Health library

Dec. 19, 2024—When you have a headache, chances are the No. 1 thing you want is relief from the pain. But not all headaches are the same. Understanding which type you have can help you find the most effective treatment.

Migraine

Migraines are severe headaches that can interfere with a person's daily life. They often start in the morning and last from several hours to one to two days. Symptoms include:

• Moderate to severe pain.
• Throbbing or pulsing sensation in the head.
• Pain that gets worse with movement.
• Sensitivity to light.
• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Congestion or runny nose.
• Watery eyes.

Experts don't know what causes migraines. But certain triggers can set off an attack, notes the Office on Women's Health. Culprits include certain foods, alcohol, caffeine, loud noises, strong odors, hunger, menstrual cycles and stress.

How to treat it: Over-the-counter pain relievers may work for mild migraine pain. If that's not enough, your doctor may prescribe a stronger migraine medication to stop an existing headache or prevent future ones. Limiting or avoiding your triggers helps too.

Sinus headache

Sinus headaches are caused by viral or bacterial sinus infections. They're not that common, and what feels like a sinus headache can often be a migraine.

So how can you tell them apart? Sinus headaches usually cause symptoms like:

• Nasal congestion.
• Thick, nasal discharge that's yellow, green or bloody.
• Pressure around or behind the cheekbones, bridge of the nose, and the eyes.
• Facial pain.
• Fever.

How to treat it: See your doctor if you think you have a sinus infection, especially if you get them often. The doctor can help you pinpoint the underlying cause and recommend the best treatment for the infection. When the infection clears up, the headache will too.

Tension headache

This headache is very common and less severe than a migraine. It's often triggered by stress. As the name suggests, tension headaches can create a feeling of tightness around your head and on both sides of your neck. But unlike migraine and sinus headaches, tension headaches do not cause symptoms like light sensitivity, nausea, vomiting or fever.

How to treat it: Over-the-counter pain relievers often do the trick. Prescription medications can alleviate or prevent more frequent or severe tension headaches.

When is a headache an emergency?

Some headache symptoms are a sign it's time to see a doctor right away. Our interactive assessment can help you identify headache emergencies. And it's always a good idea to talk to a doctor if you're concerned about your headaches or if they're getting in the way of your daily life.

Sources

• American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. "Headaches Connected to Allergies and Sinus Problems." https://www.aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/conditions-library/allergies/headaches-connected-to-allergies-and-sinus-problem.
• American Migraine Foundation. "Sinus Headache vs. Migraine." https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/sinus-headache/.
• Office on Women's Health. "Migraine." https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/migraine.
• UpToDate. "Patient Education: Headache Treatment in Adults (Beyond the Basics)." https://www.uptodate.com/contents/headache-treatment-in-adults-beyond-the-basics/print.