Am I Experiencing Migraines or Headaches?

Your head hurts, and you want to get to the bottom of the problem, which potentially means sifting through the 150 different types of headaches.

We assure you there are easier ways to identify your head pain, starting with reading the information we’ve compiled here.

The experienced medical team here at Temecula Medical Group, which includes Dr. Richard H. Rawson, Ryan D. Rowan, PA-C, and Armanda L. Alvarez, FNP-C, routinely helps our patients who suffer from headaches and migraines. While many mistakenly group these two conditions into one category, the reality is that there are differences.

Migraines — a singular type of head pain and much more

A headache can certainly be part of a migraine, but this condition is a neurological disorder that often includes symptoms that extend past head pain. 

Migraine disease affects about one billion people around the world, and these people often experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• Throbbing pain, usually on one side of the face and head
• Visual disturbances
• Sensitivity to light and sound
• Nausea and vomiting
• Muscle aches
• Neck stiffness

Migraine attacks can last for several hours or several days, which is why they’re one of the leading causes of disability in the United States.

With migraine disease, head pain certainly takes center stage, but there are many other potential symptoms that make these headaches stand out from others.

The many faces of headaches

Beyond migraines, headaches are the other culprits behind head pain, and there are many to choose from. Headaches are divided into two main categories:

1. Primary — the headaches are standalone conditions
2. Secondary — the head pain is a symptom of another issue

As we mentioned, there are about 150 different types of headaches, but we’re going to highlight a few of the more common, which include:

Tension headaches

This type of headache can feel like your head is in a tightening grip. The discomfort is on both sides of the head, often toward the back, and it’s often described as an ache.

Lifestyle headaches

Lifestyle choices trigger headaches due to exertion, hunger, or nicotine.

Secondary headaches

Several different headaches fall under secondary headaches, such as sinus headaches, hangovers, dehydration, caffeine withdrawal headaches, and headaches due to overuse of medications. Another issue causes all these headaches, and the head pain is a side effect.

As you can see, many potential issues can lead to head pain, and our goal here is to narrow the field.

Get help for your head pain

A headache every once in a while is certainly normal and probably not cause for concern. If you routinely experience headaches, we strongly urge you to come see us so we can figure out exactly where the head pain is coming from. After reviewing your symptoms and your medical history, we can zero in on a cause so that we can get you on the road to relief.

For expert care of your headaches or migraines, we invite you to contact our Temecula, California, office to schedule an appointment.