Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPreventionFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions
There are manydifferent types of headaches, each with its own sensations such as a sharp, pulsing, or throbbing pain. Two of the most common types of headaches aretension headachesandmigraines.
In this article, we’ll discuss the similarities and differences between tension headaches and migraines in symptoms, causes, and treatments.
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There can also be some overlap between the symptoms of a migraine and a tension headache; for example, while most people who get migraines experience one-sided head pain, there are people who get pain that is on both sides of their head (which is more common in tension headaches).
MigraineIntense or severe pain that is worse on one side or occurs only on one sidePressure and pain behind the eyesPain in the templesNausea and vomitingPain that worsens with physical activitySensitivity to light, sounds, or smellsDizzinessTension HeadacheModerate pain that occurs on both sides of the headTight pressure in the headA feeling like your head is being squeezedSoreness in the templesPain in the neck or shouldersTightness in the neck or shoulders
MigraineIntense or severe pain that is worse on one side or occurs only on one sidePressure and pain behind the eyesPain in the templesNausea and vomitingPain that worsens with physical activitySensitivity to light, sounds, or smellsDizziness
Intense or severe pain that is worse on one side or occurs only on one side
Pressure and pain behind the eyes
Pain in the temples
Nausea and vomiting
Pain that worsens with physical activity
Sensitivity to light, sounds, or smells
Dizziness
Tension HeadacheModerate pain that occurs on both sides of the headTight pressure in the headA feeling like your head is being squeezedSoreness in the templesPain in the neck or shouldersTightness in the neck or shoulders
Moderate pain that occurs on both sides of the head
Tight pressure in the head
A feeling like your head is being squeezed
Soreness in the temples
Pain in the neck or shoulders
Tightness in the neck or shoulders
Migraines can occur after aprodrome, which are symptoms that begin a few hours before the headache comes on. Prodrome symptoms can include:
Some people also experiencemigraine auras, which can happen prior to or during a migraine. Symptoms of migraine auras can include:
Just over 30% of people who suffer from migraines also experience migraine auras.People who get tension headaches do not experience auras or prodromes.
RecapTension headaches and migraines present with some similar symptoms, but the severity and type of pain felt are different. Migraines also present with other symptoms, such as nausea and sensitivity to light and sound, and may or may not come with a prodrome or aura.
Recap
Tension headaches and migraines present with some similar symptoms, but the severity and type of pain felt are different. Migraines also present with other symptoms, such as nausea and sensitivity to light and sound, and may or may not come with a prodrome or aura.
Researchers believe that migraines may have a genetic component.A migraine starts in the nerves in the brain, which then send signals to nerves like thetrigeminal nerve, a part of the nervous system responsible for sending pain, touch, and temperature sensations from your face to your brain, and it begins to affect the blood vessels.
Although the direct cause of both types of headaches isn’t clear, they have some common triggers, such as:
How Weather May Trigger Headaches
Hormones
Female hormones play a significant role in the development of headaches, which is why women tend to experience head pain more often than men. Research has shown that children of both sexes have similar rates of headaches. However, when female children hit puberty, they begin to experience headaches significantly more than male children.
It is thought that fluctuations inestrogenset off a series of chemical reactions in the brain that trigger headaches, specifically migraine attacks. Researchers do not know the exact reason why this happens.
If you are experiencingchronic tension headachesor migraines, you should see aneurologistto find out the cause.
Migraine
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and take a detailed health history. Signs that could prompt your neurologist to order brain scans include seizures, loss of consciousness, or cognitive issues, such as poor memory or coordination.
Typical brain scans include aCT scan, which uses X-rays to see inside the brain in better detail, or anMRI, which uses magnetic forces to formulate a more in-depth picture of the inside of the brain.
How to Treat Your Nagging Tension Headaches
Tension Headache
Tension headache diagnosis involves the same clinical process, but they are often diagnosed based on the absence of symptoms that occur with other types of headaches.
Your doctor will take note of your symptoms and pain levels. If they have reason to believe something else is at play, they will order an MRI or CT scan to investigate further.
RecapThe diagnostic process for both migraines and tension headaches is similar. Your doctor will typically perform physical exams and take a detailed history. If a doctor suspects there could be a chance that an underlying health condition is causing your headaches, they may order brain scans.
The diagnostic process for both migraines and tension headaches is similar. Your doctor will typically perform physical exams and take a detailed history. If a doctor suspects there could be a chance that an underlying health condition is causing your headaches, they may order brain scans.
