what's the difference between migrane and headache?
81181
Only answering for myself, as I understand that a number of pains are listed under both "headache" and "migraine": a headache is a painful tightening of muscles of the skull and neck that result in pain.  This pain is like other pains such as toothache, bruise, etc., but a migraine feels like you do when you fall hard on the back of your head, like you got smacked with a two-by-four board, only, it doesn't go away in minute but stays and gets worse.
467910
You could be stressed out (tension). Best to see your physician in case it is something else (migraine)
234725
I just learned this in class, so I'm going to give you a VERY complete answer :)\n\nThere are different types of headaches (believe it or not), and each type of headache is caused by different things.\n\nMigraines are caused by hormonal changes (ie: estrogen), stress, changes in sleep habits (this alters your serotonin levels), alcohol, narcotics, glaring/flickering lights, and certain foods like aged cheese, red wine, and MSG.\n\nTension headaches can be caused by muscle spasm on your neck, shoulders, and the back of your head.\n\nSinus headaches are caused by congestion around your sinuses.\n\nRebound headaches are caused by the withdrawal of caffeine.\n\nChronic daily headaches can be due to medication overuse, anxiety, or depression.\n\nCluster headaches are an EMERGENCY!  When your headache is only on one side, and the eye on that same side of your head also is droopy and tearing, and you feel really restless (ie: you find yourself pacing the floor), and you suddenly get the WORST headache of your life, then go to the emergency room IMMEDIATELY, and make sure your doctor sees you within 4 hours.\n\nMost headaches start when something changes your serotonin levels, and causes your blood vessels to narrow in your head.  At this point, there's no pain yet.  Later, your blood vessels will widen and become inflamed.  This is when you start feeling pain.\n\nThere are a number of things you can do to treat headaches and get rid of them:\n\n1) Keep you sleep habits the same everyday (it'll keep your serotonin levels constant)\n2) Avoid MSG, alcohol, aged cheese, red wine\n3) If you're a constant coffee/soda drinker, know that whenever you cut back on your usual amount of caffeine, you'll usually get a headache.\n4) Over-the-counter medications include Excedrine, Motrin (these two drugs decrease the inflammation and stop pain), and Imitrex (this drug decreases the effect of serotonin).\n5) If you go to your doctor, they can prescribe medications to decrease the ability of serotonin to cause inflammation (ie: triptans, tri-cyclic anti-depressants), drugs to make your blood vessels go back to its normal size (ie: beta blockers), calcium channel blockers, and topiramate.  Alot of these drugs also have other uses (ie: for the heart, anxiety, depression, seizures), but they're given at  different doses for different effects.
591316
well if taht headache is really Migren and bu those things that make u start to haveing the headache it is ...then i think its better if u go to the neurologist..they can help u a lot....and i cant give u any special advice cuz i dunno ur past medical history and if i tell u to use any drugs maybe that has any side effect for u then if u dont wanna do the best to go to a neurologist ..i can help u if u give me any past medical history of urself....just avoid of take those things ur headache starts after that like choclate...coke....\nP.S:dont use the drugs people told u that they are usefull....of ocurse some of them are useful but they didnt know u and ur PMH
235081
well its actually Barometric pressure that causes the headaches you are referring to, it could be anything from winds, to a storm, to just a sunny day, the atmospheric pressure also has a play in giving headaches as well
130836
Recent studies indicate that headaches are caused by the release of chemicals into the brain called neuropeptides. These neuropeptides cause dilation of blood vessels in the brain which press against and irritate the nerves. While it is true that the brain as a whole is mostly pain receptor free, there are pain sensitive areas like the intracranial meninges. It is irritation of these areas by mechanical or chemical means that is thought to cause headaches. \n\nMechanical means could include, intercranial bleeding, hemorrages, tumors, swelling, concussion, diseases involving the ears, sinuses or teeth.\n\nChemical means can include neuropeptides, withdrawl simptoms from chemical dependence, hangover, etc.
174263
This following site discusses pain management of headaches.  Scroll around and look at the various types of Headaches and management of each sort (there is a list on the right hand side of "Types of Pain")\n\nhttp://www.webmd.com/content/article/100/105624.htm\n\nTypes of Headaches (I removed a few to make my answer a little shorter... you can read the complete list via the link):\n\nhttp://www.migrainesurvival.com/causes.html\n\nMuscle Contraction/Tension \nMuscle contractions headaches are often stress related, but can also be due to poor posture, spinal arthritis, TMJ syndrome, or problems with the muscles or bones in the neck, back, or shoulders. \n    \nMigraine \nMigraine headaches are probably hereditary. For migraine sufferers, there is often a "trigger" that brings on the headache. These triggers vary form individual to individual, and can include alcohol, anxiety, bright lights or glare, change in caffeine intake, foods or food additives, hormonal changes, lack of sleep, odors or fumes, skipping meals, smoking, stress, travel, or weather changes. Migraine occurs in women three times as frequently as in men \n    \nOccasional Headache \nMillions of people supper from occasional headaches that are not repetitive or debilitating. They can usually be cured with over-the-counter medications.
