Headache is a very common ailment in humans. Many people experience it frequently while some other people experience it just once in a while. Headache can be caused by many factors which include; fever, malaria, stress, tension, inability to get sleep over time. Some headache pains can be more profound than others.
Many people often mistake headaches for migraine. They find it quite difficult to differentiate between migraine and headaches. Little do many know that aside from the fact that migraine is different from headache, headache is just one out of various symptoms that accompany migraine. Having a headache does not call for panicking but once the headache persists beyond normalcy, you might need to be more cautious about it.
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There are various ways in understanding the differences between migraine and mere headache or headache caused by any other factor. Migraine is a disorder that occurs when there is an interaction between the nerve impulse, as chemicals that disturb some parts of the brain( the cerebral cortex and the trigeminal nerves) are released. This is the major factor in having a headache and it also makes some body functions to be altered. And, this contributes to the reason why many call headaches for migraine.
HOW CAN WE DIFFERENTIATE MIGRAINE FROM MERE HEADACHE?
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THE FIRST IS THE PREVALENCE OF SYMPTOMS OF MIGRAINE: Headaches are common with people. One might even have a lasting headache. It still does not mean it is a migraine. Headache is just a signal that shows that one’s body is altered in one way or the other which could be the result of stress or other medical factors.
It is confirmed that migraine affects 38 million Americans. The symptoms that a migraine patient may encounter include one or more of the following depending on the level of the migraine and each individual;
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- High sensitivity to light, noise, or anything that tingles or is sharp.
- Drowsiness and unnecessary fatigue
- Eye defections( blank spots or unnecessary flashes of light or blurry vision)
- The feelings of vomiting
- High irritability
Another key point to note to decipher if you truly have a headache or migraine is that you should keep noticing the headache that you feel. You need to understand it and keep a record of it. A normal headache will not be recurring or hitting you deeply. Keeping a record of how you feel over time and explaining to your doctor will help in a good way to get diagnosed.
Furthermore is pain and sensitivity to things. When you have a normal headache, your head will ache without unnecessary sensitivity. But, when it’s a migraine symptom, it makes you sensitive to a lot of things around you. You become weak to absorb sounds, light rays, and tinglings. Also, when you have a migraine, there is pain around your body. These pains accompany your headache and it may come in any part of the body.
Moreover, migraines can occur in some specific locations. When pain comes in these locations, you should possibly know that the pain you have is that of migraine. The pain might come near the eye or at one side of the head. It might also come in uncommon places in the head or around the neck. In addition to this, the pain is more severe than a casual headache. It hits harder and it hinders one from practicing one’s daily activities.
Migraine headaches often last longer than usual headaches. A casual headache comes and goes within a day or so. But, migraine pains might continue for a longer time.
About a day or two before you begin to feel migraine pains, there are sometimes some warning signs that come to you. These possible signs may include the following:
constipation
depression
tiredness
diarrhea
hyperactivity
neck stiffness
Having the above-mentioned symptoms does not compulsorily mean you are about to have a migraine. It is just that when you begin these symptoms, be cautious about your health and pay rapt attention to what comes after.
When you have noticed that you frequently feel migraine pains, you are expected to take note of things that can trigger the ailment and avoid those triggers. Most times, when you sleep or take a good rest, a casual headache is relieved but it isn’t so for migraines. The following are therefore the possible triggers of migraine;
- Alcohol
- Sweets and processed foods
- Unpleasant smells and odors
- Noise
Some types of headaches do not come as a result of migraine pains and they are not casual headaches as well. These kinds of headaches come at some specific times. They are called cluster headaches. Cluster headache is often associated with eye pain. It sometimes also makes the eye red. It is said that this type of headache is more common among men than women
Another type of different headache is a sinus headache. This is the pain that comes in one’s sinus. This headache is not often common and it is often diagnosed as a migraine.
HOW TO MANAGE MIGRAINE
Migraine patients need to learn how to manage the ailment. Research has it that patients with chronic migraine tend to be disturbed from daily work about five times in two months coupled with other pains that might occur. Therefore, it is advised you practice how to manage migraines if you have one.
- Visit your doctor regularly for consultation
- Taking in antidepressants
- Practice of yoga
- Daily exercises
- Learn about yourself and avoid whatever triggers it often
- Be mindful of the food you take in
