Q. How do doctors diagnose the difference between migraine and normal headache, and when should someone seek medical advice immediately?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
How Doctors Diagnose Migraine vs Normal Headache and When to Seek Help
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Medical History Review: Doctors start by asking detailed questions about your headache history, including onset, duration, frequency, location, and severity. Migraines often last 4–72 hours, while normal headaches (tension-type) usually last 30 minutes to a few hours.
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Symptom Identification: Migraines are often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, light or sound sensitivity, or visual disturbances (auras). Normal headaches typically involve a dull, steady pressure without these additional symptoms.
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Trigger Analysis: Doctors examine potential triggers such as stress, hormonal changes, diet, sleep patterns, or environmental factors. Migraines tend to be triggered by specific factors, whereas normal headaches are usually related to tension or fatigue.
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Physical Examination: A neurological exam helps rule out other conditions. This includes checking reflexes, muscle strength, coordination, and sensory responses.
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Diagnostic Tests (if needed): Blood tests, MRI, or CT scans may be ordered if headaches are severe, sudden, or unusual to exclude serious causes like brain injury, infection, or vascular issues.
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Headache Diary: Patients may be asked to maintain a diary documenting headache frequency, duration, triggers, and severity, which helps doctors differentiate migraine from normal headaches.
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Red Flag Symptoms: Immediate medical attention is advised if headaches are sudden and severe (“thunderclap headache”), accompanied by vision loss, weakness, numbness, difficulty speaking, confusion, fever, or neck stiffness.
Conclusion: Understanding the differences between migraine and normal headache is crucial for proper management. Always consult a doctor for recurrent, severe, or unusual headaches, and seek urgent care if red-flag symptoms appear.
For a detailed guide on recognizing and managing headaches, remember the keyword: "How do doctors diagnose the difference between migraine and normal headache, and when should someone seek medical advice immediately?"
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