Can A Headache Turn Into A Migraine

Symptoms Of Migraine Headache

When a Migraine Turns Into a Stroke

The symptoms of migraine progress through 4 stages, however, all 4 stages may not be present in everyone with migraine.

• Prodrome. Several hours before a migraine, warning signs such as neck pain or stiffness, mood changes, depression, food cravings, increased thirst/urination, and/or frequent yawning may develop.
• Aura. Flashes of light, bright shapes, bright spots, vision loss, tingling in the upper and/or lower limbs, difficulty speaking, jerking movements, and/or hearing noises may be experienced in the aura phase. Minutes to hours after this phase, the migraine attack starts.
• Migraine attack. Severe throbbing pain on one or both sides of the head, sensitivity to light and sound, nausea/vomiting, lightheadedness, and neck pain occur in this phase. Some evidence suggests that neck pain may be a symptom of migraine rather than a trigger, but more research is needed.3
• Post-drome. A feeling of confusion, weakness, and exhaustion may continue for up to a day after the migraine attack.

A migraine headache typically lasts for 4 hours and can continue up to 72 hours if not treated. 4

Identify And Treat Early

Headaches can range from being a mild inconvenience to being severe and debilitating. Identifying and treating headaches as early as possible can help a person engage in preventive treatments to minimize the chance of another headache. Distinguishing migraine from other types of headaches can be tricky. Pay particular attention to the time before the headache starts for signs of an aura and tell your doctor.

What Is Sinus Headache

A true sinus headache, called rhinosinusitis, is rare. The cause is a viral or bacterial sinus infection characterized by thick, discolored nasal discharge. Youll get symptoms like possibly weaker smell or no smell, facial pain or pressure and commonly, fever. Facial pain and headache should resolve within seven days after viral symptoms improve or after successful treatment with antibiotics . If pain continues, then your diagnosis should be reconsidered.

Read Also: Aspartame Withdrawal And Side Effects Explained

What Is The Prognosis For People With Migraines

Migraines are unique to each individual. Likewise, how migraines are managed is also unique. The best outcomes are usually achieved by learning and avoiding personal migraine triggers, managing symptoms, practicing preventive methods, following the advice of your healthcare provider and reporting any significant changes as soon as they occur.

What Is A Migraine Attack

Migraine is a common primary headache disorder . In essence they are the result of a neurological malfunction that is thought to originate in the brain stem. Medical scientists and researchers still arent exactly sure what causes a migraine attack.

Leading theories relate to hyperexcitability within certain areas of the brain or a disorder from the brain stem which triggers the migraine;attack.

The brain stem is a small but extremely important part of the brain. It allows the nerve connections of the motor and sensory system to pass from the brain to the body. This controls bodily sensations and movement.

At the start of an attack, chemical changes are thought to develop in the brainstem which triggers a series of reactions causing the brain to respond abnormally to otherwise normal signals. The result from this hypersensitive response could be migraine.

Interestingly, at least 50% of people who experience migraine still have not been diagnosed.

Recommended Reading: Elavil For Migraines

How Do You Know If You Have Sinus Headache Or Migraine

Listing all the symptoms separately can be confusing and is perhaps why so many sinus headache sufferers have not been correctly diagnosed.

Instead, below are the key symptoms side by side, Sinus Headache vs Migraine, in an easy to follow checklist so you can quickly find out the truth.

If youre not experiencing fever, swollen lymph nodes, and a persistent green or yellow nasal discharge and you have a headache in the sinus area,;then you likely have migraine.; It is difficult for doctors of patients with migraine and sinus symptoms to acknowledge that a CT scan of their sinuses looks normal and does not show the inflammation, fluid or swelling they would expect after years of rhinosinusitis. Patients and their doctors often fall into the trap of believing that they are nipping sinus infections in the bud with frequent antibiotics and that is why they never get infected drainage.

Take a moment to digest. Most people from the study who were told this rejected the finding at first. They had been told by on average by 4 doctors that it was their sinus. They had also been wrongly diagnosed for an average of 25 years

Can Cervicogenic Headaches Turn Into Migraine Mine Start In Neck/sholdr Then Excruciating Back Head W Vomit Light Sensitivity Lasts 12 Hours Plus

Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers â it’s anonymous and free!

Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers â it’s anonymous and free!

HealthTap doctors are based in the U.S., board certified, and available by text or video.

Related questions

90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:

Found in:

People also asked

Read Also: Is Migraine A Symptom Of Menopause

Can Using Birth Control Pills Make My Migraines Worse

In some women,;;pills improve migraine. The pills may help reduce the number of attacks and their attacks may become less severe. But in other women, the pills may worsen their migraines. In still other women, taking birth control pills has no effect on their migraines.

The reason for these different responses is not well understood. ;For women whose migraines get worse when they take birth control pills, their attacks seem to occur during the last week of the cycle. This is because the last seven pills in most monthly pill packs don’t have hormones; they are there to keep you in the habit of taking your birth control daily. Without the hormones, your body’s estrogen levels drop sharply. This may trigger migraine in some women.

