TENSION HEADACHE

The most common type of headaches is likely caused by tight muscles in your shoulders, neck, scalp, and jaw. These are called Tension Headaches. They may be related to stress, depression, anxiety, a head injury, or holding your head and neck in an abnormal position.

Tension headaches tend to be on both sides of your head. They often start at the back of your head and spread forward. The pain may feel dull or squeezing, like a tight band or vice. Your shoulders, neck, or jaw may feel tight or sore.

People with tension headaches commonly report these symptoms:

• Episodic Tension Headaches (occurs less than 15 days per month)
• Pain is mild to moderate, constant band-like pain, pressure or throbbing
• Pain affects the front, top or sides of the head.
• Pain usually begins gradually, and often occurs in the middle of the day
• Pain may last from 30 minutes to several days
• Chronic Tension Headaches (occurs more than 15 days per month)
• Pain may vary in intensity throughout the day, but the pain is almost always present
• Pain affects the front, top or sides of the head
• Pain comes and goes over a prolonged period of time

MIGRAINE

The symptoms of migraine headaches can occur in various combinations and include:

• Moderate to severe pain (often described as pounding, throbbing pain) that can affect whole head, or can shift from one side of the head to the other.
• Sensitivity to light, noise or odors
• Blurred vision
• Nausea or vomiting, stomach upset, abdominal pain
• Loss of appetite
• Sensations of being very warm or cold
• Paleness
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Fever (rare)
• Bright flashing dots or lights, blind spots, wavy or jagged lines (aura)

CLUSTER HEADACHES

• Intense one-sided pain described as having a burning or piercing quality that is throbbing or constant
• Pain is located behind one eye or in the eye region, without changing sides
• Pain lasts a short time, generally 30 to 90 minutes. But, it can last from 15 minutes to three hours. The headache will disappear only to recur later that day (most sufferers get one to three headaches per day during a cluster period).
• Headaches occur very regularly, generally at the same time each day, and they often awaken the person at the same time during the night.

SINUS HEADACHES

• Deep and constant pain in the cheekbones, forehead or bridge of the nose
• The pain usually intensifies with sudden head movement or straining and usually occurs with other sinus symptoms, such as nasal discharge, feeling of fullness in the ears, fever, and facial swelling.

Reviewed by Department of Neurology, Department of Pediatric Neurology, The Cleveland Clinic.

OTHER CAUSES

Some headaches may be a sign of a more serious illness. Anyone who has these danger signs should seek medical help immediately:

• This is the first headache you have ever had in your life and it interferes with your daily activities
• Your headache comes on suddenly and is explosive or violent
• You would describe your headache as "your worst ever," even if you regularly get headaches
• You also have slurred speech, a change in vision, problems moving your arms or legs, loss of balance, confusion, or memory loss with your headache
• Your headache gets worse over a 24-hour period
• You also have a fever, stiff neck, nausea, and vomiting with your headache
• Your headache occurs with a head injury
• Your headache is severe and just in one eye, with redness in that eye
• You are over age 50 and your headaches just began, especially if you also have vision problems and pain while chewing
• You have cancer and develop a new headache

SOURCE: MEDLINE PLUS