Migraines and Headaches
Migraine vs. Headache: How to Tell Them Apart?
When there is pressure or pain in your head, it can be difficult to tell whether you are experiencing a typical headache or a migraine. Recognizing a migraine headache from a traditional headache, and vice versa, is important. It can mean faster relief through better treatments. It can also help prevent future headaches from occurring in the first place.
What Is a Headache?
Headaches are unpleasant pains in your head that can cause pressure and aching. They can range from mild to severe pain and usually occur on both sides of your head. Some specific areas where headaches can occur include the forehead, temples, and back of the neck. A headache can last anywhere from 30 minutes to a week. The most common headache type is a tension headache. Triggers for this headache type include stress, muscle strain, or anxiety. Tension headaches aren’t the only type of headache that occur.
Other headache types include:
Cluster Headaches – Cluster headaches are severely painful headaches that occur on one side of the head and come in clusters. This means you experience cycles of headache attacks, followed by headache-free periods.
Sinus Headaches – Often confused with migraines, sinus headaches co-occur with sinus infection symptoms like fever, stuffy nose, cough, congestion, and facial pressure.
What Is a Migraine?
These headaches are intense or severe and often have accompanying symptoms in addition to head pain. Symptoms associated with a migraine headache include:
• Nausea
• Pain behind one eye or ear
• Pain in the temples
• Seeing spots or flashing lights
• Sensitivity to light and/or sound
• Temporary vision loss
• Vomiting