Migraine vs Headache: What’s the Difference?

The distinction between migraine vs headache becomes crucial when the pain disrupts your daily activities. While common headaches are typically manageable and temporary, migraines can be debilitating and may signal underlying health concerns.

Proper diagnosis requires understanding specific symptoms and patterns of head pain. Identifying these characteristics will help determine what you’re dealing with and guide your decision between home care and seeking medical attention.

This guide dissects the migraine vs headache, treatment options, and when to seek emergency care.

What Is a Headache?

A headache is when you feel pain in both sides of the head, face, or neck. Headaches are common and their causes are common factors like cold weather, poor posture, strong scents, or hormonal changes.

Types of Headaches

Medical research has identified over 150 distinct types of headaches. They’re categorized into two main groups: primary and secondary headaches.

1.    Primary headaches

The primary headaches occur independently, without an underlying health condition. The pain originates from pain-sensitive features in the head, such as nerves, blood vessels, and muscles. Common examples include:

• Migraine
• Tension headache
• Cluster headache

2.    Secondary headaches

Secondary headaches occur as a symptom of another health condition. These conditions may include high blood pressure, infections (sinus or ear infections), certain medications, brain tumors, or physical trauma. Examples are:

• Dehydration headaches
• Sinus headaches
• Medication overuse headaches

What Is a Migraine vs Headache?

Although migraine falls under the category of primary headache, it’s more complex than a typical headache. Migraine is a chronic neurological condition characterized by recurrent severe attacks, with headache being just one of its many symptoms.

During a migraine episode, pain often extends beyond the head to the eyes, face, jaw, or neck. These episodes can persist anywhere from 3-4 hours to several days.

Common Migraine symptoms

• Severe, throbbing pain (usually on one side)
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sensitivity to light, sound, or smells
• Visual disturbances (flashes, lines, or blind spots)

Causes of Migraine

• Genetics (runs in families)
• Triggers like certain foods, stress, hormonal changes, or weather shifts
• Brain chemical changes, especially with serotonin

Classic Migraine vs Common Migraine

The two common migraine categories are:

1.    Classic Migraine (Migraine with Aura)

An aura is a heads-up before a migraine hits. Classic migraine comes with an aura, which can happen about 30 minutes before the headache. You may see wavy lines and flashing lights or feel like objects look off. Some people even feel tingling or pins-and-needles sensation.

2.    Common Migraine (Migraine without Aura)

Common migraine occurs without preliminary warning signs. There are no flashing lights or zig zags, just a throbbing pain on one side of your head. This is the most common kind of migraine, with moderate to severe pain that intensifies with physical activity. Without proper treatment, episodes of common migraine can last from 4 to 72 hours.

3 Common Headaches vs Migraine

Let’s compare some of the most common types of headaches with migraines to help you spot the differences:

1.    Tension Headache vs. Migraine

Tension headache is a squeezing pain across both sides of the head, similar to a tight band. It’s primarily triggered by stress and can last several hours. Migraines, in contrast, cause intense, throbbing pain on one side of the head. They’re triggered by factors like hormones, weather changes, or certain foods, and can persist for up to 72 hours without treatment.

2.    Sinus Headache vs. Migraine

Sinus headaches create pressure and fullness around the cheeks, forehead, and eyes, often accompanying sinus infections. These headaches usually occur with nasal congestion, runny nose, or fever, and persist until the underlying infection clears.

Migraines differ with their one-sided pulsating pain, accompanied by nausea and visual disturbances. Common culprits include stress, environmental changes, or dietary factors.

3.    Cluster Headache vs Migraine

Cluster headaches cause severe pain centered around one eye or temple and lasting 15 minutes to 3 hours. These headaches occur in patterns, with multiple attacks over weeks or months, often accompanied by a red, teary eye and nasal congestion on the affected side. In contrast, migraines involve pulsating pain that can last up to 72 hours, often with nausea and sensitivity to light and sound.

Headache vs Migraine Symptoms

Here’s a quick cheat sheet to distinguish between migraines and headaches based on their symptoms:

How Emergency Rooms Treat Migraines and Headaches

It’s a good idea to visit a doctor or an emergency room for headaches and migraines to rule out serious causes. Emergency rooms can help manage both migraines and regular headaches using different treatments and medications, including:

1.    IV Fluids Therapy

Dehydration is a common cause of headaches and migraines. Emergency physicians administer IV fluids to restore hydration and electrolyte balance. These intravenous lines also provide a direct route for medications that target inflammation, nausea, and vomiting.

2.    Pain Medication

When IV therapy isn’t required, physicians may prescribe specific medications to alleviate pain. Treatment options include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), anti-emetics for nausea, or corticosteroids to reduce inflammation.

3.    Nerve Blocks

When standard treatments don’t work, ER doctors may opt for a nerve block where they inject local anesthetic at the base of the skull to interrupt pain signals. Relief can start within minutes, with effects potentially lasting weeks to months.

Final Thoughts

Don’t let headaches and migraines take over your life. They’re tough, but understanding the migraine vs headache difference is the first step in finding the right way to feel better.

With a headache specialist by your side, you don’t have to face it alone. They’ll listen to your concerns, help figure out what’s going on, and create a plan to ease your pain.

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FAQs

1. Can a headache turn into a migraine?

Not exactly. A headache can feel worse over time, but migraines are a separate condition with specific symptoms like nausea and sensitivity to light.

2. Are migraines genetic?

Yes, migraines often run in families. If your parents have migraines, there’s a higher chance you experience them too.

3. Can dehydration cause both headaches and migraines?

Absolutely! Dehydration is a common trigger for both. Drinking water can sometimes stop a headache and even prevent a migraine.