Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCommon Primary HeadachesCommon Secondary HeadachesHow To Identify Your TypeWhen to Contact a Healthcare ProviderPreventionOther ComplicationsNext in Headache GuideSymptoms of a Headache

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Common Primary Headaches

Common Secondary Headaches

How To Identify Your Type

When to Contact a Healthcare Provider

Prevention

Other Complications

Next in Headache Guide

Over 95% of people experience at least one headache in their lifetime.But there are many kinds of head, neck, face, and eye pain. Researchers have identified over 200 different headache types, varying in intensity, location, duration, and cause.Determining the kind you have is essential for proper management, and it can help you know if your symptoms are a sign of something serious.

This article covers the most common types of headaches, how to find relief, and when to get help.

What Are the Most Common Types of Primary Headaches, and How Are They Treated?

Healthcare providers break headaches into two categories based on their causes: primary and secondary. Primary headaches are neurological disorders that arise on their own. This type includes migraine, tension, and cluster headaches, among others.

Tension Headache

Tension headachesare the most common type, causing a band of mild to moderate pain or pressure along the temples or in the neck. This type also causes nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light or sound. Muscular tension in the head and neck often causes tension headaches. Triggers include stress, sleep problems, hunger, or dehydration.

Common treatments to relieve symptoms include over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, prescribed muscle relaxers, or tricyclic antidepressants. Acupuncture, massage, and other relaxation methods help prevent attacks.

Migraine

Migrainecauses moderate to severe shooting pain, often on one side of the head, that lasts hours to days. Other symptoms include light or sound sensitivity and nausea, and most people who get migraines experiencemigraine with aura, in which sensory or visual distortions precede attacks.

Abnormal activity in the brain’s trigeminal nerve, which regulates pain and sensation from the head, causes migraine. They are more common among people assigned female at birth. Bright lights, stress, poor sleep, skipping meals, and certain foods like chocolate, red wine, and cured meat can trigger migraine attacks.

Medications for migraineattacks includetriptans, ergots, as well asnon-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs) or other analgesics. Anticonvulsants, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and certain antidepressants are preventative medications.

Cluster Headache

Researchers have not identified the exact causes ofcluster headaches, but triggers include alcohol, cigarette smoke, overexertion, and bright lights. Healthcare providers prescribe triptans, oxygen therapy (breathing oxygen from a respirator), corticosteroids, ordihydroergotamine(DHE) injections for attacks. Steroids, allergy medications, blood pressure medications, andcalcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) blockersprevent cases.

Hemicrania Continua

Hemicrania continuais a rare, severe headache that causes persistent pain on one side of the head. Additional symptoms include eye swelling, congestion, runny nose, nausea, and light and sound sensitivity.The exact cause of this rare headache is unknown, and this type doesn’t have triggers.

Adults assigned female at birth are at the highest risk. Treatment options include Tivorbex (indomethacin) and corticosteroids.

Ice Pick Headache

Thunderclap Headache

Thunderclap headachesare considered the most painful type and reach their maximum intensity within one minute of onset. This type can be primary or a sign of brain hemorrhage (bleeding). These headaches last about five minutes and have no triggers. They are always a medical emergency; healthcare providers treat primary cases with Tivorbex (indomethacin).

Hypnic Headache

Hypnicor “alarm clock” headaches occur at night and disrupt sleep. They typically affect people over 60 and cause dull or throbbingunilateral (one-sided) painthat lasts anywhere from 15 minutes to four hours. Medications for this type include Carbolith (lithium carbonate), Sibelium (flunarizine), and Tivorbex (indomethacin).

Why Am I Getting Headaches Every Day All of a Sudden?

What Are the Most Common Types of Secondary Headaches?

Secondary headachesarise as symptoms of other diseases or health conditions. They’re the headaches you get when you have allergies, feel sick, or hit your head, among other causes.

Allergy or Sinus Headache

Inflamed sinuses from allergies or respiratory illnesses causeheadachesthat feel like squeezing, pressure, or pain in the cheeks, brow, or forehead. Symptoms worsen when you bend or lean; some also experience achy teeth, fatigue, and congestion. Sinus headaches resolve as the inflammation subsides. OTC pain relievers effectively manage symptoms.

Post-Traumatic Headache

Post-traumatic headache(PTH) occurs after a head or neck impact. Symptoms appear within a week of an injury, such as whiplash or a traumatic brain injury (TBI). It causes headache symptoms as well as TBI symptoms such as confusion, fatigue, irritability, and anxiety. PTH treatments include NSAIDs,analgesics, caffeine, and triptans.

