Tension Vs. Sinus Vs. Migraine Headache

Location of Pain

According to the International Classification of Headache Disorders (2nd Edition), migraines are often located on only one side of the head. Sinus headaches tend to be on both sides of the head above the eyebrows, behind the eyes and down the front of the face to the top of the mouth. Sometimes they can be one-sided if only half a person's sinuses are clogged. Tension headaches tend to feel like they're all over the head or just in the temple and back of the head down the neck.

With tension headaches, the pain begins gradually and then slowly builds up. It usually resolves in a few hours. Sinus headaches seem to come out of nowhere and last, with varying degrees of intensity, for hours, days or weeks. Migraine pain can come on suddenly or gradually. One migraine attack can last anywhere from one hour to two weeks.

According to the Mayo Clinic, other symptoms of sinus headaches include nasal congestion, sore throat, blood-tinged mucus and feeling worse when laying down.

Symptoms of tension headaches include sore back, neck and shoulders.

Symptoms that often accompany migraines include nausea, vomiting, extreme sensitivity to light and experiencing auras. Auras are disturbances in sight or sound. They can look like blurred vision, flashes, streaks, halos or other distortions of vision. They do not always accompany a migraine.

Although a lot about migraines is unknown, people with migraines are thought to have genes which make them more prone to the condition. Sinus headaches and tension headaches, on the other hand, have identifiable causes. Clearing the sinuses lowers the incidence of sinus headaches, while stress-management skills such as meditation or deep breathing can help ease the frequency and duration of tension headaches.

According to "Migraines for Dummies," contact a doctor immediately if a headache lasts longer than 72 hours; if intense pain comes on very suddenly; if you've never had a serious headache and you are over age 50; or if your headache is accompanied by a skin rash, stiff neck, high fever, loss of vision, seizures, numbness in part of the body, loss of coordination or sudden confusion.