They may last from several hours to all day. Emotional stress is the leading trigger of tension headaches, particularly among chronic sufferers. But tension headaches may also be triggered by physical causes such as arthritis, poor posture or staying in one position for long periods of time. If chronic tension headaches occur every day or almost every day it is important that you consult a doctor immediately. Migraine headaches are much less common, but when they strike they can be disabling.
Migraines produce moderate to severe pounding or throbbing pain, commonly on one side of the head.
Migraines vary widely in duration, from a few hours to 3 days. Auras typically last about a half hour and then subside before the pain begins. Migraines may occur only occasionally or several times a week. The average is 1-3 attacks per month. There are several theories about what causes migraines, all of which agree that these headaches are biologically based.