Hormone Headache

Healthcare providers may recommend NSAIDs or prescribe triptans, oral birth control, or hormone treatments for this issue. Antiseizure,tricyclic antidepressants, and certain anti-hypertensive (blood pressure) medications treat severe cases.

In regular coffee or tea drinkers,caffeine withdrawalcan cause headaches and trigger migraine attacks.Caffeine causes physical dependency, so reintroducing caffeine resolves the issue.

Alcohol also triggers migraines and causes hangover headaches. Hangover headache is a form of withdrawal due to dehydration, poor sleep, intestinal irritation, and inflammation. OTC pain relieving medications help ease fatigue, sweating, nausea, light and sound sensitivity, and irritability that these headaches cause.

Exertion Headache

Exercising too much can lead to exertion headaches, which last anywhere from five minutes to two days. This type of headache causes throbbing, bilateral pain that sets in after intense physical effort. Researchers aren’t sure what causes this headache, and there aren’t any standard therapies, though reports note Tivorbex (indomethacin) may be effective.

Hypertension Headache

A headache is a symptom of extreme hypertension (blood pressure measuring over 180/120), a medical emergency known as ahypertensive crisis. Additional symptoms include nausea, vomiting, breathing difficulties, nosebleeds, and anxiety. Along with pain-relievers,medicationsthat treat high blood pressure help relieve this headache.

Spinal Headache

A spinal headache is a rare complication of lumbar puncture—an invasive treatment used for back pain diagnostic testing or to administer local anesthesia. In this procedure, providers use a syringe to collect fluid or administer anesthesia from the spinal canal. This fluid disruption lowers pressure on the brain, which can cause dull pain in the front of the head. Spinal headache symptoms worsen when you stand, cough, sneeze, or move.

Spinal headaches typically occur within five days of a lumbar puncture and usually independently resolve within two weeks. Lying down, OTC pain relievers, and caffeine help ease symptoms.

Medication Overuse Headache

Medication overuse headache(MOH) occurs when you take too many NSAIDs, triptans, or other pain relievers for primary headaches. MOH is a headache occurring on 15 or more days per month, developing as a consequence of regular overuse of acute or symptomatic headache medication (on 10 or more, or 15 or more days per month, depending on the medication) for more than three months.

While all pain-relieving medications can cause this effect, it’s especially common with opioids and medications containing butalbital, such as Fioricet. Stopping the use resolves this issue.

How Can I Identify My Headache Type?

In cases of suspected stroke, brain hemorrhage, or other issues, healthcare providers may call for imaging or additional tests, including:

In general, if headaches are significantly impacting your life, seek care. Call a healthcare provider if you experience:

When to Call 911While most headaches aren’t a sign of anything dangerous, certainwarning signsindicate a medical emergency. Call 911 if you experience:Sudden onset of extremely severe headache (thunderclap headache symptoms)Severe headache alongside fever or neck stiffnessSeizure, loss of consciousness, personality changes, or confusionHeadache shortly after exercise or injuryNew onset of vision problems, weakness, and numbness

When to Call 911

While most headaches aren’t a sign of anything dangerous, certainwarning signsindicate a medical emergency. Call 911 if you experience:Sudden onset of extremely severe headache (thunderclap headache symptoms)Severe headache alongside fever or neck stiffnessSeizure, loss of consciousness, personality changes, or confusionHeadache shortly after exercise or injuryNew onset of vision problems, weakness, and numbness

While most headaches aren’t a sign of anything dangerous, certainwarning signsindicate a medical emergency. Call 911 if you experience:

Can You Prevent Headaches?

Depending on the type you have, you may be able to prevent headaches.Lifestyle changesand certain habits can help with primary headache disorders. Standard prevention methods include:

Do Headaches Cause Other Complications?

Most headaches don’t cause complications. However, chronic cases raise the risk ofmood disorders. In one study of people seeking care for headaches, nearly 20% had depression, and almost 14% had anxiety.

There also are several rarer complications:

Summary

There are many different types of headaches. Primary headaches—those arising in the absence of other diseases—include migraine, tension, and cluster headaches. Secondary headaches, which are symptoms of different diseases, include headaches due to sinus infection and those due to accident or injury, among others.