1093103
i thank you for your question.. i have had migraines for a long time.. i always thought they were coming from to much head trauma.. but i will ask the doctor about this anyway..but they usually associate everything i say back to all the head trauma i have had by abusive husbands and one of my ex-sister-in-laws...i do not live in that situation at all now.. i never fought them i just  never really knew them well enough...but this is off the subject...but thankyou for your input...hope it works..i wander if they will know the name of the stuff here in missouri.....who knows  i kind of losing faith in doctors and well about anyone anymore...
177808
I take Excedrin Migraine. Migraine is gone in 20mins.
1155749
Traditional theories about headaches link tension type headaches to muscle contraction, and migraine and cluster headaches to blood vessel dilation (swelling). Pain-sensitive structures in the head include blood vessel walls, membranous coverings of the brain, and scalp and neck muscles. Brain tissue itself has no sensitivity to pain. Therefore, headaches may result from contraction of the muscles of the scalp, face or neck; dilation of the blood vessels in the head; or brain swelling that stretches the brain’s coverings. Involvement of specific nerves of the face and head may also cause characteristic headaches. Sinus inflammation is a common cause of headache. Keeping a headache diary may help link headaches to stressful occurrences, menstrual phases, food triggers, or medication. Tension-type headaches are often brought on by stress, overexertion, loud noise, and other external factors. The typical tension-type headache is described as a tightening around the head and neck, and an accompanying dull ache. Migraines are intense throbbing headaches occurring on one or both sides of the head. The pain is accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, and aversion to light, sound, and movement.\nMigraines are often triggered by food items, such as red wine, chocolate, and aged cheeses. For women, a hormonal connection is likely, since headaches occur at specific points in the menstrual cycle, with use of oral contraceptives, or the use of hormone replacement therapy after menopause. Cluster headaches cause excruciating pain. The severe, stabbing pain centers around one eye, and eye tearing and nasal congestion occur on the same side. The headache lasts from 15 minutes to four hours and may recur several times in a day. Heavy smokers are more likely to suffer cluster headaches, which are also associated with alcohol consumption.
566681
Headaches can have different causes, naming them is not the scope of this forum.  The role of a physician is to determine the cause of the headache.  If the headache's cause is an underlying disease (for example, high blood pressure, sinus infections, tumors, etc), then, that is what one treats.  If it is determined that is a migraine, then you treat it as a migraine.  Most of the time headaches have no organic cause and have no specific therapy other than pain medications.  Our role as MD's is to discover the cause of the headaches.  If there is none, then you treat the pain. It has nothing to do with being "stumped".  Your family member should be glad that the tests done are normal and she does not have an underlying dangerous illness.
884928
Migraines are a neurological disease. While you can see a general practitioner/primary care doctor for your migraines, it is really preferable to go to a neurologist...and, for that matter, one who specializes in migraines...\n\nFor the most part, when you get a migraine, it's triggered by...something. It can be a trigger food that is specific to migraines. It can be other types of triggers. It can, indeed, be allergies (food and other allergies). My allergies, for instance, can trigger skin problems, asthma problems, and migraine problems - separately and/or together.\n\nJust as each person is different, each migraine is, too, so your triggers are bound to be different from mine. But there are common triggers (possibilities) you might want to look out for... Not every one of these may have an effect on you. SOME of them may only affect you in combination. There are primary triggers (things that, all by themselves, will set you off), and then there are triggers that build up (things that combine with other things to trip you into a migraine state). Some things you can avoid...some you can't.\n\nWhile the following are common triggers, they are by no means all of the triggers that are around:\n\nAged cheese \nEggs\nTomatoes\nCitrus fruits\nWheat products\nAlcohol \nMSG \nChocolate \nCaffeine \nNitrites (hot dogs, bacon, lunch meat, etc.)\nSulfites\nAvocado \nFermented or pickled foods \nYeast, protein extracts, freshly baked yeast products\nOnions \nNuts, peanut butter\nDairy products, yogurt, sour cream\nAspartame \nMold/mildew\nBright lights/loud noises\nPerfumes and strong scents\nSkipping or delaying meals\nMissing sleep\nHormonal Changes (period/menopause)\nOral contraceptives/hormone replacement therapy \nWeather conditions, barometric changes, cold and/or dry weather\nHigh altitude\nTime or time zone changes/jet lag\n\nStress is not a trigger exactly, but in the same way that stress won't =cause= a cold, if you're stressed, it can often be a contributing factor.\n\nExercise (the kind that suits you - not going out and going nuts), stress management and relaxation, getting plenty of sleep (form good sleeping habits), avoid missing meals, and (this is a big one!) discontinue smoking - will all help. Basically all those thing people talk about as healthy measures...as taking care of YOU!\n\nKeep a migraine journal (to record what you've eaten or done that could be a trigger). Maybe do an elimination diet (same principle).\n\nIf you'd like to try vitamin supplements, they may well help as preventatives. Many migraineurs (folks who get migraines) take:\n\nMagnesium Oxide\nVitamin B2\nCoenzyme Q10\nCalcium + Vitamin D\n(when taking supplemental magnesium, it's necessary to take extra calcium to keep them balanced) \n\nWhile the migraine is raging, you'll need to try things to see what works for you. I see a lot of folks talk about cold cloths on their head or neck - I'll kill anyone that brings cold close to me, but it helps others. So cold OR WARMTH to the head of neck. A dark room. Soothing music or absolute silence. An urgent care clinic, if you get to the point you need pain medication, is better than an ER. You'll get seen faster, and you're more likely to be taken more seriously (I read a study in a recent National Headache Foundation newsletter about this, as so many of us are viewed as drug seekers, when all we're looking for is something to ease the pain...)\n\nAnd if you go to the ER/urgent care, instead of asking for a pain med, surprise them and ask if they can try an IV regimen that is now being used by many migraine specialists...it's a magnesium "cocktail" - that sounds odd, but =can= works. My migraine specialist (internationally recognized) recommends it.\n\nAbove all else, I wish you good luck with something that will let you get beyond the pain.\n\nTake care.
