A Visual Guide to Migraine Headaches Slideshow Pictures Headache and Migraine Triggers Slideshow Pictures Take the Migraines Quiz

Mild Headache Symptoms

Mild headache symptoms are unlikely to need immediate medical attention. These mild symptoms include mild head pain that is aching, squeezing, or bandlike, on both sides of the head, generally above the level of the eyebrows.

These headaches can occur often and may appear at predictable times. People who have these types of mild headache often know the triggers and symptoms of their headaches in great detail, because the pattern repeats itself for each episode.

Common headache types include the following:

• Tension-type headache is thought to be the most common headache type. It occurs more often in women than in men. Attacks can be occasional or more frequent. Symptoms include tight, or pressing, mild to moderate head pain, which may be on both sides.
  
  
• Migraine is the second most common headache type. These are classified according to whether or not they include an aura (a visual disturbance, weakness, or numbness that occurs 1-2 hours before the onset of the headache). Migraines with this aura are called classic, while those without are called common. Migraine is more common in women than men. It is often one-sided, throbbing, of moderate to severe intensity. The headache may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light.
  
  
• Cluster headache is a less common headache that occurs in men more often than women. With a cluster headache, there is intense pain that is generally on one side and located around the eye or temple. A bloodshot eye, tearing, runny nose, and eyelid drooping or swelling on the same side of the face may also occur. The headaches tend to occur in "clusters," sometimes daily or every few days over a period of weeks to months. After such a "cluster" of headaches, there may be symptom-free periods of years before another cluster of headaches occurs.