6 Types of Headaches and How to Relieve Them
Everyone experiences a headache now and then. But if they’re happening regularly, it’s time to look deeper into what type of headache you’re experiencing and how to treat it effectively.
At Michigan Massage and Wellness in Troy, MI, we kind of love treating headaches. Really. The good news? Massage therapy and nervous system-focused treatments often provide significant relief and even prevention, especially when targeted to the right type of headache, because headaches are not created equal.
Let’s explore the six major types of headaches, their causes, and what can help ease them.
At Michigan Massage and Wellness in Troy, MI, we kind of love treating headaches. Really. The good news? Massage therapy and nervous system-focused treatments often provide significant relief and even prevention, especially when targeted to the right type of headache, because headaches are not created equal.
Let’s explore the six major types of headaches, their causes, and what can help ease them.
1. Tension Headaches
These are the most common headaches—and the ones most people are familiar with. They often feel like a dull, aching pain around the forehead, eyes, jaw, neck, and shoulders. Tension headaches may last from 30 minutes to several hours.
Common causes include:
These are the most common headaches—and the ones most people are familiar with. They often feel like a dull, aching pain around the forehead, eyes, jaw, neck, and shoulders. Tension headaches may last from 30 minutes to several hours.
Common causes include:
- Stress or anxiety
- Dehydration
- Poor posture or eye strain
- Lack of movement or sleep
- Massage therapy (especially neck, jaw, and shoulders)
- Gentle stretching and movement
- Heat therapy
- OTC pain relief like ibuprofen or acetaminophen
- Regular massage sessions to reduce frequency over time
2. Migraines
Migraines go far beyond typical headaches. They come with neurological symptoms like sensitivity to light or sound, nausea, vomiting, and visual disturbances called auras (zig-zag lines, flashing lights, partial vision loss).
Triggers may include:
Migraines go far beyond typical headaches. They come with neurological symptoms like sensitivity to light or sound, nausea, vomiting, and visual disturbances called auras (zig-zag lines, flashing lights, partial vision loss).
Triggers may include:
- Stress or hormonal changes
- Sleep disruption
- Certain foods
- Dehydration
- Prescription or OTC migraine medications
- Rest in a dark, quiet space
- Sleep and hydration
- Massage can reduce frequency over time, but is best focused on the limbs (arms, legs) during an active migraine rather than the head and neck
3. Cluster Headaches
These are intense, one-sided headaches that come in "clusters", often several times over several weeks. The pain is burning or piercing, centered around one eye, and may come with eye watering, runny nose, or restlessness. A cluster headache can sometimes be confused for a migraine because of how they affect you.
Triggers can include:
These are intense, one-sided headaches that come in "clusters", often several times over several weeks. The pain is burning or piercing, centered around one eye, and may come with eye watering, runny nose, or restlessness. A cluster headache can sometimes be confused for a migraine because of how they affect you.
Triggers can include:
- Smoking or alcohol
- Strong smells
- Genetics or past head trauma
- Medication (prescribed or OTC)
- Avoiding known triggers
- Massage therapy for stress reduction and possible long-term prevention
4. Exertional Headaches
These are brought on by physical strain or activity, like intense workouts, weightlifting, or even sneezing. They often feel like a throbbing pain and may run in families with a history of migraines.
Treatment tips:
These are brought on by physical strain or activity, like intense workouts, weightlifting, or even sneezing. They often feel like a throbbing pain and may run in families with a history of migraines.
Treatment tips:
- Adequate warm-up before physical activity
- Rest and hydration
- OTC pain relief
- Massage therapy to reduce muscle tension and promote circulation
5. Sinus Headaches
Caused by inflammation in the sinus cavities, these headaches are often mistaken for tension headaches. They create pain in the forehead, cheeks, and around the eyes and are typically accompanied by congestion, pressure, or runny nose. In fact, we were getting so many seasonal allergy sufferers that we created a specific service targeting sinuses and headaches!
Treatment tips:
Caused by inflammation in the sinus cavities, these headaches are often mistaken for tension headaches. They create pain in the forehead, cheeks, and around the eyes and are typically accompanied by congestion, pressure, or runny nose. In fact, we were getting so many seasonal allergy sufferers that we created a specific service targeting sinuses and headaches!
Treatment tips:
- Steam inhalation
- Manual Lymphatic Drainage for sinuses and headaches
- OTC decongestants or anti-inflammatories
- See a doctor if symptoms persist or worsen
6. Cervicogenic Headaches
These headaches originate in the neck, often due to poor posture, spinal misalignment, or past injuries like whiplash. The pain usually travels from the base of the skull to just above or behind one eye.
Treatment tips:
These headaches originate in the neck, often due to poor posture, spinal misalignment, or past injuries like whiplash. The pain usually travels from the base of the skull to just above or behind one eye.
Treatment tips:
- Massage therapy focused on the neck, shoulders, and cervical spine (like our Quick Fix 30-minute session)
- Postural corrections and mobility exercises
- Retraction and strengthening exercises for the neck
Massage isn’t just a “feel-good” experience—it actively works to calm the nervous system, reduce inflammation, and decrease muscular tension that contributes to many headache types.
At Michigan Massage and Wellness, our treatments support the parasympathetic nervous system (the part that tells your body to rest, recover, and reset). By lowering stress, easing tight muscles, and supporting circulation, we help you feel better without relying solely on medication.
Ready to leave headaches behind? If you’re struggling with recurring headaches; whether tension, migraine, sinus, or exertion-related, consider trying something different, it might just be the thing that gets you longer lasting relief.
Book your session today at Michigan Massage and Wellness in Troy, MI and take the first step toward a clearer, pain-free head.
At Michigan Massage and Wellness, our treatments support the parasympathetic nervous system (the part that tells your body to rest, recover, and reset). By lowering stress, easing tight muscles, and supporting circulation, we help you feel better without relying solely on medication.
Ready to leave headaches behind? If you’re struggling with recurring headaches; whether tension, migraine, sinus, or exertion-related, consider trying something different, it might just be the thing that gets you longer lasting relief.
Book your session today at Michigan Massage and Wellness in Troy, MI and take the first step toward a clearer, pain-free head.
