A migraine is a type of headache that’s characterized by intense throbbing pain on one side of the head. This condition affects approximately 1 in every 15 men and as many as 1 in 5 women. 

Despite how common migraines are, some people who suffer from migraines get misdiagnosed with another type of headache, meaning they might not get the right treatment. Many others don’t see their doctor for migraine pain at all, confusing it for a temporary headache or even a sinus headache during allergy season that will go away on its own. 

This guide from HealthTap describes different types of headaches and how they compare with migraines. This guide also goes over the causes of migraines, as well as what can be done to treat and prevent them. 

What are the different types of headaches?

There are many different types of headaches. They can be roughly split up into two categories: primary headaches and secondary headaches. 

Primary headaches don’t seem to have an apparent cause, which means that doctors can’t truly “cure” them but can treat and prevent occurrences. On the other hand, secondary headaches are due to a specific medical cause, and should go away once that specific cause has been treated. 

Primary headaches

• Migraine headache
  A migraine headache usually causes severe throbbing along one side of the head. Migraines can occur with what’s called an aura, which is a group of uncomfortable symptoms that may include sensitivity to lights, sounds, and smells as well as seeing little flashes of light. These symptoms usually serve as a warning sign of a migraine, though most migraines occur without an aura. Migraine headaches affect about 12% of the world population, occurring in women more often than in men. 

• Tension headache
  While not as severe as migraines, tension headaches are far more common, with more than 80% of the world population experiencing them at some point in their lives. This type of headache tends to happen on both sides of the head, with dull pain that’s mild or moderate. As the name suggests, tension headaches are often caused by muscle tension, and tend to resolve on their own as the muscles relax. 

• Cluster headache
  Cluster headaches are the least common but can produce severe pain. These headaches occur in “clusters” of attacks, up to eight times per day for some people. Some attacks can last for hours.

Secondary headaches 

• Medication overuse headache
  This type of headache is caused by using certain medicines, especially painkillers, too often. As people use painkillers to treat their migraines, medication overuse headaches can occur as medication wears off — think of it as a rebound headache. 

• Sinus headache
  This type of headache is mostly felt around the eyes, cheeks, and forehead (where the sinuses behind the face are located). Sinus headaches often stem from sinus congestion or infection, which cause a lot of sinus pressure and irritation. 

• Post-traumatic headache
  This type of headache usually develops after an accident to the head. Post-traumatic headaches typically develop within seven days of the injury, and usually go away as the body recovers from that injury. 

• Headache due to illness
  Some viral or bacterial conditions can cause a headache. One example is meningitis, which causes inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. 

• Cervicogenic headache
  This type of headache develops due to tension and pain in the neck. Neck pain and tightness can radiate upward, irritating the muscles supporting the head, eventually causing a cervicogenic headache. 

• Caffeine withdrawal headache
  For those with a serious coffee habit, missing their usual cup of coffee in the morning can lead to a withdrawal headache. People experience this common headache most often in the morning since the caffeine they consumed the day before has mostly metabolized through the night. Most people find the pain goes away after drinking a cup of coffee. 

What are migraines?

Migraines are severe headaches with throbbing pain on one side of the head. Migraine headache symptoms can also include sensitivity to light and sound, nausea and vomiting, and extreme fatigue. Because of how painful they are, migraines are associated with a high degree of disability, impacting a person’s work or school life. 

There is no single cause of migraines. Rather, there are triggers, which vary from person to person. These triggers can be sensory stimuli such as loud sounds or bright lights that don’t typically bother people without migraines. Some other migraine triggers include sleep changes, too much or too little caffeine, and psychological stress, amongst many others. 

When something triggers a migraine, an electrical impulse gets set off in the brain, which causes a change in blood flow. This puts pressure on the brain’s blood vessels and nerves, which can cause severe pain in the side of one’s head. 

Some migraine sufferers experience what’s called an aura before and even during their migraines — an aura is a collection of symptoms that includes dizziness, tingling, and visual disturbances such as flashing lights, vision loss, or blind spots. 

Auras generally start about an hour before a migraine attack sets in and can last for about an hour into the migraine, too. About a quarter of people with migraines experience an aura before the migraine pain actually sets in. 

What causes migraines?

While doctors understand what happens in the brains of those with migraines, they can’t agree on what exactly causes migraines to happen in the first place. This is probably because there isn’t a single cause of migraines. Instead, there are various causes, which depend on the person in question. 

For instance, some people can experience migraines due to a hormonal imbalance. Studies show that an imbalance between the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone is associated with migraines. This imbalance is linked to the menstrual cycle, which can explain why women experience migraines at a much higher rate than men. 

Other people may experience migraines due to food allergies or sensitivities. Some other potential causes of migraines can include lack of sleep, chronic psychological stress, smoking, and excessive drug or alcohol use. 

Of course, this isn’t an extensive list. Because everyone’s physiology is unique, the reason people get migraines is also unique. For this reason, it's important for people with migraines to work with a health care provider who can help them understand what their triggers are and how to manage them.

What is the best way to treat migraines?

Migraine treatment should take a personalized approach. That said, there are some steps everyone can follow for getting at least some chronic migraine relief. Here are five ways to manage migraines. 

1. Getting to the root cause 

Getting to the root cause of migraines is the most important step in managing them. Those who suffer from migraines should examine their lifestyle factors, such as diet, sleep, and exercise to find out which could be contributing to their migraines. It might help to keep a “migraine diary” to keep track of possible triggers and the symptoms they cause. 

2. Managing symptoms 

Symptoms of migraines can be managed with various medications, such as over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen, triptans (medications like sumatriptan that shrink blood vessels), anti-nausea drugs, and many others. 

It’s important to work with a doctor to settle on the right treatment for the type of migraine, especially since severe migraines often require prescription medications. Overuse of ibuprofen or acetaminophen can lead to medication overuse headaches.

3. Making dietary changes 

Food sensitivities are extremely common, which makes them a possible cause of migraines. A doctor can check a food allergy panel for potential food allergies. 

An elimination diet can be a great addition to traditional allergy testing. This is done by eliminating all the foods that are thought to trigger migraines to see if there’s symptom relief. The foods can slowly be introduced back into the diet to see if symptoms return. If they do, then it becomes easier to identify which foods are likely triggers. 

4. Balancing hormones 

In addition to a food allergy panel, a doctor can also order a hormone test, which is done with a blood sample. This can uncover hormonal changes that may be responsible for migraines. If a hormonal imbalance is revealed, treatment options like hormone replacement therapy may be able to help. 

5. Reducing stress 

There is a strong relationship between psychological stress and migraine headaches. If someone experiences a great deal of stress, then stress-relieving techniques and lifestyle changes should be explored as a possible solution to headache pain. Options such as meditation, light physical activity like yoga and biking, and other relaxation techniques like deep breathing are all ways to potentially boost wellness and reduce stress. 

Finding migraine relief with HealthTap

If you suspect you’re dealing with migraine headaches, don’t just wait for them to pass. To get relief, it’s important to meet with a health care provider who can help you get to the root of your medical condition. Headache disorders are very common, and there are a lot of ways to get relief with some guidance from an expert. 

HealthTap can connect you to a low-cost doctor through our online platform so you don’t have to leave home to talk with a doctor. Narcotic pain medications, other controlled drugs, and some drugs prone to misuse are not available on HealthTap.

Talk to a health care provider today to be on your way to getting much-needed relief from migraine headaches.