Headaches are among the most frequent health complaints worldwide — yet most people struggle to identify what type of headache they’re experiencing. Understanding these differences matters. It helps you manage symptoms properly, avoid unnecessary worry, and know when the pain requires professional care.
This guide explains the most common types of headaches, how to recognise them, and when to seek help from a specialist.
Headaches 101: An Overview
A headache is pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck. Clinically, headaches fall into two categories:
Primary headaches
Headache disorders in their own right, such as:
- Tension headaches
- Migraines
- Cluster headaches
Secondary headaches
Headaches that arise from another condition, such as infections, trauma, sinus disease, blood pressure problems, medication overuse, or cervical spine issues.
Most headaches are primary and not dangerous — but severe, sudden, or unusual headaches deserve urgent evaluation.
Tension Headaches
Tension headaches are the most common type and often linked to stress or posture.
Symptoms include:
- Dull, aching pain on both sides of the head
- A tight “band-like” sensation
- Neck or scalp tenderness
- Associated fatigue or eye strain
Typical triggers:
Stress, dehydration, poor posture, long screen time sessions.
Migraines
Migraines are neurological events causing moderate to severe one-sided throbbing pain.
Symptoms include:
- Pulsating pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Light and sound sensitivity
- Visual aura in some patients
- Difficulty concentrating
Triggers include:
Hormonal shifts, specific foods, stress, disrupted sleep, bright lights.
Cluster Headaches
Cluster headaches are among the most severe pains described in medicine.
Symptoms include:
- Excruciating, sharp pain around one eye
- Tearing or redness in the eye
- Nasal congestion on the same side
- Restlessness or agitation
- Attacks lasting 15 minutes to 3 hours, in cycles
More common in men and often misdiagnosed due to rarity.
Read out deep dive into the differences between Migraines & Cluster Headaches!
Cervicogenic Headaches (Neck-Related Headaches)
Cervicogenic headaches originate from structural problems in the neck, such as facet joint arthritis, nerve irritation, muscle dysfunction, or poor posture.
Unlike migraines or tension headaches, cervicogenic headaches are secondary headaches, meaning the pain comes from the cervical spine.
Key symptoms include:
- One-sided head pain starting in the neck and radiating upward
- Reduced neck movement or stiffness
- Pain triggered by certain neck positions
- Tenderness over cervical joints or muscles
- Occasional associated shoulder or arm discomfort
Common causes:
- Cervical facet joint arthritis
- Whiplash injuries
- Prolonged poor posture
- Cervical disc degeneration
- Pinched nerves
Cervicogenic headaches respond especially well to targeted physiotherapy and interventional pain procedures.
Sinus Headaches
Sinus headaches result from sinus inflammation or infection.
Typical features:
- Deep facial pressure
- Nasal congestion or discharge
- Pain worse when bending forward
- Sometimes fever
However, most self-diagnosed “sinus headaches” are actually migraines.
Rebound (Medication Overuse) Headaches
These occur when pain medication is used too frequently.
Signs include:
- Daily or near-daily headaches
- Pain that temporarily improves after medication, then returns
- Linked to long-term use of codeine-containing analgesics or triptans
Breaking the cycle requires supervised withdrawal and long-term management strategies.
When to See a Doctor
Seek urgent medical help if your headache includes:
- Sudden severe pain (“thunderclap headache”)
- Neurological symptoms (weakness, vision changes, speech difficulties)
- Fever with neck stiffness
- Persistent vomiting
- Head injury with worsening pain
See a specialist if headaches occur more than twice a week or interfere with your work or daily activities.
Diagnosis and Treatment Options
How headaches are diagnosed
- Detailed medical history
- Assessment of triggers and patterns
- Neurological examination
- Headache diary
- MRI or CT scan if red flags or uncertainty
Treatment Options
Medication-based treatments:
- Pain relievers (short-term use only)
- Triptans for migraines
- Preventative medication for frequent migraines
- Oxygen therapy for cluster headaches
- Anti-inflammatory treatment for sinus-related headaches
Botox therapy
Effective for chronic migraines occurring more than 15 days per month.
Physiotherapy and rehabilitation
Particularly beneficial for cervicogenic headaches and tension headaches.
Interventional pain procedures for stubborn headaches
These advanced treatments are offered at specialist pain clinics:
-
Occipital nerve blocks
For migraines, cluster headaches, and cervicogenic headaches. -
Cervical medial branch blocks
Diagnostic and therapeutic for cervicogenic headaches. -
Pulsed radiofrequency neuromodulation
Applied to occipital nerves or cervical nerves to reduce nerve hypersensitivity. -
Sphenopalatine ganglion block
Used for cluster headaches, severe migraines, and facial pain conditions. -
Trigger point injections
Helpful in muscle-related headaches.
These procedures are minimally invasive, performed in-office, and provide significant relief for many patients.
Managing Headaches Day-to-Day
Lifestyle strategies that help reduce frequency and severity:
- Drink enough water
- Maintain consistent sleep patterns
- Stretch and correct posture
- Use ergonomic work setups
- Manage stress through mindfulness or breathing exercises
- Avoid known triggers
- Keep a headache diary
Small habits compound into big improvements over time.
Final Thoughts
Headaches are common, but they’re not all the same. Understanding the type you’re experiencing is the first step toward getting the right treatment — and lasting relief.
If headaches are interfering with your daily life, a specialist evaluation can offer clarity, personalised treatment options, and real hope.
Relief is possible.
FAQs
1. What are the most common types of headaches?
Tension headaches, migraines, cluster headaches, sinus headaches, cervicogenic headaches, and rebound headaches.
2. How do I know if my headache is a migraine or tension-type?
Migraine pain is throbbing and usually one-sided with nausea; tension headaches feel like a tight band around the head.
3. Can sinus infections cause chronic headaches?
They can, but most “sinus headaches” turn out to be migraines.
4. What is a medication overuse headache?
A rebound headache caused by frequent use of pain medication.
5. When should I seek urgent care for a headache?
If the headache is sudden, severe, or accompanied by neurological symptoms, fever, or trauma.