Migraine or just a headache? Know the difference

From throbbing pain and nausea to everyday tension and pressure, understanding the symptoms can help you identify what you are experiencing and when to seek medical advice.
A pounding head, pressure around the forehead or pain behind the eyes can disrupt even the simplest daily activities. While headaches are common, not all headaches are the same. A migraine, often dismissed as an ordinary headache, is a neurological condition that can cause a range of symptoms beyond head pain.
Understanding the differences between the two can help you recognize warning signs, manage symptoms and know when professional medical advice is necessary.
WHAT IS A HEADACHE?
A headache is pain or discomfort in the head, scalp or upper neck. Tension-type headaches are among the most common forms and often feel like a tight band or dull pressure around the forehead or both sides of the head. Stress, poor posture, lack of sleep, dehydration and prolonged screen time may contribute to headaches. Their severity varies, but tension-type headaches generally do not cause the nausea and pronounced sensitivity to light or sound that can accompany migraines.
WHAT IS A MIGRAINE?
Migraine is a neurological disorder characterized by recurring attacks that can cause moderate to severe head pain and other symptoms. The pain often affects one side of the head, although it can occur on both sides. A migraine attack may last between four and 72 hours in adults when untreated or unsuccessfully treated. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, and worsening pain during routine physical activity.
Some people experience an aura before or during a migraine. This can involve temporary visual disturbances, such as flashing lights or zigzag patterns, or sensory symptoms such as tingling. Not everyone with migraine experiences an aura.
MIGRAINE VS HEADACHE: KEY DIFFERENCES
– Nature of pain: Tension headaches typically cause dull, pressing or tightening pain. Migraines more often produce throbbing or pulsating pain.
– Location: Tension headaches commonly affect both sides of the head. Migraines often affect one side, although the location can vary.
– Other symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light or sound are common migraine symptoms but are less typical of tension-type headaches.
– Effect of movement: Everyday activity usually does not significantly worsen a tension headache. Walking, climbing stairs or other routine movement can aggravate migraine pain.