Symptoms of Headache

Head pain is associated with all headaches, but different types of headache have specific symptoms.

Tension Headache

Tension headache symptoms usually start slowly and build. They include:

Constant, steady pain and pressure
Dull and achy pain
Pain usually felt 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
Intensity that ranges from mild to severe and can vary during the day
Tightness in head and neck muscles
Difficulty concentrating

Tension Headache: Areas of Pain

Migraine Headache

Migraines occur in phases that may include the following:

A warning in the hours or days before the headache (in some cases) that may include:
- A change in mood
- Fatigue
- Tense muscles
- Yawning
- Food craving
An aura that lasts about 15-30 minutes and may produce the following sensations:
- Flashing lights or spots
- Temporary, partial loss of vision
- Speech difficulties
- Weakness in an arm or leg
- Numbness or tingling first in hands then spreads to arms and finally to the face and mouth, including the lips and tongue
- Restlessness
- Confusion
Migraine pain that starts within an hour of the aura ending:
- A headache, usually on one side but may involve both sides
- Typically, the headache feels intense, throbbing, or pulsating and is more severe with movement
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Sore or achy muscles
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
A post-headache period that usually lasts for 4-72 hours and often goes away with sleep. After the headache, you may experience:
- Trouble concentrating
- Fatigue

Cluster Headache

Cluster headache involves stabbing, penetrating, burning, or explosive head pain that:

Is on one side of the head
Often starts around the eye and spreads to the same side of the head
Occurs daily or almost every day for 4-8 weeks
Can occur 1-8 times per day
Often occurs at about the same time each day
Increases in intensity over time
May start within two hours of going to sleep
Can awaken you from sleep
May last up to three hours
May be accompanied by restlessness and agitation

Symptoms of a Cluster Headache

During the headache other symptoms may occur on the affected side, including:

Stuffy or runny nose
Redness or watering of the eye
Droopy eyelid
Constriction of the pupil of the eye
Facial swelling

Sinus Headache

Sinus headache symptoms include:

Pain and tenderness behind the forehead and cheeks and around the eyes
Pain in the back of the neck or upper teeth
Pain ranging from mild to severe
Pain that is more intense first thing in the morning
Pain that may worsen when you bend over
Headache occurring with other symptoms of sinusitis, including:
- Nasal stuffiness and congestion
- Thick nasal drainage
- Post-nasal drip
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Stuffy ears
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Puffiness around the eyes

Sinus Headache: Areas of Pain

References

Friedman DI. Idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2007;11(1):62-68.

Headache—frequently asked questions. National Headache Foundation website. Available at: http://www.headaches.org/education/Tools%5Ffor%5FSufferers/Headache%5F-%5FFrequently%5FAsked%5FQuestions. Accessed November 7, 2012.

NINDS headache information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website. Available at: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/headache/headache.htm. Updated September 2012. Accessed November 7, 2012.

Revision Information

Reviewer: Brian Randall, MD
Review Date: 11/2012
Update Date: 11/26/2012

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.