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The Different Types of Headaches by Location

Did you know that migraine affects more than 10% of people worldwide?

Headaches can have a major impact on a person’s life. They can affect your mood, make it difficult to concentrate on daily tasks, and even disrupt your sleeping schedule.

Not only are living with frequent headaches pretty annoying, but they are also generally quite painful.

Each individual has their kind of headache. This can come down to the location where the pain is most prominent. We will discuss these different types of headaches by location in this article.

Let’s get started!

Tension Headaches

These headaches typically cause a dull, diffuse, pressure-like feeling on both sides of the head, lasting from minutes to days. While tension headaches are commonly found in the front of the head, they can occur anywhere. Pain may also be felt behind the eyes, around the temples, in the sinuses, and in the scalp.

For some people, tension headaches may radiate down the neck and into the arms. Although the exact cause of tension headaches is unknown, they can be triggered by tension, stress, fatigue, alcohol, caffeine, food allergies, and more.

Migraines

Migraine headaches cause moderate to severe throbbing pain, usually on one side of the head but can also affect the whole head. Often associated with food triggers, fatigue, light, and stress, migraine headaches are a type of primary headache, meaning they have no underlying cause.

There are different types of migraine headaches, each with a unique location on the head. Migraine tends to be worse on one side of the head and can last for hours or days. Consider this treatment for migraine found here for persistent pain.

Cluster Headaches

Cluster headaches are one of the most intense types, usually in one area around the eye. These headaches begin suddenly and with extreme intensity, usually radiating from behind one eye. The symptoms of cluster headaches include sharp and excruciating pain around one eye along with a runny nose, redness and watery eye, and/or a stuffy nose.

These headaches can last for minutes but, in some cases, may last for hours. Cluster headaches occur in cyclical patterns lasting for weeks or months, often followed by a long, pain-free period.

Sinus Headaches

Sinus headaches are related to a buildup of sinus pressure, typically caused by nasal congestion due to a cold, allergy, or infection. The pressure buildup is generally felt on the forehead, between and around the eyes, and across the bridge of the nose. A person experiencing a sinus headache might also have symptoms ranging from a stuffy nose, facial pain, and a reduced sense of smell to a postnasal drip.

Hormonal Headaches

Hormonal headaches are notorious for being the most painful and uncomfortable. They take root in an area of the head around the forehead, temples, and/or lower head region and seem to last for extended periods. These headaches tend to increase in intensity around the menstrual cycle, when pregnant, and even during menopause.

The Different Types of Headaches by Location

There are many types of headaches by location that can affect different parts of the body. Regardless of the type of headache, it is important to stay informed and aware of any potential health risks to find the most effective treatment.

Reach out to a healthcare provider for additional advice and guidance and to learn more about the causes of headaches.

For more articles on maintaining your health and strength through the healing process, check our blog often.