Migraine or Headache - What's The Difference?

What is a migraine?

A migraine usually feels like a very bad headache with a throbbing pain on one side of your head. Other symptoms that may accompany a migraine include nausea, vomiting or sensitivity to light or sound. However, symptoms can vary depending on the type of migraine. They are triggered by a combination of factors that may be biological and environmental and triggers are unique to each person.

It is unknown what causes a migraine but it can be triggered by certain foods or drinks, changes in sleep patterns, changes in the weather, hormonal changes, bright lights, loud noises or strong smells. Migraines usually last between 2 hours and 3 days - some people may experience them multiple times a week, whilst others have them infrequently.

You can ease symptoms and treat a migraine at home by resting, or sleeping in a dark room, avoiding things you know trigger your migraines, staying hydrated and limiting caffeine and alcohol, taking pain killers and applying a hot or cold compress to your head or neck.

See a GP if your migraines are severe of getting worse, you are having them more frequently than usual, and you are finding it hard to control our symptoms at home.

What is a headache?

Headaches are a common condition that most people will experience many times during their lives. The main symptom of a headache is pain in your head or face, often described as a pressure that's throbbing, constant, sharp or dull. Most headaches go away on their own and are not a sign of something more serious.

Common causes of a headache can include having a cold or flu, stress, drinking too much alcohol, not staying hydrated, problems with your eyesight or bad posture. Headaches can last 30 minutes to several hours, or sometimes several days.

You can ease headache symptoms at home by drinking plenty of water, resting your body and relaxing your mind, taking over the counter pain relief and applying a hot or cold compress to your head or neck.

See a GP if your headache keep reoccurring, if pain relief does not help and the headache is worsening, or if you feel sick and it is causing you to vomit.