What are the symptoms that usually distinguish a headache from a migraine?

Answer 1

Bonsoir ma belle ,

The difference between headaches and migraines,,,,,is the level of pain and…..the cause.

The following link will lead you to a page that lists possible Holistic cures for migraines.

http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/headache.html

Apple Cider Vinegar is one of the most amazing cures for headaches and migraines. The trick is to take it at the onset of symptoms. Dosage: 2 TBLS of Apple Cider Vinegar in 8 oz of water, 2x day.

This simple and inexpensive thing can relieve the pain, sometimes within minutes. Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Remove from heat and add 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar. Make a "tent" with a bath towel over your head and breathe in the vapors, deeply and slowly. (If it makes you cough, cut back on the vinegar.) A few minutes of doing this will cure most headaches as well as pills or shots."

The second link I have researched for you explains how to watch for “triggers” in an attempt to subdue migraines before they peak…

http://www.new-health.biz/articles/article25.htm

I sincerely hope they hold information that you can relate to… and maybe the other folk maybe inclined to take a look too… nothing to lose eh? It is a known fact though, that the brightness of a computer monitor will cause headaches…VDU operators are encouraged to take frequent breaks away from their work station and sit at an angle to the screen…. (its not just the brightness, its something else that is emitted from the monitor… cant recall the name, but…if you suffer from (eye) headaches, then this could be the reason…EYE STRAIN. Take things easy. The stiff neck that accompanies a migraine can also stem from bad use of ergonomics….eg: being sat motionless staring fixedly into your lappy…..

Having said all this, headaches can stem from changes in hormones, can also be a side effect of another medicine….so before you reach for another pill to combat your headache, check any other medication for side effects first. There maybe an alternative.!! God Bless. xx

Answer 2

Migraines and headaches are two completely different things. Everyone gets headaches, migraines are a nuerological disease. A doctor can diagnose migraine diease, usually a nuerologist.

My migraines start off with what is called an aura, I actually lose my vision right before having a migraine. The pain is unbearable, there is nausea, vomiting, extreme sensitivity to light, etc. But everyone has different symptoms.

Migraines can also cause strokes, and actually be fatal. So if you really think you have migraines you really need to see a doctor. If you have a migraine that lasts more than 72 hours you have to go to the emergency room.

Hope that helps.

Answer 3

Migraines aren't always painful and can come in many forms. I only get a slight headache, followed by dizziness, incoordination and drowsiness. Some people get nauseous and sensitivity to light is very common. A headache tends to feel more like pressure, without the other symptoms. If you suspect a migraine, try taking something like Migralieve instead of just a pain killer at the first sign of a headache and see if that's more effective. Also, avoid things that can cause/exacerbate migraine such as coffee, alcohol and dairy products.

Answer 4

I had "properly diagnosed" migraines from 14yrs old, (I am now well into my forties)They were not only the most excrutiating head pain, causing vomiting, they also effected my right or my left, and often left me a loss of feeling all down one side of my body, I would often feel no feeling to the side of my face (like having a dentist injection) I would also fall over, I did all the usual things that everyone else has said on here, and I will second all the ones who state clearly that "headaches" however bad they seem must not be confused with "migraine" migraine is most definately a neurological disease and the average GP will miss it, even though they will accept and be able to diagnose migraine correctly, presciption medicine/tablets offer "some" relief in "some" patients, but often will have to adapt their whole lifestyle, and all around them (depending of the severity of the symptoms)
I no longer suffer from the "head pain" anymore but the body side of it has came on ten fold, I must be honest, in my teens and twenties, and thirtys I fought the illness, Warning! DONT in "some" patients it will sneak up on you and hit you down like a ninepin.
All persons suffer differently, dont be alarmed, but if you are well informed anyone will be able to cope easier,
I am now need to use a wheelchair, due to balance, loss of feeling, and as all the "specialists" can say is that I have a very very complex neurological disease, I cant drive anymore and my eyes are affected by bright orbs, colours, and tunnel vision, black dots.
If I had 5 pence for everytime someone said " oh are you sure you havnt got MS," then I would be very rich indeed.
After reading this you should be able to detect if you are a "migraine sufferer" or a "headache sufferer"
They are leagues away from each other!
Hope this helps

Answer 5

I have to add here that a lot of answers say that you will know about it if you have a migraine. However, I complained to my optician during my last regular eye test about my vision often turning into what is like I can only describe as looking through a kaleidescope. Despite the fact that I very rarely get headaches along with this, he told me that these incidents were migraines and a huge percentage (cannot remember exactly but am sure it was over 90%) of migraines, you get blurred vision with no headache at all

Answer 6

A headache is a headache!

Migraine is severe pain in the head or face, usually on one side only.

It can be accompanied by all or some of the following symptoms:
nausea, vomiting , strong aversion to light, noise and smell, pins and needles in the hands, feet and tongue, visual disturbances including blurred vision, partial vision and 'auras' which can be zig-zag flashes of lights or stars. It can also be accompanied by a feeling of 'other-worldliness' as if you aren't quite in your body and a desire to sleep.!

A migraine specialist says that all these symptoms are similar to those felt by people who have brain injury. In a migraine the blood flow to the brain is constricted and the various neurons etc. are not firing correctly hence the brain thinks it is injured.

In my opinion anyone who is still on their feet and functioning and says that they have a migraine has a headache not a migraine.

Answer 7

I never really had headaches. Then, in my 40's I had violent headaches. But this was accompanied by a feeling of nausea and a flickering of light in the corner of my left eye.
If you have migraine, then you will know about it. I had to go into a darkened room, close the curtains, and put my tie over my eyes to keep any light out. Sometimes these attacks lasted for hours.
Things that aggravate migraine are beer, sex, ice-cream and coffee. Hardly seems worth living, does it? Lol.
But, if it's any consolation. The attacks came from nowhere at the age of about 35, and lasted for about 2 years. They didn't disappear completely, and now, in my 50's, I still get one or two a year. But the violent headaches have gone.
Hope this gives you some hope.....

Answer 8

With a proper migraine you are normally quite nauseous and cannot bear the light so the best thing to do is lie down in a darkened room.

There are many t ypes of migraine and people will find it hard to distinguish between a bad headache and a migraine.

I suffer hormonal migraines cos they mainly occur once a month. My GP has prescribed me betablockers to see if this can help.

The Migraine trust is a very good british website with lots of information about the different types of migraine.

Answer 9

I've suffered from both migraines and severe headaches for the past 40 years and still find it really hard to tell which I have. The only surefire way is to take one of my hardcore migraine tablets. If it's a migraine, it will be relieved within about 20 minutes, but if it's a headache, it carries on hurting. As I can only get 6 of the tablets on prescription at a time, I'm quite reluctant to take them unless I really need to. I've found that headaches will often respond to ibuprofen or paracetamol. I also use 2-3 drops of Olbas Oil on a piece of damp cotton wool - I rub it on my forehead and around my hairline and this will let me carry on while the paracetamol gets to work. You have to be really careful not to get the oil anywhere near your eyes.

Answer 10

I get migraines - normally with a headache you can still function and some paracetamol will sort it out. When I get a migraine it hurts to move my head, I feel sick, hot and I need to close my eyes to block out the light. All I can do is lie down in a cool, dark room and try to sleep it off. Lots of people might say they have a migraine when in actual fact, it's just a bad headache - trust me, you'll know it's a migraine when you get one!