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Sunday 05 September 2021
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Migraine is different from “regular” headache, but many people use the two terms interchangeably.
It is normal to have headaches at times, but some will still have them from time to time for the rest of their lives.
The most common type of headache is “normal” headaches, called tension headaches. This tension headache is different from a migraine, according to Russia Today.
Hannah Bray, Dietitian at Bio-Kult, explains the difference between a migraine and a “regular” headache.
There are more than 300 different types of headaches and they can be divided into primary headaches and secondary headaches.
Tension headaches and migraines are both primary types of primary headaches.
Roughly 80% of the general population will have a tension headache at some point in their lives. Migraines are less common but still affect about 15% (one in seven) of people, and they can be incredibly debilitating.
While most people confuse this headache, it is very important to recognize the differences between the two so that the most appropriate treatment can be sought.
Here are the seven differences between migraines and stress types, so you can know which one you have.
intensity of pain
While there are no pleasant headaches, in general, the pain experienced by migraine sufferers is much more severe than a typical tension headache.
“The type of pain felt tends to differ, with migraines described as a throbbing pain, while tension headaches tend to be more of a constant, dull, constant pain in the head,” Hannah said.
pain site
Another distinguishing feature between migraines and tension headaches is the location of the pain.
“Migraines usually present with unilateral pain (on one side of the head), while with tension headaches, the pain usually starts in the back of the head or forehead and spreads over the entire head,” Hanna explained.
Other symptoms
Perhaps one of the biggest differences between migraines and other types of headaches is that migraine sufferers often experience other symptoms in addition to head pain.
“For example, many migraine sufferers also experience nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal problems, sensitivity to light, noise, movement and smell with seizures,” Hanna added.
stages
A regular headache is actually only one stage of a migraine, and many sufferers also experience a prodrome (a symptom or group of first symptoms that may indicate the onset of a pre-symptomatic illness) up to 24 hours before the attack.
“The sign includes symptoms such as sensitivity, irritability, food cravings, or difficulty concentrating, and these symptoms are a warning sign that a migraine is imminent,” Hanna said.
Shortly before a migraine, about 10 to 30 percent of migraine sufferers experience a combination of neurological symptoms that can include visual disturbances, numbness, tingling or weakness, slurred speech and memory changes, according to Hannah.
“This phenomenon is unique to migraines and will not be experienced by people with other types of headaches,” she said.
After a migraine comes the post-headache phase, when sufferers often feel tired or depressed.
“Those who suffer from tension headaches don’t usually go through these different phases,” Hannah explained.
The way the disease develops
Tension headaches and migraines have different pathological causes, which is how they develop.
Migraines involve activation of the trigeminal nerve (the main pain pathway in the brain). This is thought to trigger the release of vasodilators, which trigger pain responses and an inflammatory cascade of events, Hannah says.
Tension headaches are usually caused by tension in the muscles of the face, neck or scalp, which compresses the nerve or its blood supply, causing pain or pressure.
stimuli
The triggers or things that cause the two types of headaches vary. “Tension headaches are often the result of stress, poor posture, dehydration, or drug reactions,” Hanna explains. While stress and medications can also trigger migraines in some, sufferers tend to have a wider range of triggers, which It varies from person to person. For example, certain odors, changes in temperature, sleep deprivation, skipping meals, certain foods, alcohol or caffeine.”
The exact cause of migraines is unknown, but possible triggers include hormonal, emotional, physical, nutritional, environmental and medical factors.
“Magnesium deficiency is thought to be a contributing factor to both migraines and headaches, and for women, hormonal fluctuations may play a role in both types of headaches,” Hanna added.
Gut involvement
Recent research in migraines has revealed that gut health may play a major role in the development of migraines and that supplementation of live bacteria may be beneficial in this condition.
Intestinal hyperpermeability, also known as leaky gut, caused by low levels of beneficial bacteria in the gut, is a driver of inflammation throughout the body.
“It is now thought that inflammatory molecules originating in the gut can sensitize pain receptors in the trigeminal nerve, triggering the inflammatory cascade that leads to migraines,” Hanna said.
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