962213
The horrible pain you experience from a migraine is from the DILATING OF BLOOD VESSELS.  First they constrict at the onset of the headache, then they dilate and this is the intense pain you experience.  Migraine remedies like Imitrex, Maxalt, etc... are all VASOCONSTRICTORS.  They constrict the blood vessels; thus reducing the pain.
119529
Headaches are one of the most common medical complaints -- nearly everyone gets a headache at some point. Over 45-million Americans (about one in six) suffer chronic headaches each year. Headaches therefore have a big economic impact -- when you have a throbbing pain in your head, it's hard to work. The cost of these headaches in absenteeism and medical expenses is estimated as high as $50-billion per year. \nA headache is a pain sensed in the nerves and muscles of the head and neck, as well as the meninges (the membranous coverings of the brain and spinal cord). Your brain itself cannot sense pain, so a headache has nothing to do with your brain hurting. It is really a pain somewhere around your brain, being picked up by nerve endings located in your head. \n\nThere are two main reasons why people get headaches, and doctors therefore classify headaches into two broad categories: primary and secondary. \n\nPrimary headaches are not associated with any underlying medical condition. \nSecondary headaches are associated with medical conditions like infections, fever, head injury, hypoglycemia, tumors, dental conditions or increased pressure in the skull and/or sinuses (sinus headaches).
1128429
Make sure you are drinking lots of water. Many headaches are the result of our body being dehydrated. When we take pills to relieve them, we wash them down with water (ever wonder why they recommend so much water when you take a pill?). I usually take Excedrine Migraine and lots of water when I get them, but have found I don't get as many if I make sure I keep hydrated.
904648
Migraines and headaches are, of course, two very different things.  A headache can be caused by numerous things.  Migraine disease is a neurological condition with episodes being triggered by a number of causes.\n\nA lot of migraine sufferers, myself included, are often awakened by migraines.  You might want to keep a migraine diary to watch for what triggers you.  There are primary triggers (things that, all by themselves, will set you off), and then there are triggers that build up (things that combine with other things to trip you into a migraine state).  Some things you can avoid...some you can't.\n\nWhile the following are common triggers, they are by no means all of the triggers that are around:\n\nAged cheese \nEggs\nTomatoes\nCitrus fruits\nWheat products\nAlcohol \nMSG \nChocolate \nCaffeine \nNitrites (hot dogs, bacon, lunch meat, etc.)\nAvocado \nFermented or pickled foods \nYeast, protein extracts, freshly baked yeast products\nOnions \nNuts, peanut butter\nDairy products, yogurt, sour cream\nAspartame \nMold and mildew\nBright lights\nPerfumes and strong scents\nSkipping or delaying meals\nMissing sleep\nHormonal Changes (period/menopause)\nOral contraceptives \nHormone replacement therapy \nWeather conditions, barometric changes, cold and/or dry weather\nHigh altitude\nTime or time zone changes/jet lag\n\n\nStress is not a trigger, but in the same way that stress won't cause a cold, it can often be a contributing factor.\n\nYou should get in to see a doctor - preferably a neurologist who specializes in migraines.  Spendy?  Yes!  But these are the folks who have the answers and can truly help!  I have had migraines for over 40 years, and we are just beginning to really get a handle on the (several types of) migraines I deal with more than 2/3 of the month!
182123
Short of having a prescriptions pain killer for migraines, there is not a lot you can do.  Try sleeping in a dark, cool, and quite room.  Keep yourself comfortable.  Don't eat or drink anything.  Cool (not cold) water is okay, but you probably won't care for any.  Don't try to drive or leave the house.  Don't answer the phone.  Don't move at all if you don't have to as all of these things will make the migraine much worse.  My best advice is to get a prescription and take it at the onset of a migraine.  You will feel better in 1/2 hour and most or all of the symptoms will be gone in 1 hour.