Headaches seem to be common with all the tensions running in our life. Most of us have likely suffered from headaches at some point in our life. In some people, it may vanish within a few hours.
Key Takeaways
- Migraine is a type of headache that involves intense pain, on one side of the head, accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound.
- Tension headache, on the other hand, is a milder form of headache characterized by a dull, aching pain on both sides of the head that may feel like a tight band around the head.
- While the causes of migraine and tension headaches may differ, both conditions can be triggered by stress, lack of sleep, and certain foods.
Migraine vs Tension Headache
Migraine headaches are characterized by a pulsing or throbbing pain on one side of the head and may be accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. Tension headaches are caused by muscle tension and stress and are characterized by a dull, aching pain on both sides of the head.
Migraine pain is a type of pain that causes a pulsating sensation. It causes severe pain on one side of the head. Migraine pain makes the person exhausted, causing difficulty in day-to-day handling tasks.
Tension headache is the most common type of headache. It causes a mild sensation on both sides of the head. It exerts pressure across the forehead, causing moderate pain.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Migraine Headache | Tension Headache |
|---|---|---|
| Identification | Migraine headaches cause aches on only one side of the head. | Tension headaches cause pain on both sides of the head. |
| Severity | It causes throbbing around the head and makes day-to-day tasks difficult to accomplish. | Its pain isn’t severe as that of Migraine pain. |
| Causes | Its exact cause is uncertain. They are caused by imbalances in brain activities or changes in hormones. | It is caused by stress, tension, anxiety, and fatigue. |
| Symptoms | Its symptoms include vomiting, nausea, sensitivity to light, sound, and smell. | Its symptoms are eye strain, aching pain around the forehead, insomnia. |
| Treatment | It is important to visit a doctor to treat migraine pain. A visit may include an MRI and CT scan and intake of prescribed medicines to relieve pain. | It can be treated through getting proper sleep and water intake and, in some cases, using over-the-counter medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen. |
What is Migraine Headache?
Migraine is a type of headache that causes a thumping sensation in the head. It is experienced on one side of the head. It can be identified through its symptoms which include
- Moderate to severe pain worsening on one side of the head
- Nausea and vomiting
- Tingling of neck and face during pain
- Soreness and uneasiness in doing slight physical activity
Meditation, yoga, acupuncture, and lifestyle changes may help in reducing pain to an extent. Proper and timely intake of medications might help.
The stages of a migraine include:
- Premonitory stage: It is considered the first stage of experiencing migraine pain.
- Aura: Aura is the consequence of a nerve signal that is transmitted throughout the brain.
- Attack: Migraine attacks may happen rarely or frequently, depending upon the person.
- Post-drome: It is also called the recovery stage. At this stage, one may feel drained or fatigued.
What is Tension Headache?
Tension headaches are also called stress or muscle contraction headaches. Tension headache is regarded as the most common type of headache.
Tension-type headache is broadly classified into two categories:
- Chronic tension headaches: The headache starts from the back of the head or neck and spreads over the entire head.
- Episodic tension headache: Its symptoms are the same as chronic tension headaches.
Main Differences Between Migraine and Tension Headache
- Major triggers of migraine headaches are smoking, alcohol, distress, sleeping patterns, food containing tyramine, etc. On the other hand, a tension headache is triggered by eyestrain, hunger, and tension.
- Migraine headaches are prevalent in less proportion of individuals. Whereas tension headaches are common and have been experienced by almost everyone once in their life.
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0005789480800013
- https://headachejournal.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-4610.1986.hed2609465.x
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