Migraine:

• throbbing, intense pain, generally moderate to severe
  

• usually one-sided, though the pain can move from side to side, and sometimes affects both sides
  

• pain is often near the eye of the affected side
  

• often disabling
  

• may last hours, days, or even weeks
  

• in some instances, the Migraine may continue long enough to require an emergency room visit, or even hospitalization, so that stronger medications can be given to break the cycle. (status migrainous)
  

• often accompanied by visual disturbances and/or extreme sensitivity to light, sound, and odors
  

• "Classic Migraine," experienced by about 20% of Migraineurs is preceded by warning signs called an "aura"
  

• Migraines without the aura are termed "Common Migraine"
  

Tension Headache:

• constant, dull pain, usually mild to moderate pain
  

• not incapacitating
  

• pain is often accompanied by muscle tightness in the shoulders and neck
  

• often on both sides of the head
  

• may last an hour, a week, or anywhere in between
  

• the pain is often described as a band of pain around the head or "like a vise"
  

Sinus/Allergy Headache:

• pain generally mild to moderate
  

• centered around sinuses, above and below eyes
  

• pressure often makes teeth ache as well
  

• may be accompanied by feeling of pressure
  behind the eyes
  

• often relieved by decongestants,
  antihistimines, or other allergy medications.
  

• often seasonal
  

• studies have
  shown that the majority of self-diagnosed sinus headaches are
  actually Migraine.
  

Cluster Headache:

• severe, sharp, stabbing pain
  

• usually on one side of the head, centered around the eye
  

• almost always severely incapacitating
  

• occur in clusters of 1 - 4 headaches a day for several weeks, lasting 10 minutes to two hours each, then stopping for months
  

• on the affected side, the eye tears, and the nose is often stuffy or runny
  

• most frequent among men
  

• occur most often in the fall and spring