If you experience regular or debilitating headaches, it’s critical to seek medical care. With proper diagnosis, healthcare providers can connect you to treatment and prevention options. The sooner you get help, the better the outcome.

23 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Robbins MS, Lipton RB.The epidemiology of primary headache disorders.Semin Neurol. 2010;30(2):107-119. doi:10.1055/s-0030-1249220Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society (IHS) The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition.Cephalalgia. 2018;38(1):1-211. doi:10.1177/0333102417738202Wootton RJ, Kissoon NR.Headache causes and diagnosis in adults. UpToDate.MedlinePlus.Tension headache.May A.Hints on diagnosing and treating headache.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(17):299-308. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0299MedlinePlus.Migraine.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Headache.MedlinePlus.Cluster headache.Rizzoli P, Mullally WJ.Headache.Am J Med. 2018;131(1):17-24. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2017.09.005Chua AL, Nahas S.Ice pick headache.Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2016;20(5):30. doi:10.1007/s11916-016-0559-7Dilli E.Thunderclap headache.Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2014;14(4):437. doi:10.1007/s11910-014-0437-9Inam MS, Nahar S, Miah MZ.Hypnic headache: a rare type of primary headache disorder.BJPsych Open. 2021;7(Suppl 1):S120. doi:10.1192/bjo.2021.349Straburzyński M, Gryglas-Dworak A, Nowaczewska M, Brożek-Mądry E, Martelletti P.Etiology of ‘sinus headache’-moving the focus from rhinology to neurology. A systematic review.Brain Sci. 2021;11(1):79. doi:10.3390/brainsci11010079Wijeratne T, Wijeratne C, Korajkic N, Bird S, Sales C, Riederer F.Secondary headaches - red and green flags and their significance for diagnostics.eNeurologicalSci. 2023;32:100473. doi:10.1016/j.ensci.2023.100473Delaruelle Z, Ivanova TA, Khan S, et al.Male and female sex hormones in primary headaches.J Headache Pain. 2018;19(1):117. doi:10.1186/s10194-018-0922-7Zduńska A, Cegielska J, Zduński S, Domitrz I.Caffeine for headaches: helpful or harmful? A brief review of the literature.Nutrients. 2023;15(14):3170. doi:10.3390/nu15143170National Institutes on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health.Alcohol’s effects on health.Upadhyaya P, Nandyala A, Ailani J.Primary exercise headache.Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2020;20(5):9. doi:10.1007/s11910-020-01028-4Salkic S, Batic-Mujanovic O, Ljuca F, Brkic S.Clinical presentation of hypertensive crises in emergency medical services.Mater Sociomed. 2014;26(1):12-16. doi:10.5455/msm.2014.26.12-16Basurto Ona X, Osorio D, Bonfill Cosp X.Drug therapy for treating post-dural puncture headache.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;2015(7):CD007887. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007887.pub3Kristoffersen ES, Lundqvist C.Medication-overuse headache: epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment.Ther Adv Drug Saf. 2014;5(2):87-99. doi:10.1177/2042098614522683Wei CB, Jia JP, Wang F, Zhou AH, Zuo XM, Chu CB.Overlap between headache, depression, and anxiety in general neurological clinics: a cross-sectional study.Chin Med J (Engl). 2016;129(12):1394-1399. doi:10.4103/0366-6999.183410Kamourieh S, Rozen T, Anderson JM.Status migrainosus.Handb Clin Neurol. 2024;199:413-439. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-823357-3.00017-3

