Many people think migraine headaches are just severe headaches. However, headaches are just one symptom of migraine. Migraine is a more complex condition that involves several neurological symptoms, and it can be challenging to manage.

Sometimes, it can be hard to tell the difference between a migraine headache and other types of headaches. Understanding these differences can help you and your doctor determine what you’re experiencing and how to manage your symptoms effectively.

What Are the Different Types of Headache?

Headaches are categorized based on their cause. They’re separated into primary headaches and secondary headaches. Primary headaches are those that aren’t caused by any other health condition. In this case, the headache itself is the problem.

However, some headaches are caused by other health problems. These are called secondary headaches. For example, a sinus headache might result from a sinus infection. Taking too many pain medications can also lead to secondary headaches.

Both migraine headaches and other types of headaches can cause head pain, but each type of headache comes with additional symptoms that vary, depending on the type.

Primary headaches are more common than secondary. The most common types of primary headaches are:

• Migraine headaches
• Tension headaches
• Trigeminal autonomic cephalgias (including cluster headaches)

What Are the Symptoms of Migraine vs. Other Types of Headache?

Both migraine headaches and other types of headaches can cause head pain, but each type of headache comes with additional symptoms that vary, depending on the type.

Migraine Headaches

Migraine headaches are more than just severe, throbbing pain on one side of the head. They are considered primary headaches and may come with other symptoms, such as:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Visual changes (called migraine with aura), such as seeing bright spots, flashing lights, or shapes that aren’t there
• Vision loss or blind spots
• Trouble speaking
• Sensitivity to light and sound, or in some cases, smell and touch
• Lightheadedness
• Feelings of weakness or numbness
• Dizziness
• Fatigue, anxiety, or depression

If untreated, migraine headaches can last anywhere from hours to days.

Some people with migraine don’t get headaches at all, but they experience sensitivity to light or noise, or they have visual symptoms. This is known as a migraine aura without headache, also referred to as “silent migraine.”

Get To Know the Symptoms of Migraine

Watch migraine specialist Dr. Amaal Starling explain how migraine is more than just a headache.

Transcript

00:00:06:00 - 00:00:13:09
Mary Ray
What types of symptoms should someone be looking for to determine if they may actually have migraine?

00:00:13:09 - 00:00:33:11
Dr. Starling
I love that question because what I want to emphasize is that migraine is not just a headache. Headache, or head pain, is one of the most common, and often the most disabling for some people, symptom that is associated with a migraine attack, where they'll be moderate to severe head pain,

00:00:33:11 - 00:01:07:03
Dr. Starling
but that head pain often is also accompanied by sensitivity to light and sound and motion, as well as nausea and vomiting. A lot of people will also have visual distortions where they have blurred vision, or they'll have aura, where they have a kind of a sparkle that comes across their vision that does not allow for them to be able to work, or drive, or take care of their day-to-day activities.

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Tension Headaches

The most common headaches are tension headaches, also known as tension-type headaches. These primary headaches are typically less severe than migraine headaches and usually don’t interrupt daily life. However, some people can experience both migraine headaches and tension headaches. Sometimes, tension headaches can lead to migraine attacks.

Unlike migraine headaches, tension headaches don’t usually cause symptoms like nausea and vomiting. While migraine headaches usually affect just one side of the head, tension headaches typically cause moderate pain around both sides of the head and forehead, like there’s a tight band around your head. Tension headache pain is generally felt as a steady ache, unlike the throbbing or pulsing pain felt in migraine headaches.

Cluster Headaches

Cluster headaches are among the most severe types of headaches. They come on suddenly and can cause severe pain, usually in or around one eye. Associated symptoms include tears, nasal congestion, or restlessness. Cluster headaches are less common than migraine and tension headaches. According to Mount Sinai, cluster headaches occur three to four times more often in men than in women.

As their name suggests, cluster headaches tend to occur in groups, with each attack lasting 15 minutes to three hours. These attacks may happen daily or even several times a day. Periods of frequent cluster headaches, known as cluster periods, may last from weeks to months. These headaches also tend to happen at the same time of the year.

Both migraine and cluster headaches can cause severe pain, but they each have distinctive features. Migraine headaches tend to come on gradually, while cluster headaches occur suddenly. They each have different accompanying symptoms.

Is Migraine Worse Than a Headache?

Migraine attacks are often more serious than regular headaches because they’re a medical condition that affects the neurological pathways in the brain. In addition to head pain, they can cause a wide range of symptoms. However, levels of migraine pain can vary based on the person and the specific migraine attack. A member of MyMigraineTeam highlighted the various symptoms of a migraine attack. They shared, “Woke up early with headache, severe nausea, and abdominal and generalized body pain.”