Talk with your doctor if you think birth control pills are making your migraines worse. Switching to a pill pack in which all the pills for the entire month contain hormones and using that for three months in a row can improve headaches. Lifestyle changes, such as getting on a regular sleep pattern and eating healthy foods, can help too.

When Its Actually A Migraine

Is it a Headache or a Migraine?

If you have a migraine, you may experience:

• An aura, or light haze, in the minutes before migraine pain appears
• Blurry vision
• Pain on one side of your head
• Light, touch, smell or sound sensitivity
• Nausea

Occasional migraines can be brought on by:

• Hormone fluctuations
• Lack of food or hydration
• Changes in the weather

In the case of a one-time migraine, your doctor may recommend over-the-counter medicines such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for pain relief.

Also Check: What Piercing Is For Migraines

Sinus Headache Vs Migraine

Pain with a runny or stuffy nose is the typical symptom of a sinus headache. But did you know that a migraine can also cause these symptoms? The difference is in the color of your mucus:

• If your mucus is clear and runny, it could be a migraine.
• Sinus headaches can be a sign of a sinus infection that causes your mucus to thicken and sometimes turn a yellowish color.

Your Mood Has Changed

If your mood shifts after your headache, there’s a good chance it was a migraine.

Following the attack stage of a migraine is the postdrome phase, also known as a migraine hangover. It can last hours or a day or two, and can cause changes in mood.

During this phase, you may feel depressed, irritable, or have trouble focusing.

Recommended Reading: How To Prevent Heat Induced Migraines

Are Sinus Headache And Migraine Easily Confused

Yes, they are according to the research. The pattern of migraine pain is different for individual patients. While the most easily recognized migraine headaches are localized to one side of the head, many patients feel pain or pressure on both sides, or in the neck or sinuses. This is because all of these areas are innervated by branches of the nerve that are most involved in migraine. For patients with sinus symptoms the most frequent patterns of pain and pressure are across the forehead and behind the eyes, but any sinus area or combination is possible.

A study called SAMS recruited the first 100 people to respond to their local ad.; The ad asked those to come forward who believed they had sinus headache. Each participant was carefully examined in a 90-minute evaluation and imaging tests were conducted.

The findings showed that most of them had been wrongly diagnosed and in fact had a diagnosis of migraine.

What Symptoms Must You Have To Be Diagnosed With A Migraine

Migraine with aura . This is a headache, plus:

• Visual symptoms or vision loss.
• Sensory symptoms .

Migraine without aura . A common migraine is a headache and:

• The attacks included pain on one side of your head.
• Youve had at least five attacks, each lasting between four and 72 hours.

Plus, youve experienced at least one of the following:

• Nausea and/or vomiting.
• Lights bother you and/or you avoid light.
• Sounds bother you and/or you avoid sounds.

Also Check: How To Get Rid Of Menstrual Migraine

Migraine Attacks That Group Together

Yes, migraine attacks can group together in time. In fact, research is increasingly showing that migraine frequency tends to be cyclical for many patients. Someone can go six months without a migraine attack, then have five in one month, then have a break before another spate of attacks. This is different from cluster headache. It doesnt mean a person has cluster migrainethey simply have migraine attacks that tend to group together in time.

Who Gets Migraines What Are The Risk Factors

Its difficult to predict who may get a migraine and who may not, but there are risk factors that may make you more vulnerable. These risk factors include:

• Genetics: Up to 80% of people who get migraine headaches have a first-degree relative with the disease.
• Gender. Migraine headaches happen to women more than men, especially women between the ages of 15 and 55. Its likely more common in women because of the influence of hormones.
• Stress level. You may get migraines more often if youre high-stress. Stress can trigger a migraine.
• Smoking.

Recommended Reading: Does Change In Barometric Pressure Cause Migraines

How Do I Know If My Headache Is Migraine Or Sinus Headache

So, how do you know if your headache is migraine and not sinus? Go beyond the nasal and sinus congestion and the facial pain and pressure; look for a headache associated with the inability to function normally at work, school, home or social functions, nausea, sensitivity to light and triggers such as weather change, menstrual cycle, and stress . Significantly, it is commonly thought that weather change often causes sinus headache when weather change is a common trigger for migraine.

You can also ask yourself the following questions from the ID Migraine Questionnaire developed by Dr. Richard Lipton of Albert Einstein College of Medicine:

• In the past three months, how disabling are your headaches? Do they interfere with your ability to function?
• Do you ever feel nausea when you have a headache?
• Do you become sensitive to light while you have a headache?

If you answer yes to two of the above three criteria, migraine is likely 93% of the time. If you answer yes to all three, a migraine diagnosis is 98% likely.

The American Migraine Foundation is committed to improving the lives of those living with this debilitating disease. For more of the latest news and information on migraine, visit the AMF Resource Library. For help finding a healthcare provider, check out our Find a Doctor tool. Together, we are as relentless as migraine.

