Headaches are a common source of pain for many Americans. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), it’s the most common medical problem in the United States. It’s also very common globally, ranking as the third most common medical problem worldwide.
With locations in Clarksburg and Frederick, Maryland, Primary Care Associates offers advanced treatment options for headaches, including migraine treatment. Those options often include a combination of lifestyle changes and medical treatment featuring medications and other techniques.
A critical first step in treating a headache is understanding what type you’re experiencing. Here’s how to tell the difference between migraines and other kinds.
Many people think a migraine headache is “just” a severe type. But migraines differ from other headaches in some key ways, including the symptoms they can cause.
First, head pain associated with migraines tends to be more intense. Some people experience throbbing or stabbing pain on one side of their head or around their eyes. Head pain also worsens with physical activity or in bright or loud environments.
While head pain is one symptom, there are many other migraine symptoms, too. Many people who have migraines also experience nausea or hypersensitivity to lights, sounds, and odors. Some people experience visual disturbances, like tunnel vision, blurry vision, blind spots, or flashes of light, a collection of symptoms known as a visual aura. Some people have visual migraines — migraines that cause visual changes without intense head pain.
Migraines also tend to last longer than other headaches. Some migraines can last for several hours, while others can last for days. And finally, migraines occur in four distinct phases: Prodrome, aura, headache, and postdrome.
The prodrome happens a day or two before the migraine and features “signals” that a migraine is on its way. These signals can include symptoms of increased thirst, sleep changes, food cravings, neck stiffness, or mood changes.
The aura phase may include the visual disturbances already described, along with other unusual symptoms, like a ringing in your ears or dizziness.
Postdrome has been referred to as a “migraine hangover.” Generally, it’s the time that elapses between the end of the headache and when you feel “back to normal.” The postdrome is associated with fatigue, irritability, and problems with focusing. It can last a few hours to a day or two.
You can have a migraine without experiencing all the phases. Many people have migraines without ever experiencing the aura phase.
Migraine treatment has changed significantly over the past decade, thanks to a better understanding of how migraines occur. At Primary Care Associates, our team offers an array of medical treatment options, allowing us to tailor therapy to the individual patient and even the individual migraine episode.
Some treatments focus on preventing migraines or reducing their frequency or severity, while others relieve symptoms of a migraine as it’s occurring. The key to achieving the best results is to seek treatment at the first sign of a migraine and to consult with your provider in between migraine episodes, as well, as to develop a comprehensive treatment approach.
If you suffer from migraine headaches or other types of headache problems, like tension headaches, we can help. To learn how, book an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Primary Care Associates today.
