Headaches can be the worst kind of pain that people suffer from. There are several types of headaches and two of them are Migraine and Cluster headaches. Although they cause extreme pain in the head, they have some differences.
Both Migraine and Cluster headaches have different durations, frequencies, and the areas of the head they affect.
Migraine vs Cluster Headache
The main difference between Migraine and Cluster headache is that Migraine is for a longer period of time whereas cluster headaches last for about 30 -90 minutes. Migraine headache is severe pain in the head that is more likely to stay a day if left untreated. Cluster headaches attacks can happen in cyclic times and one can get up to 8 clusters in a day.
Migraine headache is an intense pain that occurs in the head and can have a long duration of up to a day. It can occur anywhere in the head whether it’s front of the head, or back, or any one side of the head. It causes nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and even temporary vision loss.
There is a reason why cluster headache is called so because of their pain severity and frequency. Cluster headaches are severe pain in the head that occurs at cyclic times and can happen any time in a day. It happens mainly on one side of the head which is around the eye or the temple.
Comparison Table Between Migraine and Cluster Headache
| Parameters of Comparison | Migraine | Cluster Headache |
| Definition | Migraine is severe pain on one side of the head. It has other symptoms also, in addition to head pain. | Cluster headaches are also painful headaches that are shorter in duration and mainly happens around and behind the eye. |
| Symptoms | Symptoms include nausea, pain in the temples, pain behind eyes and ear, vomiting, seeing spots and zigzag lines, temporary vision loss, etc. | Symptoms include pain around and behind the eyes, runny, congested nose, drooping eyelid, sweating, changes in heart rate. |
| Causes | Causes can be hormonal, emotional anxiety, or taking certain preservatives like MSG, contraceptives, menopause, etc, | This can be caused by bright lights, altitude, physical exertion, and also alcohol can make it worse. |
| Duration | It can occur for a longer period of time, from 4-72 hours. | It is of less duration and can last about 30-90 minutes. |
| Prevalence | It is more common in women than in men. | It is more common in men than in women. |
What is Migraine?
Migraine is a type of headache in which people suffer from intense and severe pain in the head. The pain can last long a day and the pain doesn’t go away completely. The severity of pain over the course can vary with the location of the pain in the head. Apart from the pain in the head, it has also other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, temporary vision loss, seeing the zigzag lines and flashing lights, etc.
The frequency of this pain can vary from one to two times a month. It can happen in many locations like developing in the back or front of the head, behind the eye, just one side of the head, or maybe the entire head. There are many causes and triggers of migraine such as hormonal change, stress, alcohol use, emotional anxiety, or taking certain preservatives like MSG or contraceptives, etc. The risk factors include age, gender, family history, or hormonal change. Generally, migraine is more common in women than in men.
What is a Cluster Headache?
Cluster headache is a type of headache that is for a shorter period of time, typically between 30 – 90 minutes. It occurs on the one side of the head mainly around the eye or the temple. Unlike Migraine, the frequency of cluster headaches can go 8 times in a day with short intervals. The symptoms include redness and watering the eye, nasal congestion, and drooping of the eyelid.
The main reason why it is called a cluster is that it occurs often at cyclic times. There is pain relief in between the periods. The risk factors can be age, alcohol, and smoking. It commonly occurs in men than in women. People get this headache during the same season each year when it was triggered. It is caused by bright lights, physical exertion, or even altitude. Moreover, this severe headache can cause aggressive behavior in a person. They tend to become very agitated and restless.
Main Differences Between Migraine and Cluster Headache
Conclusion
Migraine and Cluster Headaches both cause severe pain in the head with a difference that the location for Migraines can vary and for longer duration whereas Cluster headaches are of short duration and usually happen around the eye and the temple.
Both these headaches need to be treated on time or else the pain can become more severe.
Both the headaches have certain symptoms and triggers, which need to be taken care of and early diagnosis can be very helpful in these cases. Though distinguishing between these headaches can be sometimes tricky but if paid attention, it can minimize the pain.
References
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