Headache location meanings and headache charts are common online searches. Headache placement meanings are what patients ask me as a headache specialist. What kind of headache do they have based on location of the headache? Is there a simple headache map or headache diagram to answer this question?
This will be the most useful and the only headache chart you’ll ever need…
I’ve noticed that there are a lot of “headache charts”, “location of headache meaning”, and “complete headache charts”, floating around on the internet. As a headache specialist, I can tell you that they are usually all nonspecific and provide little to no value or direction, likely created by a non-headache specialist.
So, I felt it was my duty as an actual headache specialist to step up and provide a free interactive headache pain chart and facial pain chart that gives more accurate specific headache or face pain types to consider based on pain location, as well as many other associated symptoms.
I can picture it now. You’re sitting there late at night breaking out into a cold sweat, heart racing, convincing yourself a brain tumor is the cause of your headache as you are Googling your severe headache location, symptoms, and map of headache meaning. Are they migraine headaches, cluster headaches, tension headaches, sinus headaches, or something else? Is the headache from secondary headaches (caused by other medical conditions), such as sinus infections, or a problem with the blood vessels?
Wouldn’t it be great to have a quick way to find a diagnostic guide that includes a headache chart for pain area to evaluate for common types of headaches and the main types of primary headaches?
Well, let’s start with the headache location diagrams below. However, please continue reading after you choose the headache diagram that fits closest to your pain. There is something very important that you need to understand about location. As a teaser, headache location alone is only one small piece of the necessary information needed to narrow down the possible headache types that you could be dealing with.
Pick the pain diagram and description below that is most consistent with your particular type of headache or facial pain. If you have different types of headaches, focus and think about only one type at a time…
Headache pain location diagrams
Forehead, Cheek, Temporal (not variable)
- The headache is 100% always on 1 side only.
- It never alternates between 1 side and the other side.
- It never involves both sides of the head at the same time.
Headache types to consider and discuss with your doctor:
Forehead, Cheek, Temporal (variable)
- The headache is variable in location.
- It may alternate between 1 side or the other side of the head at different times.
- It may commonly occur more often on 1 side or the other, however, it is not 100% always on the same side.
- It may sometimes involve both sides of the head at the same time as well.
Headache types to consider and discuss with your doctor:
–Tension-Type Headache (most common type of headache)
Chin
- Beneath the angle of the lower jaw, back of the throat or tonsils, back/base of the tongue, inside ear, or deep in the ear.
Facial pain types to consider and discuss with your doctor:
–Geniculate Neuralgia (Nervus Intermedius Neuralgia)
Parietal-Occipital (not variable)
- The headache is 100% always on 1 side ONLY.
- It NEVER alternates between 1 side and the other side.
- It NEVER involves both sides of the head at the same time.
Headache types to consider and discuss with your doctor:
Parietal-Occipital (variable)
- The headache is variable in location.
- It may alternate between 1 side or the other side at different times.
- It may commonly occur more often on 1 side or the other. However, it is not 100% always on the same side.
- It may sometimes involve both sides of the head at the same time as well.
Headache types to consider and discuss with your doctor:
Whole Side of Head (not variable) (Forehead, Cheek, Temporo-Parietal-Occipital)
- The headache is 100% always on 1 side only.
- It never alternates between 1 side and the other side.
- It never involves both sides of the head at the same time.
Headache types to consider and discuss with your doctor:
Whole Side of Head (variable) ((Forehead, Cheek, Temporo-Parietal-Occipital)
- The headache is variable in location.
- It may alternate between 1 side or the other side at different times.
- It may commonly occur more often on 1 side or the other. However, it is not always on the same side.
- It may sometimes involve both sides of the head at the same time as well.
Headache types to consider and discuss with your doctor:
Whole Head (not variable) (Forehead, Cheek, Temporo-Parietal-Occipital On Both Sides At the Same Time)
- The headache is never on 1 side only. It always involves the whole head on both sides at the same time.
Headache types to consider and discuss with your doctor:
Additional headache types
The headache disorders listed under each headache picture above would be the top primary headache disorders to consider. However, there are other primary headache disorders listed below (as well as some secondary headache disorders) that could potentially manifest in any of these headache pain locations as well.
–New Daily Persistent Headache (NDPH)
–Medication Overuse Headache (Rebound Headache)
–Primary Headache Associated with Sexual Activity
Location of headache but there’s more to the story…
Location of your headache is a central piece of information in determining the different types of headaches that a patient might have. The headache chart, or headache map, is like a diagnostic map in that it can give direction to headache types based on location of your pain, but it doesn’t tell the whole story, nor can it give an accurate diagnosis.
Let me explain why…
There are many headache types that share the same locations but require different treatments. You may find a general headache chart online showing pain on one side of the head around the eye, temple, or forehead. It may list migraine or cluster headache as the cause. In reality, there are at least a dozen different types of headaches that could occur in the same location. Many of these other headache types would require much different types of treatments and evaluations than migraine would.
