What Type of Headache Do I Have? 4 Common Types and Their Triggers
"It's just a headache" might be the most common phrase I've heard in forty-odd years of practice — usually from someone who's been putting up with them for far too long. But headaches aren't all the same, and working out which type you're dealing with is half the battle, because each one has its own pattern and its own triggers. Here are the four I see and discuss most often, and the things that commonly set each one off.
1. Tension-Type Headaches
The most common headache by a long way. It feels like a dull, steady pressure on both sides of the head — patients often describe it as a tight band, or a heavy weight sitting on top. They tend to build slowly across the day rather than stopping you in your tracks. Common triggers include stress, long hours at a screen, eye strain, jaw clenching, skipped meals and not drinking enough water. If yours reliably turn up mid-afternoon at work, the pattern itself is telling you something.
2. Migraines
A migraine is more than a bad headache — it's a neurological event. The pain is usually throbbing, often one-sided, and frequently arrives with nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and sometimes visual disturbances beforehand (the "aura" some people get). A migraine can put you in a dark room for hours or days. Triggers vary enormously from person to person: certain foods and wines, hormonal changes, too little or too much sleep, dehydration, bright or flickering light, and — curiously — the let-down after stress rather than the stress itself, which is why some people get their migraines on Saturday morning. A trigger diary is one of the most useful things a migraine sufferer can keep.
3. Cervicogenic Headaches — the Ones That Start in Your Neck
These are the headaches I take a particular interest in, because they don't actually begin in the head at all. A cervicogenic headache is referred from the joints, muscles and nerves of the upper neck — typically starting at the base of the skull and creeping forward, usually on one side, sometimes reaching behind the eye. They're often worse after long periods in one position, and turning the head can bring them on. Common triggers: desk and screen work, an awkward sleeping position, a history of whiplash or neck injury, and the classic chin-forward posture we all fall into by late afternoon. Because the source is the neck, assessment of the neck is where understanding them begins.
4. Cluster Headaches
Far less common but worth knowing about, because they're in a league of their own for severity. Cluster headaches arrive in bouts — weeks of attacks, then long quiet spells — with intense pain centred around one eye, often with a watery eye and blocked nostril on that side. They're more common in men and tend to wake people at the same hour of the night. Alcohol during a cluster period is the best-known trigger. I include them here mainly so they're recognised: cluster headaches need medical diagnosis and management, and if this pattern sounds like yours, your GP should be your first stop.
When a Headache Needs Urgent Attention
A few headache patterns should never be waited out: a sudden, severe headache unlike anything you've had before; headache with fever and a stiff neck; headache following a blow to the head; a brand-new headache type after the age of 50; or headache with weakness, confusion, slurred speech or vision loss. These warrant urgent medical care — straight to your GP or the emergency department, not an appointment next week.
Important Information
This article is for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Reading about headache types is not a diagnosis — identifying which type of headache you have requires a proper individual assessment by a qualified health professional. Every person's situation is unique, and the information provided here is general in nature and may not apply to your specific circumstances.
Dr David Chapman (Chiropractor) at Centrepoint Chiropractic Clinic, Caboolture South, provides assessment and management of headaches, including those with a neck component. Headache assessment includes screening for the patterns that need medical referral. Benefits and risks exist with all health treatments; temporary local soreness may occur, and individual results vary. Dr David Chapman (Chiropractor) is registered with AHPRA (CHI0001610092), and outcomes cannot be guaranteed.
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If headaches are a regular part of your week, a professional assessment can help you understand what type you're dealing with and explore appropriate management options.
Centrepoint Chiropractic Clinic is located at Shop 7, 25 Morayfield Road, Caboolture South QLD 4510. Open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm.
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