23 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Robbins MS, Lipton RB.The epidemiology of primary headache disorders.Semin Neurol. 2010;30(2):107-119. doi:10.1055/s-0030-1249220Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society (IHS) The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition.Cephalalgia. 2018;38(1):1-211. doi:10.1177/0333102417738202Wootton RJ, Kissoon NR.Headache causes and diagnosis in adults. UpToDate.MedlinePlus.Tension headache.May A.Hints on diagnosing and treating headache.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(17):299-308. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0299MedlinePlus.Migraine.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Headache.MedlinePlus.Cluster headache.Rizzoli P, Mullally WJ.Headache.Am J Med. 2018;131(1):17-24. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2017.09.005Chua AL, Nahas S.Ice pick headache.Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2016;20(5):30. doi:10.1007/s11916-016-0559-7Dilli E.Thunderclap headache.Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2014;14(4):437. doi:10.1007/s11910-014-0437-9Inam MS, Nahar S, Miah MZ.Hypnic headache: a rare type of primary headache disorder.BJPsych Open. 2021;7(Suppl 1):S120. doi:10.1192/bjo.2021.349Straburzyński M, Gryglas-Dworak A, Nowaczewska M, Brożek-Mądry E, Martelletti P.Etiology of ‘sinus headache’-moving the focus from rhinology to neurology. A systematic review.Brain Sci. 2021;11(1):79. doi:10.3390/brainsci11010079Wijeratne T, Wijeratne C, Korajkic N, Bird S, Sales C, Riederer F.Secondary headaches - red and green flags and their significance for diagnostics.eNeurologicalSci. 2023;32:100473. doi:10.1016/j.ensci.2023.100473Delaruelle Z, Ivanova TA, Khan S, et al.Male and female sex hormones in primary headaches.J Headache Pain. 2018;19(1):117. doi:10.1186/s10194-018-0922-7Zduńska A, Cegielska J, Zduński S, Domitrz I.Caffeine for headaches: helpful or harmful? A brief review of the literature.Nutrients. 2023;15(14):3170. doi:10.3390/nu15143170National Institutes on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health.Alcohol’s effects on health.Upadhyaya P, Nandyala A, Ailani J.Primary exercise headache.Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2020;20(5):9. doi:10.1007/s11910-020-01028-4Salkic S, Batic-Mujanovic O, Ljuca F, Brkic S.Clinical presentation of hypertensive crises in emergency medical services.Mater Sociomed. 2014;26(1):12-16. doi:10.5455/msm.2014.26.12-16Basurto Ona X, Osorio D, Bonfill Cosp X.Drug therapy for treating post-dural puncture headache.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;2015(7):CD007887. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007887.pub3Kristoffersen ES, Lundqvist C.Medication-overuse headache: epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment.Ther Adv Drug Saf. 2014;5(2):87-99. doi:10.1177/2042098614522683Wei CB, Jia JP, Wang F, Zhou AH, Zuo XM, Chu CB.Overlap between headache, depression, and anxiety in general neurological clinics: a cross-sectional study.Chin Med J (Engl). 2016;129(12):1394-1399. doi:10.4103/0366-6999.183410Kamourieh S, Rozen T, Anderson JM.Status migrainosus.Handb Clin Neurol. 2024;199:413-439. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-823357-3.00017-3

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Robbins MS, Lipton RB.The epidemiology of primary headache disorders.Semin Neurol. 2010;30(2):107-119. doi:10.1055/s-0030-1249220Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society (IHS) The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition.Cephalalgia. 2018;38(1):1-211. doi:10.1177/0333102417738202Wootton RJ, Kissoon NR.Headache causes and diagnosis in adults. UpToDate.MedlinePlus.Tension headache.May A.Hints on diagnosing and treating headache.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(17):299-308. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0299MedlinePlus.Migraine.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Headache.MedlinePlus.Cluster headache.Rizzoli P, Mullally WJ.Headache.Am J Med. 2018;131(1):17-24. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2017.09.005Chua AL, Nahas S.Ice pick headache.Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2016;20(5):30. doi:10.1007/s11916-016-0559-7Dilli E.Thunderclap headache.Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2014;14(4):437. doi:10.1007/s11910-014-0437-9Inam MS, Nahar S, Miah MZ.Hypnic headache: a rare type of primary headache disorder.BJPsych Open. 2021;7(Suppl 1):S120. doi:10.1192/bjo.2021.349Straburzyński M, Gryglas-Dworak A, Nowaczewska M, Brożek-Mądry E, Martelletti P.Etiology of ‘sinus headache’-moving the focus from rhinology to neurology. A systematic review.Brain Sci. 2021;11(1):79. doi:10.3390/brainsci11010079Wijeratne T, Wijeratne C, Korajkic N, Bird S, Sales C, Riederer F.Secondary headaches - red and green flags and their significance for diagnostics.eNeurologicalSci. 2023;32:100473. doi:10.1016/j.ensci.2023.100473Delaruelle Z, Ivanova TA, Khan S, et al.Male and female sex hormones in primary headaches.J Headache Pain. 2018;19(1):117. doi:10.1186/s10194-018-0922-7Zduńska A, Cegielska J, Zduński S, Domitrz I.Caffeine for headaches: helpful or harmful? A brief review of the literature.Nutrients. 2023;15(14):3170. doi:10.3390/nu15143170National Institutes on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health.Alcohol’s effects on health.Upadhyaya P, Nandyala A, Ailani J.Primary exercise headache.Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2020;20(5):9. doi:10.1007/s11910-020-01028-4Salkic S, Batic-Mujanovic O, Ljuca F, Brkic S.Clinical presentation of hypertensive crises in emergency medical services.Mater Sociomed. 2014;26(1):12-16. doi:10.5455/msm.2014.26.12-16Basurto Ona X, Osorio D, Bonfill Cosp X.Drug therapy for treating post-dural puncture headache.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;2015(7):CD007887. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007887.pub3Kristoffersen ES, Lundqvist C.Medication-overuse headache: epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment.Ther Adv Drug Saf. 2014;5(2):87-99. doi:10.1177/2042098614522683Wei CB, Jia JP, Wang F, Zhou AH, Zuo XM, Chu CB.Overlap between headache, depression, and anxiety in general neurological clinics: a cross-sectional study.Chin Med J (Engl). 2016;129(12):1394-1399. doi:10.4103/0366-6999.183410Kamourieh S, Rozen T, Anderson JM.Status migrainosus.Handb Clin Neurol. 2024;199:413-439. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-823357-3.00017-3