Getting a proper diagnosis for a tension headache or migraine is crucial because treatments vary between the two.
Tension Headaches
The first-line treatment for tension headaches is over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) andnonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs) like Aleve (naproxen). People with chronic or recurrent tension headaches may be prescribed amitriptyline, an antidepressant.
Tension Headaches: Triggers and Treatment
Migraines
There are two main types ofmedicationsused to treat migraines:
Other treatments for migraines include:
RecapTreatment for tension headaches and migraines is similar, and involves the use of pain relievers. Other forms of therapy can be done to either further alleviate pain or replace pain relievers.
Treatment for tension headaches and migraines is similar, and involves the use of pain relievers. Other forms of therapy can be done to either further alleviate pain or replace pain relievers.
If you are not sure what your triggers are, you can monitor them using a diary or journal. You can keep track of environmental changes, the foods you eat, and life experiences that come before the tension headache or migraine starts.
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. You can make sure you have the medication you need on hand, and begin treatment when symptoms start.
How to Prevent Migraines
Summary
While tension headaches are more moderate, migraines can be so severe that they hinder your ability to participate in daily activities. Migraines and tension headaches are treated using pain relievers, but other forms of treatment can also be used. The one thing everyone with tension headaches and migraines should do is keep track of triggers so that they can avoid or eliminate them when possible. That will go a long way toward managing and preventing your headaches.
A Word From Verywell
Dealing with chronic head pain from either a tension headache or a migraine can be difficult. The good news is that there are things you can do to manage and cope with tension headaches and migraines.
Medical treatment and lifestyle changes can help you reduce the frequency, duration, and severity of tension headaches and migraines. The most important thing to remember is that you have some control of your headaches. You can keep track of your triggers and take your pain medications at the first sign of symptoms.
A tension migraine is a type of headache that has characteristics of both a tension headache and a migraine. These types of headaches will have symptoms of both conditions, such as pain on one or both sides of the head that worsens with activity, nausea and/or vomiting, light and sound sensitivity, neck pain, fatigue, and depression.
Migraines typically begin as a dull ache. As they progress, the pain begins to turn into a pulsing or throbbing pain that continues to get worse over time. If left untreated, the pain will become so severe that it will interrupt your daily activities. Although the pain is sometimes restricted to only one side of the head, it can be felt in the whole head. Some other signs of a migraine that don’t typically occur in other types of headaches include nausea and vomiting, feeling dizzy, blurred vision, and severe sensitivity to light, noise, or smells. Many people with migraines also experience an aura before the pain starts, and it might continue while they are having a migraine.
Both migraines and tension-type headaches have the same triggers. They can include not eating, not getting enough sleep, drinking alcohol, high levels of stress, and female sex hormone fluctuations.
The medication of choice for headaches is either Tylenol or NSAIDs such as Advil or Motrin. Prior to taking any new medication, you should speak to your doctor to make sure it is safe for you. Home remedy options that can help relieve the pain of a migraine or a tension headache fast include ice packs, lavender essential oil, and sleeping it off.
16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ahmed F.Headache disorders: differentiating and managing the common subtypes.Br J Pain.2012 Aug;6(3):124-132. doi:10.1177/2049463712459691Burstein R, Noseda R, Borsook D.Migraine: multiple processes, complex pathophysiology.J Neurosci.2015 Apr 29;35(17):6619-6629. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0373-15.2015Wang J, Zhang B, Shen C, et al.Headache symptoms from migraine patients with and without aura through structure-validated self-reports.BMC Neurol.2017 Oct 12;17(1):193. doi:10.1186/s12883-017-0973-4Viana M, Tronvik EA, Do TP, et al.Clinical features of visual migraine aura: a systematic review.J Headache Pain.2019 May 30;20(1):64. doi:10.1186/s10194-019-1008-xHansen JM, Charles A.Differences in treatment response between migraine with aura and migraine without aura: lessons from clinical practice and RCTs.J Headache Pain.2019 Sep 6;20(1):96. doi:10.1186/s10194-019-1046-4May A.Hints on Diagnosing and Treating Headache.Dtsch Arztebl Int.2018 Apr 27;115(17):299-308. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0299U.S. National Library of Medicine.Migraine. Updated August 31, 2021.Marmura MJ.Triggers, Protectors, and Predictors in Episodic Migraine.Curr Pain Headache Rep.2018 Oct 5;22(12):81. doi:10.1007/s11916-018-0734-0Chowdhury D.Tension type headache.Ann Indian Acad Neurol.2012 Aug;15(Suppl 1):S83-8. doi:10.4103/0972-2327.100023Al-Hassany L, Haas J, Piccininni M, et al.Giving Researchers a Headache - Sex and Gender Differences in Migraine.Front Neurol.2020 Oct 22;11:549038. doi:10.3389/fneur.2020.549038Weatherall MW.The diagnosis and treatment of chronic migraine.Ther Adv Chronic Dis.2015 May;6(3):115-123. doi:10.1177/2040622315579627Cleveland Clinic.Migraine headaches.Ha H, Gonzalez A.Migraine Headache Prophylaxis.Am Fam Physician.2019 Jan 1;99(1):17-24.Informed Health.Migraine: Overview.Sasannejad P, Saeedi M, Shoeibi A, et al.Lavender essential oil in the treatment of migraine headache: a placebo-controlled clinical trial.Eur Neurol.2012;67(5):288-291. doi:10.1159/000335249Bigal ME, Hargreaves RJ.Why does sleep stop migraine?.Curr Pain Headache Rep.2013 Oct;17(10):369. doi:10.1007/s11916-013-0369-0.
