A migraine is a type of headache that causes a severe throbbing pain on one side of your head. You can develop a migraine at any time, but the pain tends to get worse with loud noises, bright lights, exercise and strong odors.
If you get migraines, you may experience a phenomenon known as migraine aura. The aura usually occurs about 30 to 60 minutes before a migraine begins, causing changes in your vision, speech or sensory functioning. For example, some people see flashing lights in their eyes or have slurred speech.
The American Migraine Foundation recommends seeing a doctor if you're taking medication for your migraines more than two times per week. You should also see a doctor if your migraine medications aren't effective or cause undesirable side effects.
Tension headaches are common, but researchers don't know exactly what causes them. You may develop this type of headache after a stressful day or if the muscles in your head and neck are tight. Watch out for these symptoms:
If you have tension headaches, see your doctor if they don't improve with over-the-counter medications, if they occur more often than usual or if the pain starts getting worse than normal.
Cluster headaches are much less common than tension headaches. People with this type of headache usually experience pain on one side of the head. The pain is accompanied by a stuffy nose and a droopy eyelid. Cluster headaches occur in "attacks" lasting up to 3 hours at a time.
What makes cluster headaches different from other types of headaches is that they occur almost every day for several weeks or months. Each cluster of attacks is followed by a headache-free period that lasts for at least 1 month.
Researchers don't know what causes these headaches, but they suspect the pain occurs due to a sudden release of histamine or serotonin near the trigeminal nerve. Your trigeminal nerve sends information from your face to your brain, allowing you to feel touch and changes in temperature.
The following triggers may cause cluster headaches to occur:
If you experience cluster headaches, you should make an appointment with your doctor if any of the following occur:
Sinus headaches cause pain and pressure in the forehead and around the cheeks and eyes. The pain tends to get worse when lying down or bending forward. Some people also experience fatigue, stuffy nose and pressure in the upper teeth during a sinus headache. This type of headache usually occurs after a respiratory infection.
You should see your doctor under the following circumstances:
An exertion headache occurs immediately after you exercise or engage in some type of physical activity. Once the headache begins, it may last as long as 2 days. Exertion headaches typically cause neck pain and pulsating pain on one or both sides of the head. Some people also experience migraine-like symptoms, including light sensitivity, nausea, vomiting and blind spots.
Scientists don't know the exact cause of exertion headaches, but they believe it has to do with the increased demand for blood and oxygen during physical activity. When the veins and arteries dilate to increase blood flow, they may cause pain by creating pressure in the skull.
You may be able to prevent exertion headaches by staying hydrated, avoiding activity when it's extremely hot or cold outside, getting at least 8 hours of sleep each night or avoiding exercise in high-altitude environments. See a doctor if any of the following occur:
