{"id":19698,"date":"2022-06-15T09:55:05","date_gmt":"2022-06-15T14:55:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thepapergown.zocdoc.com\/?p=19698"},"modified":"2026-02-05T06:54:43","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T11:54:43","slug":"headaches-vs-migraines-whats-the-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/headaches-vs-migraines-whats-the-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"Headaches vs. Migraines. What’s the Difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve ever been sidelined by throbbing head pain, you may have wondered at what point your tension headache was actually a full-blown migraine.\u00a0<\/span>Migraine headaches<\/a> are relatively common: They affect about 10 percent of people worldwide. Women are almost <\/span>three times<\/span><\/a> more likely to experience them than men.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But how can you tell the difference between a migraine and a garden-variety headache? Which doctor should you seek for help? And what are your treatment options? <\/span>We talked with experts to learn how patients can distinguish between migraines and tension headaches.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Migraines<\/h3>\n

Causes<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n

Despite their prevalence, researchers aren\u2019t quite sure what <\/span>physiological responses<\/span><\/a> cause people to develop migraines.\u00a0<\/span>One theory is that \u201cmigraine headaches originate via a complex interaction between the nerve that supplies sensation to the head and face, blood vessels in the brain and the meninges, a protective membrane around the brain,\u201d says Dr. Kapil Sachdeva, a neurologist at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital in Illinois.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite uncertainty about the exact cause, experts do know that a migraine \u201cgenerates an enhanced nervous system experience, meaning every one of our sensory systems is in overdrive,\u201d says Dr. Wade Cooper, a neurologist at University of Michigan Health. That\u2019s why migraine headaches can also include symptoms like light and sound sensitivity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Triggers<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n

Hormonal fluctuations, sleep dysfunction and certain foods, \u201cincluding red wine, artificial sweeteners and a bunch of other less common food additives, like MSG or certain food dyes,\u201d can trigger migraines, Cooper says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Many women who suffer from migraines experience <\/span>worse symptoms around menstruation<\/span><\/a>; <\/span>changes in barometric pressure and humidity<\/span><\/a> can also trigger migraine headaches.<\/span><\/p>\n

Severity<\/i>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Migraines are debilitating. If you\u2019ve never experienced one, Cooper likens the headache pain to a bad hangover.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou can envision someone with a hangover wearing sunglasses the next morning, wanting everyone to be quiet around them,\u201d he says. Light and sound sensitivity are also common symptoms of a migraine, along with nausea and vomiting.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other symptoms<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n

Some migraine sufferers experience a <\/span>visual aura<\/span><\/a> that impacts their vision: \u201cAn electrical wave on the back of the brain kind of makes you hallucinate, with spots and sparkles in your vision,\u201d Cooper says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Migraines can also occur on either side of the head or both sides.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cContrary to popular belief, a migraine does not have to be located on one side of the head, and, like tension headaches, can be located on both sides,\u201d Sachdeva says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Diagnosis<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n

The first stop for treating headache pain is your primary care doctor.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTypically, migraines are initially managed by a primary care physician, particularly if the headaches are infrequent and respond well to initial management,\u201d Sachdeva says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Doctors generally diagnose migraines based on a patient\u2019s symptoms without any extra testing. But your provider might order brain imaging or a blood test to rule out other causes if you present with red flags like loss of vision or movement, facial droop, history of cancer or headaches occurring for the first time after age 50.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re not getting relief after seeing a primary care provider, your headaches get worse or you experience unusual symptoms like loss of vision, it might be time to see a neurologist for more specialized treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Treatment<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n

There is no cure for migraines. \u201cBut with treatment, most patients can have a good quality of life,\u201d Sachdeva says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Treatment options are plentiful, including over-the-counter painkillers, prescription devices and lifestyle changes. Some ways to treat and manage migraines include:<\/span><\/p>\n