Robbins MS, Lipton RB.The epidemiology of primary headache disorders.Semin Neurol. 2010;30(2):107-119. doi:10.1055/s-0030-1249220

Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society (IHS) The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition.Cephalalgia. 2018;38(1):1-211. doi:10.1177/0333102417738202

Wootton RJ, Kissoon NR.Headache causes and diagnosis in adults. UpToDate.

MedlinePlus.Tension headache.

May A.Hints on diagnosing and treating headache.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(17):299-308. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0299

MedlinePlus.Migraine.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Headache.

MedlinePlus.Cluster headache.

Rizzoli P, Mullally WJ.Headache.Am J Med. 2018;131(1):17-24. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2017.09.005

Chua AL, Nahas S.Ice pick headache.Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2016;20(5):30. doi:10.1007/s11916-016-0559-7

Dilli E.Thunderclap headache.Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2014;14(4):437. doi:10.1007/s11910-014-0437-9

Inam MS, Nahar S, Miah MZ.Hypnic headache: a rare type of primary headache disorder.BJPsych Open. 2021;7(Suppl 1):S120. doi:10.1192/bjo.2021.349

Straburzyński M, Gryglas-Dworak A, Nowaczewska M, Brożek-Mądry E, Martelletti P.Etiology of ‘sinus headache’-moving the focus from rhinology to neurology. A systematic review.Brain Sci. 2021;11(1):79. doi:10.3390/brainsci11010079

Wijeratne T, Wijeratne C, Korajkic N, Bird S, Sales C, Riederer F.Secondary headaches - red and green flags and their significance for diagnostics.eNeurologicalSci. 2023;32:100473. doi:10.1016/j.ensci.2023.100473

Delaruelle Z, Ivanova TA, Khan S, et al.Male and female sex hormones in primary headaches.J Headache Pain. 2018;19(1):117. doi:10.1186/s10194-018-0922-7

Zduńska A, Cegielska J, Zduński S, Domitrz I.Caffeine for headaches: helpful or harmful? A brief review of the literature.Nutrients. 2023;15(14):3170. doi:10.3390/nu15143170

National Institutes on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health.Alcohol’s effects on health.

Upadhyaya P, Nandyala A, Ailani J.Primary exercise headache.Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2020;20(5):9. doi:10.1007/s11910-020-01028-4

Salkic S, Batic-Mujanovic O, Ljuca F, Brkic S.Clinical presentation of hypertensive crises in emergency medical services.Mater Sociomed. 2014;26(1):12-16. doi:10.5455/msm.2014.26.12-16

Basurto Ona X, Osorio D, Bonfill Cosp X.Drug therapy for treating post-dural puncture headache.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;2015(7):CD007887. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007887.pub3

Kristoffersen ES, Lundqvist C.Medication-overuse headache: epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment.Ther Adv Drug Saf. 2014;5(2):87-99. doi:10.1177/2042098614522683

Wei CB, Jia JP, Wang F, Zhou AH, Zuo XM, Chu CB.Overlap between headache, depression, and anxiety in general neurological clinics: a cross-sectional study.Chin Med J (Engl). 2016;129(12):1394-1399. doi:10.4103/0366-6999.183410

Kamourieh S, Rozen T, Anderson JM.Status migrainosus.Handb Clin Neurol. 2024;199:413-439. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-823357-3.00017-3

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