So let me tell you a BIG secret…
Headaches are not diagnosed only by their location, but also by the “company they keep”. In other words, the associated symptoms occurring with the headache are even more important than location alone. These include things such as frequency and duration of headache attacks, timing of attacks, characterization of the pain, associated neurological symptoms, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, a red and tearing eye on one side, a runny nose or stuffy nose on the side of pain, droopiness of an eyelid, puffiness around the eye, among other symptoms. Headache location by itself without any other symptom information is actually quite useless.
The International Headache Society classifies every headache type according to the headache and all the associated features. Each headache type must match a specific set of characteristics and associated symptoms per various criteria.
By combining the headache location with associated symptoms, patterns, and characteristics of the pain, it can then be more accurately narrowed down. This makes choosing the correct treatment plan more accurate and effective. This is absolutely key! The type of headache determines the best headache treatment guide.
Thus, I have created a FREE headache and facial pain symptom checker tool which incorporates not only location of headache, but also all of these important characteristics and associated symptoms into an algorithm. Essentially, the full symptom checker tool simulates an office visit with a headache specialist in terms of what specific questions would be asked about your headaches and associated symptoms.
Now that you’ve chosen the headache location that most closely resembles your pain above, go through each of these associated headache symptoms and think about your personal characteristics and associated symptoms. Write down your answers. Then go the FREE headache and facial pain symptom checker tool and plug all of our responses in. This will give you a fine-tuned more accurate list of possible headache or facial pain disorders to consider which you can discuss with your doctor. From that list, you will be directed to education including the most common treatments for that specific headache type to discuss with your doctor.
Frequency of the headache or facial fain attacks
How frequent do the attacks of headache or facial pain occur? Once per day and several days per month, 8 different attacks per day, etc.? Is there a pattern to the attacks, such as a seasonal occurrence?
Duration of the headache or facial pain attacks
When you get an attack of headache or facial pain, how long does each individual attack last until it goes away completely (untreated or unsuccessfully treated)? 30 minutes, greater than 4 hours, 15 minutes, several days, etc.?
Description and characterization of the headache or facial pain
How would you describe the pain of the headache or facial pain if you had to put it into words? Throbbing, pounding, pulsating, pressure, electrical, shock, burning, sharp, stabbing, etc.?
Associated neurological symptoms
Is the headache associated with visual disturbances such as lost vision, flashing lights, shapes, zig-zags, colors, wavy lines, kaleidoscope, jagged edges, etc.? Is there numbness or tingling in an area of the body associated with a headache attack such as on one side of the face and body? Is there weakness on one side of the body with the headache? Are there problems speaking or getting words out with a headache attack?
Additional symptoms
Is your stomach upset or do you feel nauseated or sick to your stomach with a headache attack? Do you feel sensitive to bright light and/or loud sound when the headache is at its worst (where you would prefer to be in a dark quiet area if you had the chance)? Does an eye turn red or tear up during a headache attack? Do you get a runny nose or a congested stuffy nose on one side during a headache attack? Does your eyelid droop on one side or does it get puffy around an eye on one side with a headache attack?
Conclusion
Lastly, it is important to know that the headache types listed below each headache illustration only include primary headaches (such as migraine headaches and tension headaches). These are different than secondary headaches, caused by some other concerning medical conditions such as brain tumor, brain aneurysm or problem with blood vessels, infection, trauma, etc. Secondary headaches require medical attention and sometimes emergent medical care (such as a stiff neck with fever, stroke symptoms, or severe headache during sexual intercourse). These headache maps are not meant to identify any type of secondary headache or facial pain disorders.
The headache symptom checker tool is purely educational to provoke discussions with your doctor of possible headache types. A secondary headache caused by an underlying medical problem triggering the pain can look like any primary headache disorder, including migraine or tension headache. Thus, any type of headache ALWAYS requires an office visit with your doctor to fully discuss symptoms, do a neurological and medical exam, and order appropriate diagnostic tests such as brain scans, blood work, or other testing, depending on the headache story. Your doctor will be able to decide whether further testing is necessary based on all this information obtained in an office visit.
Good luck! I hope this headache chart and headache and facial pain symptom checker tool lead you in a better direction of self-research. This should provide for more informative and efficient discussions with your doctor regarding possible headache types and more effective and appropriate treatment options to consider. Ultimately, I hope that this information helps you get answers, a better quality of life, and less headache disruption of your function and life!
IF YOU HAVE HEADACHE, MIGRAINE, OR FACIAL PAIN AND ARE LOOKING FOR ANSWERS ON ANYTHING RELATED TO IT, A HEADACHE SPECIALIST IS HERE TO HELP, FOR FREE!