What Causes Migraine vs. Other Types of Headaches?

The exact cause of migraine isn’t fully understood. They’re thought to result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. Changes in the trigeminal nerve activate brain signals, and these signals trigger inflammatory responses in areas of the brain that are sensitive to pain. Neurotransmitters such as serotonin and calcitonin gene-related peptides (CGRP) are believed to play a role in the spread of migraines and migraine symptoms.

Tension headaches are typically less severe than migraine headaches and usually don't interrupt daily life.

Tension Headache Causes

The cause of tension headaches is not fully understood either. They were once believed to result from muscle contractions brought on by tension or stress. Now, it’s thought that people who experience tension headaches have a heightened sensitivity to pain, leading to the muscle tenderness commonly felt in tension headaches.

Cluster Headache Causes

Experts don’t know the exact cause of cluster headaches. Since the condition is rare, it’s difficult to study. Researchers think there’s a genetic component, since the condition tends to run in families. There may also be a connection between the condition and the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that regulates your circadian rhythm (internal clock). This would explain why cluster headaches occur at a specific time of year.

What Triggers Migraine vs. Other Types of Headaches?

Like migraine headaches, tension and cluster headaches can be triggered by certain environmental or lifestyle factors. Here are some common triggers for different types of headaches.

Migraine Headache Triggers

Migraine attacks can be triggered by:

• Lack of sleep or too much sleep
• Stress
• Changes in weather
• Certain smells or foods (common triggers include alcohol, artificial sweeteners, processed food, and aged cheeses)
• Hormonal changes, particularly shifts in estrogen, from menstrual cycles, pregnancy, or menopause

Allergies can also trigger migraine attacks by causing inflammation of the blood vessels. One MyMigraineTeam member described how their migraine headache “started with allergy symptoms.”

Tension Headache Triggers

Some migraine triggers, including fatigue and stress, can also trigger tension headaches. Clenching your jaw and straining your eyes also frequently trigger tension headaches.

Migraine headaches tend to come on gradually, while cluster headaches occur suddenly, and they each have different accompanying symptoms.

Cluster Headache Triggers

A variety of factors may trigger cluster headaches, including:

• Alcohol or tobacco use
• Bright lights
• Heat, such as hot weather or a hot shower
• Foods that contain nitrates, like bacon and lunch meats

How Can You Tell if It’s a Migraine or a Headache?

It can be hard to identify what kind of headache you have. One MyMigraineTeam member shared, “I still have no idea what type of headaches I struggle with, as mine are really never the same.”

If you experience headaches frequently, talk to your primary health care provider or a neurologist. These experts can help determine the cause of your headaches and help you find the best treatment.

To diagnose migraine or other types of headache, your health care provider may assess your medical history and symptoms and perform a physical and neurological examination. They may also ask you to keep track of the following details to provide as much information as possible:

• How often you get headaches
• Where your head pain occurs
• How long your headaches last
• When you usually get headaches (time of day, month, or year)
• Other symptoms you have with headaches, such as nausea or vision changes
• Any prescription medications you are taking or have taken
• Any over-the-counter medicines you take
• Factors that may trigger your headaches

What Are the Treatments for Migraine and Other Types of Headaches?

The treatment prescribed for migraine and headaches depends on how often you get them and how severe they are. Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, including acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil), and aspirin may help relieve headaches, including mild migraine headaches.

Treating Migraine Headaches

Treating migraine often requires you to both avoid triggers and take medications. If you regularly experience severe migraine headaches, your doctor may prescribe medication to help prevent attacks or reduce their frequency and severity.

Treating Tension Headaches

In addition to taking OTC pain relievers, you can also take steps to prevent them. Several lifestyle adjustments that may help prevent tension headaches include:

• Managing stress with practices like meditation or yoga
• Having good posture
• Applying ice or heat to muscles when they’re sore

If you have regular headaches, your health care provider may also recommend medication that prevents tension headaches.

Treating Cluster Headaches

You can treat cluster headaches with medications, both when you’re experiencing a headache and to prevent more from occurring in the future. During a cluster headache, your health care provider might give you high-dose oxygen therapy or triptans via injection or nasal spray to help relieve pain. Your health care provider might also prescribe medications like prednisone, verapamil, and anti-seizure medications to help prevent future cluster headaches.

Treating migraine and other types of headaches may require a mix of lifestyle adjustments, medication, and prevention techniques. Work with your health care provider for specific medical advice and to find the best treatment plan for your specific symptoms.

Find Your Support System

MyMigraineTeam is the social network for people with migraine and their loved ones. On MyMigraineTeam, more than 83,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with migraine.

Do you experience other types of headaches along with migraine? What made you suspect that your headaches might be something more? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.