One side of your head: Migraine
If the pain is located only on one side of your head (either the left or the right) and it feels like it’s throbbing or pulsating, it’s likely a migraine. And while there are more than a dozen reasons why you might suffer from migraines, there’s no question that they’re rough to get through. “This pain typically is severe and affects functioning,” says Raissa Villanueva, MD, MPH, a neurologist at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, New York. It may also cause other debilitating symptoms like light and sound sensitivity. Your best option is to stop what you’re doing and rest, she advises. If they’re frequent enough to affect your life, talk to a doctor who may look into a preventative Rx. Some foods trigger headaches, here are the foods that can make it worse.
Wraps around your head: Tension headache
A squeezing pressure or aching pain that wraps around your head is likely a tension-type headache. You might want to check into everyday habits that can relieve your headaches—because these are no fun. “Patients often say it’s like having a vice around their head,” says Dr. Villanueva. Taking OTC pain relievers like NSAIDs or acetaminophen as directed can nip the pain in the bud. Even better: Combo medications containing aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine have been found to give sufferers relief two hours earlier compared to taking acetaminophen alone or a placebo, per research in The Journal of Headache and Pain. (Caffeine may help make the active ingredients more potent.)
In your face: Sinus headache
If you feel pressure in your eyes and cheeks, you probably assume sinus headache. But these are actually pretty rare and are often actually migraines, which are the more likely cause of facial pain, notes Dr. Villanueva. If you’ve been diagnosed with a viral or bacterial infection (and have clear symptoms of a sinus infection like aching teeth, lack of smell, and thick, green mucus), your doctor will likely prescribe antibiotics (if it’s bacterial) or suggest nasal decongestant sprays or antihistamines. One of the best things you can do is be proactive about preventing a headache with these 32 habits.