Is your headache pain caused by migraine? Or is it something else? “Something else” usually means one of the two commonly diagnosed headache types discussed below. However, migraine experts warn that many people diagnosed with these headaches are actually migraineurs. Roughly half of all people with migraine in the US are thought to be undiagnosed, and mistaken diagnosis of these headaches may prevent you from receiving the care you need.

Although becoming familiar with other types of headaches may help you find relief, it can be tricky to get the right diagnosis. That's because these various headache types share many of the same symptoms, and because no definitive test has been developed to test for them. Some experts have begun to describe all of these headaches as part of a continuum, with occasional, mild tension headache on one side, and chronic migraine headaches on the other.

Tension Headaches

Are your shoulders and neck tense? It's a common problem that sometimes leads to chronic headaches. Tension headaches are defined as mild to moderate in terms of pain. You can feel these headaches around your head, but especially the back of your head and forehead. They usually cause no other symptoms.

Sinus Headaches

Sinus headaches are described as mild to moderate pain in the places near your sinuses—your cheeks, eyes, and across your nose. These headaches require the patient to first have a sinus infection. Often a seasonal condition, these headaches are rarely chronic. Doctors are encouraged to test the immune system if more than one bacterial sinus headache is confirmed in a single year.

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