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Headache or Migraine: What’s the Difference?
June 10, 2025
Is it a headache or migraine? It’s tempting to call any head pain a “migraine” — especially when it’s bad. But not all headaches are migraine. And not all attacks of migraine come with a headache.
Here’s what to know, and how to find relief.
Headaches: Often minor, sometimes serious.
A headache is any pain in your head, face or neck. While it might feel like it’s coming from deep in your brain, it’s not. The brain doesn’t actually have pain sensors. Instead, headache pain comes from surrounding nerves, blood vessels, and muscles reacting to various triggers.
Not all headaches are created equal — not even close.
“Headache is an umbrella term that includes more than 300 types and causes,” says neurologist and headache specialist Brian Grosberg, MD, who directs the Hartford HealthCare Headache Center at Ayer Neuroscience Institute.
The most common type of headache is the tension type. It feels like a band of pressure around your head and tends to be mild or moderate.
On the other end of the spectrum, migraine is more intense and often accompanied by other symptoms. It’s caused by a complex reaction in the brain and nervous system.
> Related: 9 Reasons You Might Have Headaches in the Summer
Migraine: A type of headache that’s also a neurological disorder.
Migraine is a type of headache, but it’s also more than that. It’s a genetic, neurological disease. (As a result, you’ll notice that experts often refer to it in the singular, migraine.)
“People who have migraine are born with a nervous system that processes information differently than those who do not have migraine. Their brains are ‘more excitable,’ reacting to light and sound at a lower threshold than the brain of someone without migraine,” says Dr. Grosberg.
The result may include:
- Severe, throbbing pain (often on one side of the head)
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness
- Tingling or numbness
- Sensitivity to light, sound, or smell
- Visual changes known as “aura,” in about 1 in 4 cases
Migraine attacks can last anywhere from four to 72 hours — and sometimes happen without head pain at all.
8 common migraine triggers.
The process that activates a migraine attack is complicated, but certain everyday triggers can be a big part of it.
This varies from person to person, but can include:
- Dehydration
- Skipping meals
- Caffeine withdrawal
- Certain foods or additives
- Bright lights or strong smells
- Irregular sleep
- Hormone changes
- Changes in weather or temperature
How do you know which of these, if any, may be affecting your migraine experience? Pay attention — and write it down.
> Related: Is There a Connection Between Gluten and Migraine?
Tracking patterns can help you take control.
“If you have migraine, keeping a daily diary is one of the best tools we have,” says Dr. Grosberg. “I advise all of my patients to carefully record different details about their day.”
That includes noting your symptoms, plus:
- When the attack occurred and how long it lasted
- What you ate and drank, and when
- How well you slept
- Your physical activity and stress levels
- Where you were and what the environment was like
- Any medications or treatments you used
- For women, your menstrual cycle
A diary sounds simple, but it’s crucial. It helps you and your doctor spot patterns and identify your unique triggers.
“Often, these diaries empower patients to realize the actual frequency of migraine attacks. Most people have recall bias: They’ll recall the bouts of migraine that are moderate to severe, but discount the more mild ones,” says Dr. Grosberg. “Trying to manage migraine without this information is like throwing darts at a dartboard blindfolded.”
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Treatment takes time — and teamwork.
From medication to lifestyle changes to behavioral therapies, there’s no one-size-fits-all cure for migraine. That said, with personalized support and strategies, most people find relief.
“Migraine is common, but it’s not something you have to just live with,” says Dr. Grosberg. “I encourage my patients to stay positive. By working with your doctor, you can find the right treatment, make beneficial lifestyle changes, and take control of your migraine attacks.”