur often with no apparent cause

When To Seek Immediate Medical Treatment

Most headaches are not an emergency, but there are a few symptoms that warrant medical attention. A headache that suddenly occurs and is quickly "explosive," for example, may indicate a brain aneurysm, which causes an artery in your brain to balloon and fill with blood. An aneurysm can be fatal if it bursts.

Seek immediate medical treatment if you have:

  • Confusion
  • A headache that does not go away with treatment
  • A high fever
  • Numbness and weakness
  • Pain that feels different than previous headaches
  • Pain that prevents you from eating or drinking
  • Slurred speech
  • Stiff neck
  • Sudden severe pain
  • Vomiting

How Can You Prevent Headaches?

It's not entirely possible to prevent headaches, but there are some things you can do to reduce your risk. Here are some ways to prevent headaches:

  • Avoid triggers: Keep a diary of what causes your headaches or migraines, and then take steps to avoid triggers. These may include alcohol, coffee, and smoking.
  • Improve your posture: This helps keep your muscles from being too tense or tight, which may cause tension headaches.
  • Limit pain reliever use: You might develop a rebound headache if you take pain relievers too often. Try reducing use to no more than two days per week.
  • Take preventative medications: A healthcare provider might advise anti-seizure drugs, antidepressants, blood pressure medications, and Botox infections if you have chronic migraine to prevent attacks.
  • Try an electrical stimulation device: You'll wear this headband-like device once per day for 20 minutes if you have chronic migraine.
  • Use a humidifier: This adds moisture to the air to prevent your sinuses from becoming too dry.

A Quick Review

Headaches can have numerous causes, and symptoms can vary widely. You may get a headache occasionally—say, before your period or from caffeine withdrawal—or you may be prone to chronic headaches.

The prognosis for headaches varies on the cause, although the vast majority are not severe. Chronic headaches, though, can negatively affect your quality of life. Avoiding triggers and taking preventative medications may help improve outcomes.

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Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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