Migraine and headache are considered to be one and the same thing. People usually don’t know that the two are relatively different. The pain in the head can be because of a variety of conditions of the nervous system. Migraine and headache are just two of them. Moreover, they are in no way the same.
Headache disorders affect more than 50 percent of people around the world. However, this information is only for adults. Moreover, the number has been released by the World Health Organization.
We have got all the information for you to make it easier to differentiate between migraine and headache.
Is that pain headache?
According to experts headaches are of various types. However, they have been classified into broad categories. One is a primary headache and the other is a secondary headache.
Primary headaches are those independent conditions of pain in the head. This includes pain in neck and face. The examples are migraine as well as tension headaches.
However, secondary headaches are caused because of medical conditions. These include infection and stress. Even an overdose of medication can result in secondary headaches.
Types of primary headaches
Primary headaches are further classified into three types. One is Tension type and the other one is Cluster type. The last one is Hemicrania.
Tension type headache is a common type. It affects more than 42 percent of the people. It is intense pressure in the form of a band. According to doctors, it is mostly an episode or chronic.
The main reasons for this are hunger, anxiety, lack of sleep and stress. Some other factors include poor posture, straining of the neck and clenching of jaws. Moreover, sleep apnoea causes tension type of headache.
Cluster headache also occurs as intense pain in the head. However, it is restricted to only one side. Moreover, it is often behind the eyes.
If your headache fluctuates in intensity then it can be Hemicrania. Moreover, the same side of the head is affected always.
Secondary headache
A secondary headache is caused by medical conditions. Because of the medical conditions, the nervous system is affected. This, therefore, leads to secondary headaches. The main factors are brain tumors, strokes, inflammation and leaking spinal fluid.
However, withdrawal from medicines or drugs can also be a reason.
Is that pain in the head a migraine?
A migraine is also a type of headache. To be more precise, it is a primary headache. It has four different phases. Headache is caused in only one of the phase.
The first phase is the premonitory phase. In this, no pain occurs. It is marked by stiffness of neck and mood changes.
The second phase is the aura phase. In this sensory disturbances occur. This phase is just before the migraine attack phase. This phase might affect the speech, vision or even touch of the person.
Headache phase is the third phase. The ache can be mild as well as severe. People may also require medical treatments.
The fourth phase is the postdrome phase. In this, the patient feels exhausted and even confused.
What is the treatment?
The first thing that should be done is to visit the doctor. Migraine patient needs to consult experts.
Moreover, no cure is available for any type of headache. However, people take medicines to get relief from the pain.
The pain relievers are usually aspirin or ibuprofen.
Moreover, even melatonin can affect migraine