Health QM

Headaches and migraines have some similar traits including irritability and a throbbing pain in the head. However, there are many differences between a normal headache and a migraine. To start with, a migraine involves intense pain not only on the forehead, but the region over the eyes, the back part of the head and the temples. Generally, it is not manageable like a normal headache is and invariably people resort to over the counter pain relievers.

One of the foremost differences between a migraine and a headache is the fact that headaches just occur whereas migraines give some warning signs. There are various things that trigger a migraine attack. This could be some kind of food like oily stuff or dairy products. It could be because of a change in weather that is drastic, high levels of stress or exposure to explosive sounds or glaring and blinking lights.

Migraine is usually preceded by slight blurring of vision where the person in fact sees an aura instead of the clear picture. Migraine is also preceded by a feeling of weakness or being drained of all energy. At this juncture, light and sound start hurting really badly too.

Another major difference is the duration or the time period during which the headache lasts. While the normal headache stays for a maximum of 2 – 4 hours, a migraine can last as long as 80 hours if not treated properly. This is one reason people who have migraine should take note and be conscious of all the triggers of the terrible headache. This will help avoiding migraine as much as possible.

Normal headaches do not really affect the person a lot whereas migraines can affect the personal and professional life of people. A migraine attack can knock a person out for a whole day wherein he or she is in such terrible pain that everything else has to come to a standstill. This is why it is so important to avoid the migraine as one can really not escape it after it starts, affecting a person’s normal life really badly.

In a normal headache, the sensitivity to light and sound are really not there to the extent they affect in migraine. Although, a normal headache can be treated, or could be a symptom of something else if it occurs frequently, the only way migraine can be treated is by avoiding all the food and habitual triggers that cause it.