Headaches & Migraines - What's the difference?
Read on to learn about the differences between headaches and migraines so that you can receive the best care for your issue.
Do you feel tension in your neck or skull that gives you a headache? Are you experiencing dizziness or nausea when you get a headache? Do you experience headaches or migraines more than once a week?
50% of people around the world are constantly affected by headaches, according to the World Health Organization.
Do you know the difference between a headache and a migraine?
Having a headache or migraine can be difficult to deal with and very painful. Sometimes they come out of nowhere and can become very intense, very quickly. Dealing with head pain complicates things – Life isn’t supposed to be viewed through a headache haze and migraines just stop you in your tracks.
There is an undeniable cost when you experience head pain on a frequent basis. And the need to continuously use medication to numb the pain can be frustrating and the impact to other areas, such as employment and family time, can be costly.
The first steps in taking back your life, is to know what your experiencing and what you can do to relieve your pain. Headaches and migraines differ and therefore their treatments vary. Your own medical history and the frequency of attacks will all influence your individualised pain management plan. See an Osteopath to learn more.
HEADACHES: KEY FACTS
Can be classified as a primary or a secondary headache, which means they can be affected by independent conditions that cause pain in the head, face, or neck or medical conditions such as infections, stress or medications.
Are unpleasant pains in your head that can cause pressure and aching
The pain can range from mild to severe, and they usually occur on both sides of your head.
There are few different types of headaches – Some specific areas where headaches can occur include the forehead, temples, and back of the neck
A headache can last anywhere from 30 minutes to a week
MIGRAINES: KEY FACTS
Are considered a type of primary headache disorder, however, even though the term headache and migraine is used interchangeably by people, there is significant difference between their onset, symptoms and elements causing it
Can present itself like a headache, although, it comes with other associated symptoms
Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, difficulty speaking, numbness or tingling, and sensitivity to light and sound.
Migraines often run in families and affect all ages.
Mana Health Clinic has a holistic approach to your health
How can our Osteopath support you with your headache or migraine episodes?
What we know is that both conditions can often create tension within the muscles around your neck and head, which consequently makes them tender and potentially painful with time (1,2).
Research has shown that a multimodal approach (using more than one mode of therapy such as massage therapy, exercising, relaxation technique and spinal manipulative therapy) may be effective in the treatment of migraines and headaches (2,8), and might be as beneficial as medication alone (3,4). People experiencing migraines might benefit from this approach to decrease the frequency of the attacks (5), the disability in the short-term and the pain level (2,8).
Note – Like many conditions, while studies are encouraging more research is warranted. There are no techniques that will get rid of your pain and stop you having headaches overnight. It will take time depending on your diagnosis. You can have an acute (short-term) vs chronic (long-term) headache diagnosis
At Mana, we use an evidence-based holistic approach to health care which means that we are able to offer a multimodal management plan to our patients. For example, your Osteopath can use manual therapy to alleviate your pain, work together to build a tailored individual exercise program for you and provide lifestyle strategies to reduce migraine and headaches occurrences. Remember – Your Osteopath will provide a specific treatment for your condition, but you are the main actor in your health journey. Your commitment will assist to achieve the best results.