Font Size

Do You Have A Migraine Or A Cervicogenic Headache

$12 Night of Fun Turns Into a $300 Headache After Race Fans’ Cars Towed At Bowman Gray Stadium

A;cervicogenic headache can often resemble a true migraine, causing confusion for patients suffering from this painful condition.

Cervicogenic headache is a form of referred pain resulting from a problem in the cervical spine . But because migraines often involve some degree of neck pain as well,;conditions are sometimes;misdiagnosed.

Also Check: Why Do I Get Migraines On My Period

What Should I Do When A Migraine Begins

Work with your doctor to come up with a plan for managing your migraines. Keeping a list of home treatment methods that have worked for you in the past also can help. When symptoms begin:

• If you take migraine medicine, take it right away.
• Drink fluids, if you don’t have nausea during your migraine.
• Lie down and rest in a dark, quiet room, if that is practical.

Some people find the following useful:

• A cold cloth on your head
• Rubbing or applying pressure to the spot where you feel pain
• Massage or other relaxation exercises

What Are Sinus Headaches

Real sinus headaches are almost always from a sinus infection. Sinus infections are common with 10% to 30% of the population experiencing at least one sinus infection each year.

Sinus infections are also known as sinusitis or rhinosinusitis. This occurs when the sinus becomes inflamed. Common symptoms include thick nasal mucous, blocked nose and facial pain. Sinus infections may be caused by an infection, allergy or air pollution. Most cases are due to viral infection. Infections are often transmitted through coughing, sneezing, kissing, contact with contaminated surfaces, food or water or contact with infected animals or pets.

To understand how sinus headaches are confused with migraine its important to know what migraine is.

Also Check: Is It Normal To Have Migraines While Pregnant

What Are Some Migraine Risk Factors And Triggers

Some things make you more likely to get migraine headaches . Other things may bring on a migraine .

Common migraine risk factors include the following:

• Family history: You are much more likely to have migraines if one or both of your parents had migraines.
• Sex: Women are more likely than men to have migraines.
• Age: Most people have their first migraine during adolescence, but migraines can start at any age, usually before age 40.

Common migraine triggers include the following:

• Food and drink: Certain food and drink may cause migraines. Dehydration and dieting or skipping meals may also trigger migraines.
• Hormone changes: Women may experience migraines related to their menstrual cycles, to menopause, or to using hormonal birth control or hormone replacement therapy.
• Stress: Stress may trigger migraines. Stress includes feeling overwhelmed at home or work, but your body can also be stressed if you exercise too much or dont get enough sleep.
• Senses: Loud sounds, bright lights , or strong smells may trigger migraines.
• Medicines: Certain medicines may trigger migraines. If you think your migraines might be related to your medicine, talk to your doctor. Your doctor may be able to prescribe a different medicine.
• Illness: Infections, such as the cold or the flu, may trigger migraines, especially in children.

Foods that may trigger migraines:

• aged, canned, cured, or processed meat
• aged cheese
• soy sauce

What Is Migraine Exactly

A billion people worldwide suffer from migraine, a neurological disease that has no cure and defies treatment. People dont get migraines, they have migraine: a genetic condition that makes the brain hypersensitive to various stimuli, which can in turn trigger an attack. Common triggers are stress, a lack of sleep, hormones, and a drop in barometric pressure. People can also be triggered by red wine, chocolate, and too much caffeine.

Migraine is characterized by recurrent attacks, which can last for days. An attack can cause various symptoms, including nausea, visual disturbances, mood changes, and fatigue. It often involves a throbbing headache, typically on one side of the head. Some episodes are manageable with rest and over-the-counter medications, while others are so severe they send people to the emergency room.

Migraine is categorized by the frequency of attacks: episodic migraine , or chronic migraine . A person can fluctuate between these categories throughout their life.

Recommended Reading: How To Treat Ocular Migraine

What Are The Symptoms Of A Migraine

Individual migraines are moderate to severe in intensity, often characterized by a throbbing or pounding feeling. Although they are frequently one-sided, they may occur anywhere on the head, neck and face or all over. At their worst, they are typically associated with sensitivity to light, noise and/or smells. Nausea is one of the most common symptoms and it worsens with activity, which often results in patient disability. In many respects, migraines are much like alcohol-related hangovers.

Migraine pain can be felt in the face, where it may be mistaken for sinus headache or in the neck, where it may be mistaken for arthritis or muscle spasm. Complicating the diagnosis of migraine is that the headaches may be accompanied by other “sinus like” symptoms, including watering eyes, nasal congestion and a sense of facial pressure. Most patients who think they have sinus headache in fact have migraines.

In up to 25 percent of patients, the migraine headache pain may be preceded by an aura, a temporary neurological syndrome that slowly progresses and then typically resolves just as the pain begins. While the most common type of migraine aura involves visual disturbances , many people experience numbness, confusion, trouble speaking, vertigo and other strokelike neurological symptoms. Some patients may experience auras without headaches.

source https://www.knowyourmigraine.net/can-a-headache-turn-into-a-migraine/