What is the Difference between a Migraine and a Headache?
Unless you’ve experienced a migraine, you may not understand how it is different from a headache. Headaches are generally localized to specific area of the head, shorter in duration and less disabling. A migraine is more intense, lasts longer and has side effects that can impact activity and daily life.
Four common causes of headaches
Headaches generally are caused by one of the following:
- Tension, which causes a dull, aching pain in the forehead or the back of your head and neck
- Misfunction of the brain’s internal clock (hypothalamus), causing stabbing pain around the eye and sometimes redness, tearing and nasal congestion
- Sinus pressure caused by allergies or sinus infections, resulting in pain in the forehead, cheeks or bridge of the nose
How to treat a headache
Most headaches can be treated with over the counter (OTC) medications, including:
- Aspirin
- Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB)
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
If you have symptoms of a sinus infection, schedule an appointment with your primary care provider or go to an urgent care for diagnosis, as an antibiotic may be needed.
Other ways to address a headache at home include:
- Drinking water/staying hydrated
- Drinking a small, caffeinated coffee to boost blood flow
- Applying a cold compress to your forehead and temples
- Using a warm compress or heating pad to ease tension in your neck and shoulders
- Taking a screen break; stop using your computer, mobile phone and tablet and television
- Breathing deeply, doing yoga or other relaxation techniques
- Gently massaging your forehead, temples, neck and base of your skull in circular motions
What is a migraine?
According to the American Migraine Association, migraine is a neurological disease and one of the world’s most common health conditions. Interfering with daily activities, a migraine can last 4-72 hours and cause:
- Moderate to severe pain, usually on one side of the head
- Nausea/vomiting
- Sensitivity to light, sound or smell
- Temporary visual changes (e.g., flashing lights, zig-zag lines) or sensory disturbances
Each individual with this disorder can have different symptoms and triggers. The most common triggers of a migraine are:
- Certain foods
- Changes in weather
- Hormonal changes
- Lack of sleep
- Stress
While food triggers can vary by individual, some of the most common food triggers, according to the American Migraine Association, are:
- Alcohol
- Large doses of caffeine (coffee, sodas, chocolate)
- Sweeteners
- Monosodium glutamate (MSG), commonly found in fast food, condiments/sauces packaged/premade foods, processed meats, seasoning blends, snacks, some cheeses, tomatoes, some meats.
- For a complete list of foods that contain MSG from the International Food Information Council, click here.
How to treat a migraine
According to the American Migraine Association, migraine disorder cannot be cured, but it can be treated. If you have migraine disease, you can help decrease the risk of a migraine by:
- Avoiding your food triggers
- Staying hydrated
- Exercising good sleep habits- not getting too much or too little sleep daily
- Walking, doing yoga or other light exercises regularly
- Practicing relaxation activities such as meditating, deep/mindful breathing, massaging your scalp
- Managing the brightness of lights in your house/keeping lights as dim as needed for the task at hand
- Taking screen breaks from your computer, mobile phone, tablet and television; a good rule of thumb is 20 minutes on/20 minutes off.
- Wearing sunglasses outdoors
- Following the migraine treatment plan provided by your doctor.
- Talk with your physician about vitamins, supplements and foods that can help prevent a migraine.
If you already have a migraine, you can help decrease the impact of symptoms and duration by:
- Avoiding strong smells
- Blocking out noise
- Drinking water to increase hydration
- Going into a dark room
- Increasing blood circulation through gentle scalp massage
- Lowering the temperature/staying cool
- Taking medication: OTC non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen) or prescribed medication by your physician; follow your physician’s treatment plan when determining what medication to take
- Using a cold compress on your temple or neck for 15 minutes, especially at the onset of a migraine
When to seek treatment for migraines
If you think you are experiencing migraines, schedule an appointment with your primary care provider (PCP). If your PCP suspects you have migraine disease, they will refer you to a neurologist. A neurologist can determine whether or not you have migraine disease and develop a treatment plan with you to help you avoid recurrences and manage migraines when they do occur.
Symptoms for which you should consult your PCP include:
- Having a migraine 3-4 times in a month
- Using OTC medications but they are not working
- Being unable to go to work or school or enjoy social activities due to a migraine
- Changing headache/migraine patterns
When to go to the emergency room for a headache or migraine
Whether you have a headache or migraine, you should go to the emergency room (ER) immediately if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Your headache follows a fall or head injury
- New and sudden-onset neurological symptoms, such as weakness on one side of the face or body, numbness, inability to speak normally, vision changes, dizziness or trouble walking. You may experience some of these symptoms with a migraine, but if you are having them for the first time or they feel different or last longer, go to the ER.
- Your headache/migraine reaches maximum intensity within one minute, which can be a sign of a serious condition like an aneurysm
- High fever and/or neck stiffness, which can be symptoms of meningitis
