Where the pain of a headache is can be an indicator of what type of headache you have. Other factors help too, but the site (or sites) of the aching is useful information to take into account, as different headaches tend to have different patterns in terms of where the pain is felt, as well as other associated symptoms.
Tension headaches are one of the most common types of headaches. These are usually felt as a dull, aching sensation that envelops your head like a tight band.
Typically, tension headaches are experienced across your forehead and temples, or the back of your head and neck. These headaches are often associated with stress, poor posture, lack of sleep and eye strain. Excessive caffeine consumption and dehydration can also exacerbate tension headaches.
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On the other hand, migraines – notorious for their intense, throbbing pain – are usually felt more on one side of your head.
While migraines can occur anywhere in your head, they often radiate from the temple to the eye or occur on one side of the forehead.
Other symptoms (nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and visual disturbances) are more common with a migraine than other headaches.
People who suffer from migraines are more likely to find they need to lie in a dark, quiet room when the pain comes on.
Migraines can be triggered by lots of things, from hormonal fluctuations and certain foods to sensory stimuli and environmental factors.
Excessive caffeine, as well as caffeine withdrawal, can also trigger migraines.
Headaches that radiate from your neck to the back of your head might indicate referred pain from arthritis in the neck. These headaches might worsen when you make certain neck movements or when pressure is applied to specific spots on your neck.
Sinus headaches, as the name suggests, typically manifest as a dull, throbbing pain in the sinus areas on the front of your face, and are often exacerbated by sinus congestion and inflammation.
So knowing where the pain is can help diagnose the type of headache you have, but this can vary between people and other factors (such as associated symptoms, duration and triggers) should also be taken into account.
This article was originally featured in the Q&A section of BBC Science Focus Magazine.
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