Summary of October - Distinguishing Headache from Migraine

October - Distinguishing Headache from Migraine

Distinguishing Headache from Migraine

Headache

Headaches are unpleasant pains in your head that can cause pressure and aching. The pain can range from mild to severe, and they 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, and anxiety.

Tension headaches aren’t the only type of headache; 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.

· Chiari headaches

A Chiari headache is caused by a birth defect known as a Chiari malformation, which causes the skull to push against parts of the brain, often causing pain in the back of the head.

· Thunderclap headaches

A “thunderclap” headache is a very severe headache that develops in 60 seconds or less. It could be a symptom of a subarachnoid hemorrhage, a serious medical condition that requires immediate medical attention. It may also be caused by an aneurysm, stroke, or other injury.

What is a migraine?

These headaches are intense or severe and often have other 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.

When compared with tension or other headache types, migraine headache pain can be moderate to severe. Migraine headaches will typically affect only one side of the head. However, it is possible to have a migraine headache that affects both sides of the head. Other differences include the pain’s quality: A migraine headache will cause intense pain that may be throbbing and will make performing daily tasks very difficult.

Migraine headaches are typically divided into two categories: migraine with aura and migraine without aura. An “aura” refers to sensations a person experiences before they get a migraine. The sensations typically occur anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes before an attack. These can include:

· Feeling less mentally alert or having trouble thinking;

· Seeing flashing lights or unusual lines;

· Feeling tingling or numbness in the face or hands;

· Having an unusual sense of smell, taste, or touch.

Some migraine sufferers may experience symptoms a day or two before the actual migraine occurs. Known as the “prodrome” phase, these subtler signs can include:

· Constipation;

· Depression;

· Frequent yawning;

· Irritability;

· Neck stiffness;

· Unusual food cravings.