Types of headaches: a plain chart of the main kinds
The main kinds of headache in plain words: tension-type, migraine, cluster, sinus and medication-overuse, with how long each lasts, what else you feel, and which signs mean get care now.
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Short answer
Doctors split headaches into primary headaches, which are a disorder in themselves (tension-type, migraine, cluster), and secondary headaches, which are caused by something else, such as an infection or too many painkillers. You can often tell the common kinds apart by where it hurts, how long it lasts and what comes with it, but a diary and a doctor do that better than a guess. Some signs mean urgent care.
Choose this if
Notes on paper work if headaches are rare and you can describe them from memory.
Choose the other option if
Miggry is a migraine diary, and it helps when headaches keep coming back and you want each attack, medication and trigger on record for your doctor.
At a glance
| Feature | Notes on paper | Miggry |
|---|---|---|
| Records start, intensity and pain location | Yes | Yesin seconds from one screen |
| Records aura and other symptoms | Partlyif you remember | Yes |
| Records medication and dose | Partly | Yes |
| Shows weather and pressure beside attacks | No | Yes |
| Report your doctor can read | Partlythe notebook itself | YesPDF or CSV |
| Tells you which type of headache you have | No | Noit records and shows patterns |
| Stays private on your device | Yes | Yeson your iPhone, not in iCloud |
Primary and secondary headaches
The International Classification of Headache Disorders, third edition (ICHD-3), is the reference doctors use. It describes primary headaches as disorders by themselves, with their own causes, such as migraine, tension-type headache and cluster headache. Secondary headaches develop as a symptom of another disorder, such as an infection, an injury or medication overuse.
That split matters. A primary headache is treated as the condition. A secondary headache is treated by finding and treating the cause. The NHS says most headaches go away on their own and are not a sign of something more serious, but it lists signs that need medical help. If you want to sort a headache by where it hurts, see our guide by location.
The main types at a glance
The ranges below follow ICHD-3 and NHS descriptions. Real headaches overlap, so use this as a map, not as a diagnosis.
- Tension-type: usually on both sides, a pressing or tightening ache of mild to moderate strength. It lasts from 30 minutes to 7 days, does not get worse with routine activity such as climbing stairs, and has no nausea or vomiting.
- Migraine: often a throbbing pain on one side, moderate or severe, worse with movement. It comes with nausea or sensitivity to light and sound, and lasts 4 to 72 hours when untreated. Some people get an aura first, such as zigzag lines or flashing lights, which should not last longer than an hour.
- Cluster: a sharp, burning or piercing pain around one eye, with a red, watering eye, a blocked or runny nose or a drooping eyelid on the same side. Each attack lasts 15 minutes to 3 hours, can happen several times a day, and comes in series lasting weeks or months. You may feel restless and want to move around.
- Sinus: pain, swelling and tenderness around the cheeks, eyes or forehead with a blocked or runny nose, yellow or green mucus or a high temperature. The NHS says sinusitis is usually caused by infection and usually clears within 4 weeks.
- Medication-overuse: a headache on 15 or more days a month in someone who already has a headache disorder, after regular overuse of headache medicine for more than 3 months. It usually, but not always, improves once the overuse stops.
Signs that mean get care now
The NHS says to call 999 or go to the emergency room if a headache comes with any of these: a seizure, numbness or weakness in the body or face, a sudden and extremely painful start, a head injury within the last 3 months, trouble speaking, balancing, walking or remembering, drowsiness or confusion, loss of vision, a rash that does not fade under a rolled glass, or a very high temperature, a stiff neck, or bright lights bothering you.
Ask for an urgent appointment if a headache comes with vision or eye problems, is triggered or worsened by coughing, sneezing, bending or exercise, comes with vomiting, or comes with jaw pain when eating or a tender scalp. The NHS advice is written for the UK; in the United States, call 911 for the first list and your doctor or an urgent care clinic for the second.
A first-time drooping eyelid or a smaller pupil on one side also needs emergency care, according to the NHS page on cluster headaches.
When to see a doctor about regular headaches
See a doctor if a headache you have treated yourself is not getting better or is getting worse, or if you get headaches regularly. For migraine, the NHS also lists attacks that are severe or lasting longer than usual, more than once a week, or hard to control.
Take pain relief as the package says and keep count of the days. The NHS lists taking too many painkillers among the common causes of headache, and ICHD-3 describes how regular overuse can itself turn into a daily headache.
How a diary tells types apart
Headache types are told apart by pattern: where, how long, how often, what comes with it, and what you took. These are details people forget by the time they are in the doctor's office.
The NHS suggests a headache diary to help work out what triggers your headaches. Write down the start time, the strength from 1 to 10, the side, any aura or nausea, what you took and when, and what you had been doing, sleeping and eating. A few weeks of notes show whether you have one pattern or several.
Frequently asked questions
What causes most everyday headaches?
The NHS lists a cold or flu, stress, too much alcohol, poor posture, eyesight problems, skipped meals, dehydration, too many painkillers and hormone changes as common causes.
How do I tell a migraine from a tension headache?
Migraine is more often one-sided and throbbing, worse with movement, with nausea or sensitivity to light and sound. Tension-type pain is pressing, on both sides and not worse with routine activity.
Can too many painkillers cause headaches?
Yes. ICHD-3 describes medication-overuse headache as headache on 15 or more days a month after regular overuse of headache medicine for more than 3 months. Talk to a doctor before stopping.
Is a sinus headache the same as a migraine?
Not necessarily. Sinus pain comes with a blocked or runny nose and often mucus or a temperature. A doctor can tell them apart, and sinusitis usually clears within 4 weeks.
Is Miggry available?
See the official app page for current availability and pricing.
Our pick
Miggry, a migraine diary with the weather beside it
Miggry makes logging an attack take seconds, with start, intensity, aura, pain location, symptoms, triggers and medication on one screen, so your doctor sees a pattern instead of a memory. It records and shows comparisons, and it does not diagnose.
- Attacks and medication logged in seconds
- Pressure, weather and daily habits beside each attack
- Reports your doctor can read, as PDF or CSV
