Migraines are severe headaches that tend to last for several hours or even days and can be precipitated by triggers that vary widely between individuals. Generally, migraines cause an intense pulsing, usually on one side of the head, and can interfere with routine activities. They are more commonly associated with other symptoms such as sensitivity to light, sound, or odor or nausea and vomiting.

Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias are headache disorders characterized by pain on one side of the face or head, usually located around or behind the eye. Pain may also be associated with teary eyes, redness of the eye, drooping of the eyelid, or a stuffy or runny nostril on the same side as the pain. These headaches can be episodic (individuals find relief from attacks for at least a month in a year) or chronic (meaning there is little to no respite from the headaches over a year). Headache types include:

• Cluster headache – very severe attacks of burning or piercing pain that tend to strike quickly and without warning. Attacks can last 15 minutes to 3 hours, can occur multiple times a day and a “cycle” of attacks can last weeks to months.
• Hemicrania continua – a chronic or long-term headache pain that ranges from mild to moderate intensity. The condition is typically present 24 hours per day, seven days a week, continuously for more than three months.
• Paroxysmal hemicrania – episodes of severe throbbing, stabbing pain that has an abrupt beginning and end and may occur anywhere from 5 to 40 times per day, generally lasting 2 to 30 minutes each time.
• Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks (SUNCT/SUNA) – very brief episodes of severe throbbing, stabbing pain that occur as many as 3 to 200 times in one day, lasting as long as 10 minutes.

Tension headaches are the most common kind of headache and are slightly more prevalent in women than in men. They are often episodic (occurring less than 15 days a month) but can evolve into a chronic condition (occurring 15 or more days a month). These headaches can be triggered by stress, lack of sleep, hunger, or activities that require staying in one position for too long, such as using a computer or reading. Tension headaches may produce a dull, aching sensation all over your head, as well as tenderness or sensitivity around your neck, forehead, scalp, or shoulder muscles. Pain is usually mild to moderate and does not typically cause nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), also known as pseudotumor cerebri, occurs when the pressure inside your skull (intracranial pressure) increases from too much cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), causing worsening headache and vision problems. Pseudotumor cerebri headaches often occur at the back of the head and start as a dull pain, which tends to be worse at night or first thing in the morning.

Intracranial hypotension is a condition that occurs when the pressure inside your skull decreases due to a reduction of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), causing worsening headaches. Headaches are typically worse when you sit up and may get better when you lie down.

Occipital neuralgia is a chronic headache disorder characterized by sudden episodes of intense piercing, stabbing, throbbing pain that originates from base of the skull and often radiates to the back, front, or side of the head, or behind the eyes. It usually causes extreme light sensitivity and is caused by irritation or injury to the occipital nerves. The episodes of intense pain may only last for a few minutes or seconds, but tenderness around the nerves may persist afterward.

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN) is a rare neurological condition characterized by sudden, repeated episodes of severe pain in the throat, tongue, ear, and tonsils. The episodes can last from a few seconds to a few minutes and may be triggered by swallowing, chewing, talking, coughing or yawning.  Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is generally caused by a small blood vessel that presses on the nerves as they exit the brainstem. 

Temporomandibular disorders, also referred to as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, cause chronic pain in the jaw joints, muscles, and nerves and compromise movement of the jaw joint and the surrounding muscles. The symptoms of TMJ disorders depend on the severity and cause of your condition.

Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic condition that produces sudden, severe, excruciating pain along the face, particularly when performing a simple activity like washing your face or brushing your teeth. This condition is caused by a blood vessel compressing the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for carrying sensation from your face to your brain.