Different types of headaches have
different
symptoms. So your experience of a headache will depend
on what type of headache you have. The chart below lists
the characteristic symptoms of the common types of
headache.
You should not ignore any chronic headaches.
Recurring symptoms from any of the headaches listed below
can disrupt your life and cause you a great deal of
suffering. You don't have to suffer from these headaches.
All chronic headaches deserve medical attention.
|
Headache Type
|
Common
Symptoms
|
|
Migraine Without Aura
|
- typically involves throbbing or pulsating pain on
one or both sides of the head
- pain usually lasts anywhere from 4 to 72 hours
- severity may range from mild to excruciating
- often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and
sensitivity to light, sound, and odors
|
|
Migraine With Aura
|
- typically involves throbbing or pulsating pain on
one or both sides of the head
- pain usually lasts anywhere from 4 to 72 hours
- severity may range from mild to excruciating
- often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and
sensitivity to light, sound, and odors
- aura begins 5 to 30 minutes before the headache
pain and may involve:
- visual symptoms, such as wavy or jagged lines,
dots, flashing lights, tunnel vision, or blind spots in one
or both eyes
- changes in hearing and smell
- a feeling of numbness or pins and needles in
the face or head
- difficulty finding the right word while
speaking
Some of the above symptoms can also be warning
signs of other very serious health problems. If you have
any of these symptoms, it is important that you talk with
your doctor.
|
|
Hormone-Related Migraine
|
- pain on one or both sides of the head
- nausea or vomiting
- headaches worsen before or after the menstrual
period, during the first trimester of pregnancy, or at the
time of menopause
- use of oral contraceptives or
estrogen-replacement therapy can
provoke or worsen headache pain
- a general decrease in headaches after menopause
|
|
Tension-Type
|
- moderate pain that may be associated with stress
and generally disappears after the stress ends
- headache feels like pressure or a tight band
around the head and neck
- pain may involve the teeth, forehead, and neck
- headache may be associated with nausea, but not
vomiting
- pain usually occurs on both sides of the head
|
|
Cluster
|
- stabbing sensation on one side of the head
- can occur several times a day during a cluster
cycle
- cluster cycle can last for more than 6 weeks
- attacks can last from 15 minutes to 3 hours
- severe pain around one eye or temple, which may
include swelling around the affected eye, or red eye
- possible nasal congestion or runny nose
Some of the above symptoms can also be warning
signs of other very serious health problems. If you have
any of these symptoms, it is important that you talk with
your doctor.
|
|
Rebound
|
- mild to moderate dull pain around the front and
back of the head
- pain occurs daily or is continuous and
associated with daily or near-daily use of pain medication
- symptoms worsen over time and require the use of
increasing amounts of pain medication
|
To learn more about a specific type of
headache and its symptoms, go to
What are the different types of headaches?
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