When there is a burning pain in your head, it becomes difficult to tell whether you are experiencing a regular headache or is it a migraine. Therefore, it is important to recognize a traditional headache from a migraine headache to get the right treatment. Having knowledge of your problem helps you get fast and better treatment which ultimately means that you can further prevent the occurrence of the problem at the first place. So how can you differentiate the two?
Headache
Any unpleasant pain that you might be experiencing in the head is often termed as a headache. It can range from mild to extreme pain and occur on both sides of the head equally. There may be some specific areas such as temples, forehead or the back of your neck where you may experience a headache. One of the most commonly experienced headaches is a tension headache which is triggered when a person is in stress, experiencing anxiety or muscle strain. Other types are Sinus headache and Cluster headache.
Migraine
When compared to tension headaches, migraine headaches are often described as moderate to extreme. These headaches are intense and are accompanied by a number of symptoms apart from headache. Some of the symptoms commonly observed during a migraine are:
Some individuals experience an extremely severe headache which goes away after a week. A migraine headache is differentiated by throbbing headaches which make it difficult to perform even the simplest task. A headache associated with migraine is generally categorized into two categories:
The word, “Aura” refers to a sensation that an individual might experience 10 to 30 minutes before he gets a migraine headache. During this time, he may.
What Triggers a Migraine?
A large number of factors have been identified that may trigger a migraine. Some of the most commonly seen factors are:
Headaches & Migraine Causes
Till date, no specific cause of a migraine has been found; however, it has been reported that fluctuations in neurotransmitters might be one of the reasons. Some other possible theories behind the cause of migraine include: Vascular problems: Vascular problem or irregularities in brain blood vessels is also believed to be one of the main causes behind triggering migraine. Chemical Abnormalities: There are several types of nerve pathways and brain chemicals active during a headache. Abnormalities in the brain chemicals can cause migraine attack.
Risk Factors
Not everyone develops a headache following a migraine attack. While some people are more resistant to headaches other are more sensitive. Some risk factors include:
Treating Migraines
Migraine treatment helps stop the symptoms, further preventing the attacks. Majorly two categories of medicines are used to treat the neurological disorder.
Ask your doctor about the right treatment for you. Don’t use over-the-counter drugs without first talking about it with your doctor.