Migraine and tension headache can both ruin a day, but they feel different. A tension headache usually feels like a dull, tight band around the head and still lets you get through your day. A migraine is more often a throbbing pain on one side that gets worse when you move, and it often comes with nausea and sensitivity to light and sound.
The quick comparison
- Where it hurts: tension headaches tend to press on both sides of the head, face or neck, while migraine pain is usually on one side.
- How it feels: tension headaches feel like pressure or tightening. Migraines throb and can be severe.
- Movement: a tension headache doesn’t usually get worse with walking or climbing stairs. A migraine often does.
- Other symptoms: nausea, vomiting and strong sensitivity to light and sound point toward migraine.
- How long: tension headaches can last from 30 minutes to a week, averaging four to six hours. Migraine attacks usually last 4 hours to 3 days.
These patterns come from the NHS guide to tension headaches, the Cleveland Clinic article on tension headaches and the NHS page on migraine symptoms. Plenty of people get both types, so one bad week doesn’t tell the whole story.
What a tension headache usually looks like
Tension headaches are the most common type of primary headache, and most people get one at some point. The Cleveland Clinic lists stress, poor posture and neck strain, eye strain, sleep problems and jaw (TMJ) issues among common triggers. That is why they often show up at the end of a long day at a desk, after a poor night’s sleep, or when your shoulders have been creeping up toward your ears.
If your headaches tend to start in the neck and build through the afternoon, look at how you sit. A screen below eye level, shoulders rounded forward and hours without a break add up to desk-related neck strain, and poor posture and neck strain are on the Cleveland Clinic’s list of tension headache triggers.
What a migraine usually looks like
A migraine is a condition, not just a bad headache. The NHS describes an attack as a throbbing headache, usually on one side, that is often worse when you move, along with feeling sick and being very sensitive to light and sound. Some people get an aura first: zigzag lines or flashing lights, pins and needles, dizziness or trouble speaking. Tiredness and other early signs can start hours, or even up to two days, before the pain.
Common triggers listed by the NHS migraine overview include stress and tiredness, skipping meals, too much caffeine, not getting regular exercise and, for some women, their period. Many people find their own pattern by keeping a simple diary of when attacks start, what they ate, how they slept and what was going on that day.
When to get medical help right away
Call 911 or go to the ER for a headache that comes with any of these:
- A sudden, extremely painful headache
- Trouble speaking or remembering things
- Vision loss, or blurred or double vision
- Drowsiness or confusion
- Weakness on one side of the body or face
- A seizure
- A very high temperature with signs of meningitis, such as a stiff neck or rash
- A recent head injury
Call your doctor soon if headaches happen several times a week, if pain relievers and rest aren’t helping, if a migraine lasts longer than 72 hours, or if you get migraine symptoms while pregnant or soon after having a baby.
What tends to help either type
- Keep regular sleep and meal times
- Notice your caffeine intake and cut back if it is high
- Take short movement breaks if you sit for long stretches
- Bring screens up to eye level so your head isn’t tipped forward for hours
- Rest in a dark, quiet room during a migraine attack
Be careful with pain relievers. The NHS notes that taking them too often or for long periods can cause rebound headaches, so if you are reaching for them most days, talk with your doctor.
Where chiropractic may fit
For headaches linked to neck tension and posture, chiropractic can be one part of the plan. Chiropractic for neck pain and headaches at Radiant starts with your history and headache pattern and a check of how your neck and upper back move, the same way a first chiropractic visit begins for any new patient. Dr. Williams refers you to your physician if anything points to a medical cause. Migraines need a different plan than tension headaches, so migraine care works alongside your doctor’s treatment rather than replacing it.
Tired of guessing what kind of headache you have?
We’ll go through your history and how your neck and posture play into it, then talk through options that fit your life.
Sources
This article is for general education and is not medical advice. For questions about your own health or your child’s, talk with your doctor, OB, midwife or pediatrician.
From the team at Radiant Chiropractic, 8090 Precinct Line Rd, Ste 101, Colleyville, TX.
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