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ahmed F.Headache disorders: differentiating and managing the common subtypes.Br J Pain.2012 Aug;6(3):124-132. doi:10.1177/2049463712459691Burstein R, Noseda R, Borsook D.Migraine: multiple processes, complex pathophysiology.J Neurosci.2015 Apr 29;35(17):6619-6629. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0373-15.2015Wang J, Zhang B, Shen C, et al.Headache symptoms from migraine patients with and without aura through structure-validated self-reports.BMC Neurol.2017 Oct 12;17(1):193. doi:10.1186/s12883-017-0973-4Viana M, Tronvik EA, Do TP, et al.Clinical features of visual migraine aura: a systematic review.J Headache Pain.2019 May 30;20(1):64. doi:10.1186/s10194-019-1008-xHansen JM, Charles A.Differences in treatment response between migraine with aura and migraine without aura: lessons from clinical practice and RCTs.J Headache Pain.2019 Sep 6;20(1):96. doi:10.1186/s10194-019-1046-4May A.Hints on Diagnosing and Treating Headache.Dtsch Arztebl Int.2018 Apr 27;115(17):299-308. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0299U.S. National Library of Medicine.Migraine. Updated August 31, 2021.Marmura MJ.Triggers, Protectors, and Predictors in Episodic Migraine.Curr Pain Headache Rep.2018 Oct 5;22(12):81. doi:10.1007/s11916-018-0734-0Chowdhury D.Tension type headache.Ann Indian Acad Neurol.2012 Aug;15(Suppl 1):S83-8. doi:10.4103/0972-2327.100023Al-Hassany L, Haas J, Piccininni M, et al.Giving Researchers a Headache - Sex and Gender Differences in Migraine.Front Neurol.2020 Oct 22;11:549038. doi:10.3389/fneur.2020.549038Weatherall MW.The diagnosis and treatment of chronic migraine.Ther Adv Chronic Dis.2015 May;6(3):115-123. doi:10.1177/2040622315579627Cleveland Clinic.Migraine headaches.Ha H, Gonzalez A.Migraine Headache Prophylaxis.Am Fam Physician.2019 Jan 1;99(1):17-24.Informed Health.Migraine: Overview.Sasannejad P, Saeedi M, Shoeibi A, et al.Lavender essential oil in the treatment of migraine headache: a placebo-controlled clinical trial.Eur Neurol.2012;67(5):288-291. doi:10.1159/000335249Bigal ME, Hargreaves RJ.Why does sleep stop migraine?.Curr Pain Headache Rep.2013 Oct;17(10):369. doi:10.1007/s11916-013-0369-0.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Ahmed F.Headache disorders: differentiating and managing the common subtypes.Br J Pain.2012 Aug;6(3):124-132. doi:10.1177/2049463712459691Burstein R, Noseda R, Borsook D.Migraine: multiple processes, complex pathophysiology.J Neurosci.2015 Apr 29;35(17):6619-6629. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0373-15.2015Wang J, Zhang B, Shen C, et al.Headache symptoms from migraine patients with and without aura through structure-validated self-reports.BMC Neurol.2017 Oct 12;17(1):193. doi:10.1186/s12883-017-0973-4Viana M, Tronvik EA, Do TP, et al.Clinical features of visual migraine aura: a systematic review.J Headache Pain.2019 May 30;20(1):64. doi:10.1186/s10194-019-1008-xHansen JM, Charles A.Differences in treatment response between migraine with aura and migraine without aura: lessons from clinical practice and RCTs.J Headache Pain.2019 Sep 6;20(1):96. doi:10.1186/s10194-019-1046-4May A.Hints on Diagnosing and Treating Headache.Dtsch Arztebl Int.2018 Apr 27;115(17):299-308. