WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE . . .

...between a headache and a migraine?

THE main difference between the two conditions is that migraines are debilitating while headaches, though they can be very painful, are not.

The most common type of headache – the tension variety – is usually triggered by stress, sleep problems or dehydration. Rarer are cluster headaches, where sharp, piercing or burning pain is focused around the eyes.

The exact cause of migraines is not known – though they tend to run in families – but they can be triggered by the chemicals in red wine and cheese.

Migraine pain, which can last days or weeks, is severe. It usually affects one side of the head and can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound.

An early warning sign of one type is seeing an ‘aura’ – flashes of light – or shimmering zigzags.