Migraines vs. Headaches: What’s the difference?

Posted August 10, 2020 by Susana M Bowling, MD

We’ve all been there at one time or another: Throbbing pain between the temples and pressure behind the eyes so great that we have to take a time out and lie down. It’s the all-too-familiar headache, right? Not so fast. 

When there is pain and pressure in your head, it can be difficult to tell whether it’s a headache or a migraine.

When people think of a migraine, they typically think of the most severe headache. But headaches are only one symptom of a migraine and they can range in severity and length. Migraines are a chronic condition and typically the cause is unknown. 

On the other hand, a headache is not usually a symptom of an underlying condition. Instead, headaches may be due to overactivity of blood vessels, muscles, nerves or brain chemicals. Factors that can lead to headaches include stress, anxiety or depression, a physical injury or even changes in the weather.

So before you write off your pain as just another headache, make sure you understand the difference between headaches and migraines. Knowing their key differences could mean faster relief with a more targeted treatment and even prevention of future pain, in some cases. 

Headache vs. Migraine Symptoms

Headache Symptoms

Headaches typically cause pain in your head that can be described as pressure or aching. The pain can range from mild to severe and last anywhere from 30 minutes to a week. Pain from headaches can occur in the forehead, temples and the back of the neck.  

Types of Headaches

There are many different kinds of headaches, but the three most common include:

• Tension headaches: Typically, people feel the pain spread across both sides of their head, often starting in the back and creeping forward. It’s the most common form of headache and can be due to eyestrain, stress and hunger.
• Sinus headaches: People often experience these headaches when they’re sick or congested. These headaches are caused by swelling in the sinuses and cause pain behind the cheeks, nose and eyes. It can be at its worst in the morning or after bending over.
• Medication overuse/Rebound headaches: People often experience this type of headache from regular, long-term use of pain medication to treat headaches. Rebound headaches tend to occur daily and may improve with pain relief medication, but will return once it wears off due to withdrawal. Once a person stops taking pain medication, the rebound headache should go away.

Migraine Symptoms

When compared to headaches, migraines are severe and often have other symptoms that go along with the head pain. Migraines usually only affect one side of the head, and the pain and throbbing can be so severe that it can make performing everyday tasks very difficult. If you suffer from migraines, you may experience some or all of the following symptoms:

• Nausea
• Increased sensitivity to light, sound or smells
• Temporary vision loss
• Seeing spots or flashing lights
• Dizziness
• Pain behind one ear or eye, or in the temples
• Extreme fatigue

The onset of migraine symptoms can actually start several hours or even days before the migraine begins. You may experience mood swings, food cravings and stiffness in the neck. 

Right before or during a migraine, you might have sensory issues, including blurred vision, blind spots, numbness and slurred speech. Migraine pain can be mild or severe. Physical activity and exposure to light, sound and smells can worsen the pain.

Migraine Triggers

If you suffer from migraines, you may find that certain triggers cause their onset, such as:

• Hormonal changes: Menstrual cycles and hormonal changes in women can cause migraines. In fact, women are three times more likely to suffer from migraines than men, according to Penn Medicine. 
• Allergies: Because allergies can cause irritation and inflammation and migraines are associated with inflammation of blood vessels, allergies are a trigger for migraines.
• Genetics: People with a family history of migraines are more likely to develop them. 
• Environmental: There is a wide range of triggers in a person’s environment that can cause migraines, including stress, food, weather and lack of sleep.

Headache and Migraine Treatment and Relief

There is no specific cure for headaches and migraines, but usually, medication and lifestyle changes can bring much-needed relief and, in some cases, prevent future pain.

Over-the-counter drugs, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil) and aspirin (Bayer) can bring relief for occasional headaches and mild migraines. 

However, if you experience moderate to severe migraines on a regular basis, you may want to speak to your doctor about prescription medicines. They may be able to reduce the severity of your migraines and prevent future ones from occurring.

In addition, making lifestyle changes could help prevent some types of headaches and migraines, including:

• Exercising regularly
• Avoiding trigger foods
• Improving sleep habits
• Developing relaxation habits, such as meditation, yoga and stretching, and heat or massage therapy

Start a Headache Journal

But whatever is causing you a pain in the neck, it’s a good idea to keep a headache and migraine journal. It can help you track patterns and identify triggers. Jot down the day and time of onset, your symptoms and any activity before the headache began. 

Journaling this information can help you and your doctor create a plan to avoid triggers and reduce the frequency of your headaches to bring you the long-awaited relief you’ve been waiting for.