How to Tell If Your Headache is a Migraine

It is important to differentiate between a headache and a migraine, in order to best treat it. Anyone who has ever experience even a mild migraine will tell you, there is a big difference between the two.

Headaches are categorized in several ways: tension headaches, sinus headaches, cluster headaches or migraines. Here are some symptoms of each:

Tension Headaches. Typical symptoms of tension headaches include any of the following:
1. Pain is described as throbbing and/or pressure.
2. Pain is usually located at the top, sides or front of the head.
3. The pain begins slowly and builds up gradually over a period of time.
4. Tension headaches usually occur in the middle of the day.

Sinus Headaches. Typical sinus headache symptoms include any of the following:
1. Deep and unrelenting pain in the forehead, nose bridge or cheekbone areas.
2. Pain is accompanied with other sinus symptoms such as stuffy ears, runny nose, fever or eye irritation.

Cluster Headaches. Typical symptoms of cluster headaches include any of the following:
1. Pain that is predominantly on one side of the head.
2. Pain that is described as burning or piercing.
3. Pain is typically present behind one eye or the general eye area.
4. Pain lasts a short time, between 30-90 minutes. However, it reappears throughout the day.
5. Cluster headaches generally reoccur one to three times per day.
6. They occur at the same time during each episode.
Cluster headaches are the least commonly experienced kind of headache, effecting only 0.4% of the population.

Migraine Headaches. Typical symptoms of migraine headaches include any of the following:
1. Sensitivity to light and/or sound.
2. Blurred vision.
3. Intense pain that can be located on one side of the head, or can affect the entire head.
4. Nausea and/or vomiting.
5. Hot or cold feelings.
6. Dizziness.
7. Aura, or seeing waving lines, flashing dots/lights or blind spots.

In order to best help your doctor diagnose your type of headache, is important to keep a headache history. In addition to defining your past experiences with headaches, you want to track each recent headache you have experienced as well. After each episode, note the following information about each specific headache:

1. How often do your headaches occur?
2. Can you define any headache triggers (food, stress, medications)?
3. What are your headache symptoms?
4. Has your work or school activities been affected by your headaches?
5. Where is the pain located?
6. What does it feel like (throbbing, burning, piercing)?
7. On a scale of 1 to 10 (ten being most severe) how would you rate your headache?
8. How long does your headache last?
9. Are there any warning signs present before the onset of your headache?
10. What time of the day/night do your headaches usually begin?
11. Is your headache accompanied by any visual changes?

General Headache questions:

1. How old were you when your headaches started?
2. Who else in your family suffers from headaches?
3. How long have you been suffering from headaches?
4. Do you typically experience one kind, or multiple types of headaches?
5. What medications/treatments have you used in the past (both over the counter and prescribed)?
6. Have you had any medical diagnostic testing done in the past for your headaches (ex. MRI)?

Non-Migraine Headache Treatments. If you have a headache that is not classified as a migraine, you can most likely find relief in medications such as over the counter pain relievers such as Excedrin.

Migraine Headache Treatments. If you have been diagnosed with migraines, your doctor will most likely prescribe either preventative or abortive migraine medication. Preventative medication is most often prescribed to people who suffer one or more migraines a week. They are intended to prevent migraines, or lessen their frequency and intensity. Abortive medications are intended to stop a migraine once it has began, and alleviate the symptoms.

Being able to recognize the symptoms of your unique headache can help your physician determine what kind of headache you are suffering from, thus find a suitable method of treatment for it.