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, which 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 it effectively.

What Are the Different Types of Headache?

Headaches can be categorized based on their causes and symptoms. The three most common types are:

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

Additionally, primary headaches are those that aren’t caused by any other health condition. In this case, the headache itself is the problem.

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.

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

Both migraine headaches and other types of headaches can cause head pain, but migraine pain is usually more intense. Migraine attacks often come with other symptoms, such as nausea and being bothered by light.

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, including:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Visual changes (called 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
• Feeling weak or numb
• Dizziness
• Fatigue, anxiety, and depression

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

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

Tension Headaches

Tension headaches, or tension-type headaches, are the most common type. 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 on or around both sides of the head or in the back of the head and neck. Tension 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 lacrimation (tears), nasal congestion, or restlessness. Cluster headaches are less common than migraine and tension headaches. 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.

Both migraine and cluster headaches can cause severe pain, but it’s more common in cluster headaches. Cluster headaches have distinct features and usually happen at the same time of the year. They can last for weeks to months. The pain is usually centered around one eye.

Is a 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, a key pain pathway in the brain, may play a role. Hormones like serotonin and substances called calcitonin gene-related peptides (CGRP) may also contribute to migraine.

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. Cluster headaches may occur when the body releases serotonin (a mood-stabilizing hormone) and histamines (the chemicals responsible for allergic reactions), causing the blood vessels in the brain to dilate. This dilation can be triggered by bright lights, physical exertion, or changes in altitude.

What Triggers Migraine vs. Other Types of Headaches?

Like migraine headaches, tension and cluster headaches can be triggered by certain factors in the environment. Here are some common triggers for different types of headaches.

Migraine Headache Triggers

Anything that activates the nervous system can trigger migraine attacks, including:

• Not getting enough sleep
• Stress
• Changes in weather
• Certain smells or food — common migraine triggers include alcohol, artificial sweeteners, chocolate, and cured meats
• 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 a migraine headache “started with allergy symptoms.”

Tension Headache Triggers

Some migraine triggers, including fatigue and stress, can also trigger tension headaches. Hunger and eye strain also frequently trigger tension headaches.

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
• Physical activity
• High altitude and elevation
• 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 and type of your headaches and help find the best treatment for you.

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 severe your pain is
• 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 medications you are taking or have taken, including over-the-counter medicines

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 a combination of avoiding triggers and taking 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 OTC pain relievers to treat tension headaches, you can also try to prevent them. Several lifestyle adjustments that may help prevent tension headaches include:

• Practicing good sleep hygiene
• Avoiding known headache triggers
• Managing stress with practices like meditation or yoga
• Eating at the same times every day
• Getting regular physical activity

Treating Cluster Headaches

Cluster headaches may be treated with medications both during a headache and to prevent future headaches. During a cluster headache, your health care provider might give you high-dose oxygen therapy or an injection of sumatriptan 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 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.

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