The Health 4Cast Series| Could Your Headache be a Migraine?

Your health questions deserve answers you can trust. The Health 4Cast is your go-to source for expert health advice from UF Health physicians and specialists. Each month, we share four practical tips on timely health topics, empowering you with the knowledge to make informed decisions and live healthier every day.

This month, we’re taking a closer look at migraines.

Not all headaches are the same, and knowing the difference matters.

A headache may be an occasional inconvenience, but a migraine can bring more intense symptoms that interfere with your day-to-day tasks. So, how can you tell when your headache may actually be a migraine? And what should you know about common triggers and treatment options?

Dr. Ryan Crooks, assistant professor and director of the Stroke Program at UF Health North, breaks down signs and symptoms that can help you recognize a migraine, common triggers to watch for, and the treatment options available.

Here are four things to know about migraines in this month’s Health 4Cast.

1. What is the difference between a migraine and a "regular" headache?

A "regular" headache is one that is typically a mild to moderate aching, nagging or sometimes a band-like pressure around the head, that may not prevent you from any daily activities. It can sometimes be ignored, and may be relatively short-lived, sometimes improving on its own or with pain relievers.

A migraine is a much stronger headache that may only be on one side of the head, and tends to be moderate to intense throbbing or stabbing pain that typically makes you have to pause what you are doing until the pain improves. A migraine typically will come with other symptoms, such as nausea and sensitivity to light, smells or sounds. A small number of migraine sufferers may also experience odd vision symptoms before or around the time the pain starts. This is called an "aura."

Migraine headaches also tend to last several hours before they get better, unless a treatment is utilized. Migraine sufferers may also have symptoms that start before the headache, such as irritability or mood change, fatigue or other unexplained symptoms. Following the migraine, some may also experience changes in mood, energy levels and even mental fogginess that improves but may last 1–2 days.

2. What are some common migraine triggers?

Common triggers can include food or environmental factors. Commonly associated foods can be aged cheeses, red or aged wines, and aged beers, though others report some sensitivity to other common ingredients, such as caffeine (consuming it in high quantities or stopping consumption abruptly). Lack of hydration or inconsistent meals may also trigger the headaches in some individuals. Some environmental triggers may be bright or flickering lights, prolonged use of screens, strong smells or loud environments. High stress and not enough sleep, or impaired quality of sleep, may also be triggering for some migraine sufferers.

3. What can people do to prevent migraines or reduce how often they happen?

Migraines can be reduced by recognition of triggers, and either modification or avoidance of them, such as reducing caffeine intake, having regular meals, good hydration, getting adequate sleep and managing stress. For those sensitive to environmental triggers, it may be using devices, such as sunglasses, masks or hearing protection to help reduce sensitivity. In cases where modifying risk factors is not enough, the use of prescription medications can be helpful in both treating migraines when they occur, and even before they occur (preventive therapy), especially for those who have frequent occurrences.

4. When should you see a physician about your migraines?

Please see a physician if:

• You begin having headaches you haven’t had before
• You’re having frequent headaches
• You’re having a headache associated with sudden severe pain, especially without explanation, which should prompt urgent medical attention.