Question

Migraine Vs. Headache - Major Differences You Need To Know!

Dr.Gaurav Sharma · Accepted Answer

How to differentiate between a migraine and headache?

When you feel pain or pressure in your head, it may become difficult for you to assess whether you are experiencing a common headache or a migraine. Let's understand how different they are from each other. A typical headache usually affects both sides of your head and varies from a mild to moderate pain. It can last from 30 minutes to up to a period of one week.

Some specific areas which get affected by a headache are:

Temples
Forehead
Back of your neck
Factors that trigger this headache type are a muscle strain, stress or anxiety.

A migraine, on the other hand, is also a type of a headache which results in an acute throbbing sensation in one part of your head. Usually, migraine headaches are highly painful. Migraine pain makes it difficult for a person to carry out his/her daily tasks. Symptoms or signs associated with migraine attacks are:

Vomiting
Nausea
Sensitivity to sound or light
Pain in the temples
Temporary loss of vision
Pain behind your ear or eye
What are the common causes of a migraine?

Hormonal imbalances in women - fluctuations in oestrogen, especially during menopause or pregnancy seem to trigger a migraine
Drinks like wine and extremely caffeinated beverages
Foods such as salty foods, aged cheese as well as processed foods can trigger the migraine attack.
Medications - vasodilators such as nitroglycerine and oral contraceptives can intensify migraine pain.
How to treat a headache?

Fortunately, you can get rid of stress-induced headaches through over-the-counter treatments, which include:

Aspirin
Acetaminophen
Ibuprofen
How to treat a migraine?

If you experience migraine attacks less frequently, these medicines may give you quick relief:

Triptans, such as rizatriptan (Maxalt) or almotriptan (Axert)
Antinausea medicines, such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), promethazine (Phenergan) or prochlorperazine (Compazine)
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as acetaminophen, naproxen sodium, aspirin or ibuprofen
Some preventive tips:

Make changes in your diet such as avoid such foods, including caffeine and alcohol which are believed to trigger headaches.
You can also try muscle relaxation exercises, yoga or meditation to ease the migraine attack.

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