When encountering head pain, tuning into the area and intensity of the pain can help you distinguish the difference between tension headache vs migraine. Dr. Thomas of Sure Smile in QLD advises that headaches may also be a symptom of a dental health issue. Knowing the type of headache you have enables you to choose a suitable treatment plan for relief. In addition to this, discovering the specific underlying cause can help prevent this kind of pain.
The Difference Between Tension-Type headache and Migraine Headache
To tell the difference, let us understand the definition and symptoms of tension-type headaches and migraine headaches.
Tension Headaches
Generally, a tension-type headache is a separated, minor to moderate pain in your head. Often, it is described as feeling similar to a compacted band over your head. Tension headaches or tension-type headaches are the most common headache, but their causes are not indeed known.
Most individuals who encounter tension headaches have episodic head pain. These occur a couple of times each month on average. Nevertheless, tension-type headaches can sometimes be chronic.
Tension Headache Symptoms
Symptoms of tension headaches incorporate:
- pressure around the forehead
- dull head pain
- tenderness around the scalp and forehead
Most of the time, the pain is gentle or moderate. However, it can likewise be extreme. For this situation, you may confuse your tension headaches with migraine headaches. This head pain is a type of headache that results in severe throbbing pain on either one or two sides of your head. Some people migh suffer fom headaches due to serious tooth infection so better get a tooth check up just to be sure.
Migraine Headaches
Migraine is a neurological medical condition that can result in various symptoms. It is frequently characterized by severe, debilitating headaches. A migraine regularly runs in families and influences all ages.
The doctor will determine the medical diagnosis of migraine headaches based on reported symptoms, health history and by precluding different causes.
Migraine Symptoms
The progressions in brain activity influence blood in the brain and encompassing tissues, causing a scope of side effects. Notwithstanding severe headache, migraine victims may encounter a few or the entirety of the following symptoms:
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Extreme fatigue
- Increased sensitivity to light, smells, or sounds
A migraine scene may occur in four different stages. However, not everyone experiences every step. The stages include:
Prodrome Phase
Also called the pre-headache stage, this phase highlights painless manifestations that occur hours or days before the migraine attacks. These incorporate food cravings, mood swings, and stiffness of the neck.
Aura Phase
Auras allude to tactile aggravations that happen before or during migraines. A migraine with aura can influence an individual’s vision, speech, or touch. However, not every person who experiences migraines encounters auras. Instances of auras incorporate blind spots that expand after some time, blurred visions, numbness in the arm, and jumbled or slurred speech.
Headache Phase
This is the point at which the pain generally hits, and it might go from moderate to severe. Exposure to light, smells, sound, and even physical activity may deteriorate the pain. Nonetheless, a few people can have migraines without developing a headache.
Postdromal Phase
Finally, the stage is when the pain has died down. Individuals may feel confused, exhausted, or generally unwell during this stage.
When comparing tension or other different types of headaches, migraine attacks can be moderate to serious. Some individuals with severe headaches may require medical emergency care. A migraine headache will typically influence just one side of the head. Nevertheless, it is possible to have migraines that affect the two sides of the head. Furthermore, migraine sufferers may experience pain that might be throbbing and make regular tasks very troublesome.
Causes
Tension headaches usually happen because of worry, stress, or being drained. They can cause muscle tension in your neck, jaw, and head, leading to headache pain.
The specific reason for headache pain on one side of the head or the migraines is unclear. Your environment and genes, however, are thought to play roles. You get this type of headache when some chemicals in your brain shoot up. Migraine triggers can include changes in your hormone levels or splendid lights.
Headaches and Migraines Treatments
Though there is no particular treatment for headaches and migraines, lifestyle changes and medication can help cure your manifestations and forestall future episodes.
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Pain Medication
OTC pain medications such as ibuprofen and aspirin can be helpful for mild migraines or headaches.
Additionally, a recent study discovered that melatonin may support preventing cluster headaches and migraines. Since the correct portion varies depending on the medical condition, speak to your doctor about taking this treatment.
Prescription Medication
If you have a severe migraine headache consistently, OTC medicines probably will not be sufficient to address your symptoms.
Prescription medications may assist with diminishing the seriousness of your migraines and forestall future events. Treatment may include:
- Anti-seizure medicines
- Blood pressure medicines
- Antidepressants
- Botox injections
Relaxation Techniques
Since most headaches are pressure-actuated, doing things to reduce stress can help soothe headache pain and decrease the danger for future headaches and migraines. These include:
- massage
- meditation
- relaxation exercises
- heat therapy, for example, applying warm packs or taking a warm bath
Lifestyle Changes
Embracing lifestyle modifications may likewise help avoid some types of headaches and migraines. These include:
- Improving sleep habits
- Exercising daily
- Making dietary changes to stay away from trigger food varieties
- Practicing relaxation methods, such as meditation and yoga
Having a headache or migraine diary can also help you to monitor patterns and recognize triggers. Record the things like the day and time your migraine or headache started, your environmental factors and movement before indications began, and how long the pain kept going.
This data can help you and your doctor makes an arrangement to keep away from your triggers and lessen the recurrence of your headaches or migraines.
Conclusion
Headaches can go from being mild to being a severe and debilitating inconvenience. Distinguishing and addressing headaches as early as possible can help an individual engage in preventive therapies to limit the opportunity of another headache. Recognizing migraines from different sorts of headaches can be challenging. Give specific consideration to the time before the headache and migraine begin to indicate an aura phase and tell your physician.
References:
Tension Headache Symptoms, Signs, Relief, Causes, and Treatment.
www.medicinenet.com/tension_headache/article.htm
Diagnosis.
www.nhs.uk/conditions/migraine/diagnosis/
Migraine with Aura.
www.migrainetrust.org/understand-migraine/types-of-migraine/migraine-with-aura/
October 04, 2020. The 9 Best OTC Pain Relievers of 2021.
https://www.verywellhealth.com/best-otc-pain-relievers-4171963
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