How to Know Just Headache or Migraine

Headaches have a variety of causes. It does not have any single cause. Just as there are over 200 types of headache, there are many causes of the problem. So, how can we know that it is just Headache or Migraine?

If you have severe, throbbing pain, usually on one side of the head, and if it is often accompanied by nausea or hypersensitivity to light and noise, you may be having a migraine.  Migraines tend to last anywhere from 4 hours to 3 days.

But, you don't have to have a migraine to have a bad headache. There is another type of headache called tension headaches, which feel like pressure is being applied to your head, especially around the back of the head and over the forehead. Cluster headaches are almost always on one side and are localized behind the eye, radiating to the forehead, temple, nose, cheek or upper gum, and can cause your eye to tear and your nose to drip.

If you have recurring headaches, whatever the kind, consult with your doctor as to how to treat them.

Women are about three times more likely to suffer from these headaches than men. A woman's migraine often relates with the sudden drop in estrogen levels that happens just before the period. There are many theories explain the cause of migraine, unfortunately, the exact cause of migraine is unknown.  Migraineurs often attribute their attack to dietary triggers such as coffee, cheese, chocolate, citrus fruits, and red wine. They may be reacting to chemicals in these foods (such as tyramine and phenylethylamine in chocolate, octopamine in citrus fruits, and 5-hydroxytryptamine in tomatoes, bananas and pineapples).

Quick and easy suggestion when you have attacked are lying down in a dark room, drinking plenty of watery fluids, and keeping warm with blankets and hot water bottles. Anti-migraine drugs, self-hypnosis, and acupuncture are helpful.

Below are short lists of integrative medicines and alternative treatment for headache and migraine.

• acupuncture or acupressure
• biofeedback
• chiropractic
• aromatherapy, essential oils such as lavender, ginger, peppermint, and wintergreen that can provide relief by simply smelling them or applying them to the temples or neck
• homeopathic remedies chosen specifically for the individual and his or her type of headache
• hydrotherapy
• massage to reduce stress and tension and relieve tight muscles in the neck and shoulders
• relaxation techniques, such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, and relaxation to music
• yoga

If the headaches are persistent or severe, you should seek medical advice, especially if a child has a sudden headache and it accompanied by a rash, vomiting, high temperature, or a stiff neck.  Well, I have migraine, but hope you don’t.