Tension Headache Vs Migraine:
Everyone responds differently, so continue to work with your healthcare provider to identify what works best for you. Knowing the differences between these can help you determine the best ways to treat and prevent head pain. Having a family history of migraines also increases an individual’s risk.
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Every migraine is different, and you won’t necessarily experience symptoms during all four stages of every migraine. Research suggests genetic factors also play a role, with many people living with migraine having a family history of the condition. Here are some frequently asked quetions about headaches and migraine. This rare type of migraine causes temporary paralysis before or during the headache. A migraine episode can occur in four distinct phases, though not everyone experiences every phase. Some things such as weather changes or hormonal fluctuations are unavoidable, but you can pay attention to when those changes are going to occur and plan accordingly.
In the case of a one-time migraine, your doctor may recommend over-the-counter medicines such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain relief. If your headache patterns change or feel different, it might be time to visit a doctor. Make an appointment with Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Group to see a neurologist or primary care physician. The mechanism of action of caffeine in migraine is not fully understood. It has been reported that caffeine, competes with adenosine, with which it shares a similar structure, for the A1 and A2A adenosine receptors; these two receptors have opposing effects with each other3,37. Caffeine inhibits the activation of the trigeminal nerve pain pathway and vasodilation by blocking the A2A receptor.
If you feel like you’re getting a mix of migraines and tension-type headaches, and you get them often, you might have a condition called chronic or transformed migraine. Tension-type headaches usually are brought on by stress, worry, or being tired. They cause the muscles of your scalp, get the facts neck, and jaw to tighten, and that leads to pain. The kind of symptoms you get, how long they last, and how intense they are can be very different for migraines and tension-type headaches. If you are not sure what your triggers are, you can monitor them using a diary or journal.
Despite numerous publications concluded that there is a relationship between cervical musculoskeletal dysfunction and headache, the methodological quality is low, justifying further research. Although pharmacotherapy alone is improbable to be paramount in managing migraine in a context of stress, behavioral interventions can be combined with pharmacotherapy to enhance the effects. Combining drugs and behavioral treatment seems to be more effective than betablockers alone or behavioral treatment alone [90]. In a four-armed randomized controlled trial, 232 migraine patients were randomized to placebo, betablockers, behavioral treatment and placebo or behavioral treatment and betablocker [90]. The combination of betablockers and behavioral treatments improved treatment outcomes and outcomes of acute treatment.
The mTOQ-6 was composed of six items regarding (1) quick return to function, (2) 2-h pain free, (3) sustained 24-h pain relief, (4) tolerability, (5) comfort in making plans, and (6) perceived control. Respondents were asked to rate the frequency of each item using the response options of (1) never, (2) rarely, (3) less than half the time, and (4) half the time or more. There is no cut-off value, and higher scores indicate better optimization of acute treatment. PPT has proven to be an effective variable for measuring mechanical pain thresholds in musculature, including the craniocervical muscles (24). This investigation results demonstrated a reduction in thresholds for TTH headache patients compared to the migraine group and healthy subjects in the temporal muscle, upper trapezius, and tibialis anterior.
Frequent episodic tension-type headaches occur less than 15 days a month for at least three months. The first-line treatment for tension headaches is over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Aleve (naproxen). People with chronic or recurrent tension headaches may be prescribed amitriptyline, an antidepressant. If you are experiencing chronic tension headaches or migraines, you should see a neurologist to find out the cause.
It is usually a mild-to-moderate headache that lasts from 15 minutes up to three hours. It is typical to see a patient in the clinic who comes in every fall or spring with sinus attacks. Once treated with antibiotics and steroids, their headache will get better. They assume their headache must have been related to their sinuses, but that is rarely the case.
I often see people suffering headache flares during periods of final exams, the illness of a family member, or during times of relationship strain. Sleep is very important for migraine frequency, and patients who work erratic schedules or third shifts often do better when they’re able to transition to a regular work schedule. Similarly, I screen all my patients with the question “Are you known to snore?” learn more here Snoring is a risk factor for sleep apnea, and these days sleep studies generally take place in one’s bed. If you are found to have sleep apnea and are treated appropriately, this can have tremendous benefits on headache frequency. Migraine is a neurologic disorder with symptoms that far exceed head pain. Learn about symptoms, parts of the brain involved, and chiropractic neurology treatment options.
The Migraine Resource Center is dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals who suffer from migraines through education and support. Our mission is to empower individuals with migraines to manage their symptoms, increase public awareness, and build a supportive community that fosters hope. We strive to make a positive impact through comprehensive resources and support services.
She has been educated in both psychology and journalism, and her dual education has given her the research and writing skills needed to deliver sound and engaging content in the health space. Typical brain scans include a CT scan, which uses X-rays pop over to these guys to see inside the brain in better detail, or an MRI, which uses magnetic forces to formulate a more in-depth picture of the inside of the brain. Migraines can also be brought on by weather changes that cause the barometric pressure to drop.
On the other hand, migraines are less common, affecting over 17% of females and 5% of males in the U.S. (Walter, 2022). Migraines are known for their intense, throbbing pain that is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. This sensitivity to light, known as photophobia, is a common symptom of migraines but is usually absent in tension-type headaches. The pain of a migraine headache is moderate to severe in intensity, typically preventing a person from engaging in their daily routine.
These changes cause the blood vessels in the brain to enlarge, leading to the release of chemicals that can cause inflammation and further aggravate the pain. There are various triggers that can precipitate a migraine episode, including certain foods, hormonal changes, sensory stimuli, stress, and physical exertion. Migraine and tension-type headaches are two common types of primary headaches that can significantly affect daily life.