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0299U.S. National Library of Medicine.Migraine. Updated August 31, 2021.Marmura MJ.Triggers, Protectors, and Predictors in Episodic Migraine.Curr Pain Headache Rep.2018 Oct 5;22(12):81. doi:10.1007/s11916-018-0734-0Chowdhury D.Tension type headache.Ann Indian Acad Neurol.2012 Aug;15(Suppl 1):S83-8. doi:10.4103/0972-2327.100023Al-Hassany L, Haas J, Piccininni M, et al.Giving Researchers a Headache - Sex and Gender Differences in Migraine.Front Neurol.2020 Oct 22;11:549038. doi:10.3389/fneur.2020.549038Weatherall MW.The diagnosis and treatment of chronic migraine.Ther Adv Chronic Dis.2015 May;6(3):115-123. doi:10.1177/2040622315579627Cleveland Clinic.Migraine headaches.Ha H, Gonzalez A.Migraine Headache Prophylaxis.Am Fam Physician.2019 Jan 1;99(1):17-24.Informed Health.Migraine: Overview.Sasannejad P, Saeedi M, Shoeibi A, et al.Lavender essential oil in the treatment of migraine headache: a placebo-controlled clinical trial.Eur Neurol.2012;67(5):288-291. doi:10.1159/000335249Bigal ME, Hargreaves RJ.Why does sleep stop migraine?.Curr Pain Headache Rep.2013 Oct;17(10):369. doi:10.1007/s11916-013-0369-0.
Ahmed F.Headache disorders: differentiating and managing the common subtypes.Br J Pain.2012 Aug;6(3):124-132. doi:10.1177/2049463712459691
Burstein R, Noseda R, Borsook D.Migraine: multiple processes, complex pathophysiology.J Neurosci.2015 Apr 29;35(17):6619-6629. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0373-15.2015
Wang J, Zhang B, Shen C, et al.Headache symptoms from migraine patients with and without aura through structure-validated self-reports.BMC Neurol.2017 Oct 12;17(1):193. doi:10.1186/s12883-017-0973-4
Viana M, Tronvik EA, Do TP, et al.Clinical features of visual migraine aura: a systematic review.J Headache Pain.2019 May 30;20(1):64. doi:10.1186/s10194-019-1008-x
Hansen JM, Charles A.Differences in treatment response between migraine with aura and migraine without aura: lessons from clinical practice and RCTs.J Headache Pain.2019 Sep 6;20(1):96. doi:10.1186/s10194-019-1046-4
May A.Hints on Diagnosing and Treating Headache.Dtsch Arztebl Int.2018 Apr 27;115(17):299-308. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0299
U.S. National Library of Medicine.Migraine. Updated August 31, 2021.
Marmura MJ.Triggers, Protectors, and Predictors in Episodic Migraine.Curr Pain Headache Rep.2018 Oct 5;22(12):81. doi:10.1007/s11916-018-0734-0
Chowdhury D.Tension type headache.Ann Indian Acad Neurol.2012 Aug;15(Suppl 1):S83-8. doi:10.4103/0972-2327.100023
Al-Hassany L, Haas J, Piccininni M, et al.Giving Researchers a Headache - Sex and Gender Differences in Migraine.Front Neurol.2020 Oct 22;11:549038. doi:10.3389/fneur.2020.549038
Weatherall MW.The diagnosis and treatment of chronic migraine.Ther Adv Chronic Dis.2015 May;6(3):115-123. doi:10.1177/2040622315579627
Cleveland Clinic.Migraine headaches.
Ha H, Gonzalez A.Migraine Headache Prophylaxis.Am Fam Physician.2019 Jan 1;99(1):17-24.
Informed Health.Migraine: Overview.
Sasannejad P, Saeedi M, Shoeibi A, et al.Lavender essential oil in the treatment of migraine headache: a placebo-controlled clinical trial.Eur Neurol.2012;67(5):288-291. doi:10.1159/000335249
Bigal ME, Hargreaves RJ.Why does sleep stop migraine?.Curr Pain Headache Rep.2013 Oct;17(10):369. doi:10.1007/s11916-013-0369-0.
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