One in every four US households has a member who deals with migraines every day! In fact, migraines are the third most prevalent ailment in the world.
According to the Migraine Research Foundation, migraines also run in the family! Almost 80% of people who deal with migraines have some sort of family history.
But are migraines different from the usual tension headaches? Aren’t they just a more intense variant? Read on to find out.
What causes them?
A migraine is a vascular headache. This means that it is caused by the vasodilation (enlargement) of the blood vessels.
When the blood vessels get enlarged, they also release chemicals from nerve fibers that surround them. These chemicals then cause pain and inflammation. When a migraine attack takes place, the temporal artery also enlarges. This is the artery that lies right outside the skull, just underneath the skin. This enlargement of the artery also increases the pain.
On the other hand, tension headaches are usually associated with stress and fatigue, and can be overcome by taking over-the-counter medicines and rest. They’re either caused by muscular strain or emotional stress.
What are the differences?
Here are some of the basic differences that set the two types of headaches apart:
- Tension headaches entail a dull and pressure-like pain toward the back of your head. The feeling is similar to what you would feel if someone tied a tight band around your head. On the other hand, the pain associated with a migraine is deep and pulsating.
- Tension headaches are not associated with sensitivity to light. However, those who deal with migraines often complain that their pain and discomfort worsen if they are exposed to too much light.
- Tension headaches are more generalized, and the pain can be felt anywhere on the scalp, around the forehead, or temples. You may also feel the pain toward the back of your neck. On the other hand, migraines are characterized by deep and stabbing pain around the eye or the temple.
- In terms of severity, tension headaches are mild to moderate, whereas migraine headaches could be quite severe.
- In most cases, the trigger for tension headaches is stress. However, multiple factors could trigger the onset of the migraine. This includes loud noises, exposure to smoke, disrupted sleeping patterns, and bright lights.
- Migraines are usually accompanied by nausea and vomiting, whereas tension headaches are not.
Migraines are highly manageable, if not treatable. If you have queries regarding your migraines and tension headaches, Dr. Farzin Pedouim in L.A is your best bet.
He is an expert Board-Certified Neurologist and Movement Disorders Specialist with extra training in Neuromuscular Disorders, based in Los Angeles and Huntington Beach.
Get in touch to learn more about your symptoms.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended for the purpose of providing medical advice. All information, content, and material are for informational purposes only and are not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider.
