Headaches aren’t uncommon. In fact, almost everyone will experience at least one headache in his or her lifetime, and many will deal with them off and on throughout their lives. However, some headaches are worse than others. These may be migraines.
During a migraine, the temporal artery, an artery that lies outside the skull and just under the temple, enlarges or dilates. This enlargement stretches the nerves that are coiled around the temporal artery and causes them to release chemicals that can cause inflammation, pain, and even greater enlargement of the artery. As the artery grows larger, the pain becomes worse.
Migraines affect 28 million Americans each year, or about 14 percent of the population. Your headache symptoms may actually be a sign of a migraine. Here’s how to tell the difference between a common headache and a migraine.
When Is a Headache More Than a Headache?
Nearly 90 percent of headaches are tension headaches—simply put, they are a pain in your head. These headaches are most often associated with and made worse by fatigue, sleep deprivation, and stress, and they are typically treated with over-the-counter medicine or rest. Conversely, only about 10 percent of headaches each year are migraine headaches, making this type much rarer. People with migraines may experience nausea, vomiting, dizziness, abdominal pain, vision trouble, and pain behind the eyes. A migraine sufferer may experience several of these symptoms at once in addition to the headache, or may have only one in addition to the headache. Each person’s experience is different, and symptoms may change with each onset of a migraine.Comparing Headaches and Migraines
Other types of headaches
A cluster headache is an intense headache with one to three painful episodes, or clusters, each day. Patients who have cluster headaches report the pain to be severe and searing, with the center of the pain typically located behind one eye. People with cluster headaches also may experience red, teary eyes, something that is not common in migraines or tension headaches. This type of headache is more common in men than women.
A sinus headache is not actually a headache but is instead a painful response to nasal congestion or runny nose. When the sinuses are inflamed or irritated, you may experience pain across your forehead and cheeks. This pressure may feel like a headache and cause symptoms of a headache.
