'I'm a nurse - here are seven ways to tell if you have a headache or migraine'
You've woken up with a pounding head - but is it a headache or a migraine? Your head is throbbing and your eyes are painful - it could be a migraine - but it could also be a tension, sinus or cluster headache.
A migraine is an intense headache that might be accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting or visual problems. So how do you know the difference? Neurology Nurse Practitioner Jayme Durbin took to CLS health's TikTok page to share seven ways to tell the difference.
What's the difference between a headache and a migraine?
Firstly, Jayme explained that if you have a 'throbbing or pulsating pain', it's likely to be a migraine. According to the NHS, a migraine usually "feels like a very bad headache with a throbbing pain on one side". Meanwhile, she says headaches are more of a 'full, pressing pain'.
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Next, she explained that if you get relief from the pain using over the counter medicine, such as paracetamol, it's likely to be a normal headache. However, the NHS also recommends trying painkillers such as ibuprofen and paracetamol for migraines. They also recommend medicines called triptans, and medicines that stop you feeling sick or being sick. A GP might also recommend making changes to your lifestyle to help manage the migraines. Other things that can help are relaxation techniques and acupuncture.
Nausea and vomiting is something more associated with migraines, and it can also be accompanied by sensitivity to light, sound and smell. If it's a 'moderate pain intensity' which lasts for a 'short duration', it's usually a headache.
It's also more likely a headache if it's a 'bilateral pain', which means it affects both sides of the body. Migraines usually affect one side of the head. If you think your headache might be caused by stress, Jayme says it's likely not a migraine.
However, as with anything, CLS health warns this only for "informational purposes" and shouldn't be considered medical advice. You should speak to your GP if your migraines are severe and getting worse, or lasting longer than usual, have them more than once a week, or find it difficult to control them.
What are the symptoms of a migraine?
The NHS says the telltale sign of a migraine is usually a "very bad headache with a throbbing pain on one side of the head", and you might get other symptoms, such as:
feeling very tired and yawning a lot
craving certain foods or feeling thirsty
changes in your mood
a stiff neck
peeing more