FIRST, LET’S DECIDE WHERE TO START:
IF YOU HAVE AN EXISTING HEADACHE, MIGRAINE, OR FACIAL PAIN DIAGNOSIS AND ARE LOOKING FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION, HOT TOPICS, AND TREATMENT TIPS, VISIT OUR FREE BLOG OF HOT TOPICS AND HEADACHE TIPS HERE. THIS IS WHERE I WRITE AND CONDENSE A BROAD VARIETY OF COMMON AND COMPLEX MIGRAINE AND HEADACHE RELATED TOPICS INTO THE IMPORTANT FACTS AND HIGHLIGHTS YOU NEED TO KNOW, ALONG WITH PROVIDING FIRST HAND CLINICAL EXPERIENCE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A HEADACHE SPECIALIST.
IF YOU DON’T HAVE AN EXISTING HEADACHE, MIGRAINE, OR FACIAL PAIN DIAGNOSIS AND ARE LOOKING FOR POSSIBLE TYPES OF HEADACHES OR FACIAL PAINS BASED ON YOUR SYMPTOMS, USE THE FREE HEADACHE AND FACIAL PAIN SYMPTOM CHECKER TOOL DEVELOPED BY A HEADACHE SPECIALIST NEUROLOGIST HERE!
IF YOU HAVE AN EXISTING HEADACHE, MIGRAINE, OR FACIAL PAIN DIAGNOSIS AND ARE LOOKING FOR FURTHER EDUCATION AND SELF-RESEARCH ON YOUR DIAGNOSIS, VISIT OUR FREE EDUCATION CENTER HERE.
FAQ
The threemost common types of headaches are called primary headaches. Primary headaches have no specific underlying cause and include tension headaches, migraines, and cluster headaches. Each type has unique symptoms and causes. Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. They are caused by stress and tension in the muscles of the neck and head. Symptoms include tightness or pressure around the forehead or temples and a dull ache in the back of the head. Migraines are the most common headache that patients seek medical care for with a doctor. They include symptoms such as nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. Cluster headaches aremore cyclical and are fairly consistent in their occurrence. They include severe pain, redness and tearing of an eye, and runny nose or congestion. Secondary headaches are headaches with an underlying cause that can be found on testing.
You’ll be easily able to isolate the type of headache that you have by looking at a headache chart. Headache charts show the location, helping you identify the major area of pain. A doctor is going to be able to help you further diagnose the headache and find a treatment, based on associated specific headache characteristics. They can help determine if it is a primary headache or a secondary headache. Primary headaches have no specific underlying cause, while secondary headaches have an underlying cause, such as a sinus headache from an infection.
People who report a COVD-19 headache will often experience pressure or throbbing that dominates their entire head. The headache most often resembles tension type headache or migraine. The headache is often worse when bending over and it can be accompanied by a fever, body aches, and fatigue. Nasal congestion and a sore throat are also common symptoms. People who suffer from a COVID-19 headache will often report their symptoms going away as soon as the disease itself subsides, while long-haulers may experience a COVID-19 headache that persists for months, or that never resolves.
Acute headaches are types of headaches that are relatively infrequent while chronic headaches are frequent and consistent. Acute headaches can be severe in certain situations when they have a sudden onset with intense pain. Chronic headaches can be indicative of an underlying problem. Acute headaches tend to happen less than fifteen days per month for less than 3 months, while chronic headaches last for more than fifteen days per month for 3 or more months.
Thunderclap headaches are a type of headache where the onset is very rapid, developing in under one minute. They are often characterized as a “first or worst headache” These types of headaches can be a symptom of bleeding in the brain or an aneurysm rupture, requiring immediate evaluation by a doctor. Certain types of strokes can also cause thunderclap headaches. These headaches need to be addressed with emergency care by a qualified physician.
You should see a doctor if your headaches are causing you discomfort or are impacting your daily life. Any type of headache is reason enough to see a doctor. If your headaches are worse than what they typically are, happen more frequently, have new features or neurological symptoms, and don’t respond to conservative treatments, this is a sign that you should likely visit a medical professional. There are certain types of doctors that specialize in headaches, called headache specialists
There are various natural headache remedies available. These can include:
- Yoga and other relaxation techniques.
- Dietary changes, to limit certain types of foods that can cause headaches.
- Certain types of non-caffeinated teas will help alleviate headaches.
- Avoiding caffeine and alcohol and ingesting enough water will also help with headache prevention and relief.
When you first notice the onset of a headache, certain types of pain relievers are going to be your first line of relief. NSAIDs, like ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen will help you with general pain relief. If you are experiencing a migraine, then triptans like sumatriptan and zolmitriptan will help to abort the headache. Acetaminophen is also available for pain relief, but it doesn’t work as well for headaches that are caused by inflammation. The gepants, such as rimegepant and ubrogepant, are a new type of migraine pill which are also very effective.
The most common type of headache is tension headache, which is often associated with stress. Tension headaches are going to feel like a dull pain in your head, usually described as an achy pressure. It is often band-like pressure around the head. You will also likely feel some pressure on the sides of your head and your scalp. Sometimes, the muscles in your neck may hurt, too.
The cause of tension headaches is most commonly stress but can be aggravated by things like caffeine, poor posture, and lack of exercise. Stress headaches can often be relieved with over-the-counter medication.
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