QUESTION: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MIGRAINE, SINUS AND
TENSION HEADACHE?
Migraine headache is one of the most common
and misunderstood medical conditions. People with headache disorders
are usually under the wrong impression that they have "sinus"
or "tension" headaches. This usually leads to ineffective treatment
and frustration.
There are 28 million migraine sufferers in
the USA and half of them are not aware that they have migraines.
Of all the headaches that cause people to seek medical attention,
migraine is by far the most common. One in 4 households has
a migraine sufferer and women outnumber men 3 to 1.
According to several studies, migraine headaches are most commonly
misdiagnosed as "tension" or "sinus" headaches. "Tension" headache
is misdiagnosed because half of people who have migraine will
also have neck pain or tightness in the back of their head during
or at the onset of their migraine. These migraines may even
respond to heat and massage, giving the impression that they
are caused by muscle tension. They also respond to the migraine-specific
medications known as triptans.
When groups of people with "sinus" headaches are systematically
evaluated in headache clinics, over 90% of them are really misdiagnosed
migraine sufferers. The misdiagnosis of "sinus" headache occurs
for a number of reasons. First, it is very common for migraine
attacks to produce clear nasal drainage, nasal congestion, and
facial pain, leading sufferers to think that they have a sinus
problem. Additionally, migraine is often triggered or worsened
by weather changes. Misdiagnosed migraine sufferers often attribute
sinus pressure and pain to barometric changes, but this is actually
a low-grade migraine attack.
The myth of "tension" headache and "sinus" headache is perpetuated
by the mass marketing of over-the-counter headache medications
targeted at the large number of headache sufferers. These successful
ads promote products that all contain either aspirin or acetaminophen
and sometimes caffeine, which can help mild migraines. In fact,
frequent use of over-the-counter headache medications actually
may worsen a person's headache condition. "Rebound headaches,"
which are caused by the overuse of medications, may occur when
over-the-counter pain medicines are used more often than two
days per week to treat headaches.
The published standards and educational materials developed
by the International Headache Society, the American Headache
Society and the American Academy of Neurology show that the
criteria for migraine are quite simple. Headaches that get worse
with head movement or exertion, are accompanied by nausea, light
sensitivity, or sound sensitivity may be migraine and need to
be properly diagnosed in order to allow effective treatment.
Migraine is a common condition and is treatable by the primary
physician or dedicated headache clinics using lifestyle changes
and appropriate medications.
Edmund Messina MD
Neurologist and Headache Specialist
Christina Calabrese MD
Family Practitioner specializing in Headache Disorders
Dr.Messina is the Medical Director of the
Michigan Headache Treatment Network in Lansing, a clinic dedicated
to the outpatient treatment of painful disorders of the head,
neck and face. More information about headaches can be found
on their websites www.michiganheadache.com and www.headachecentral.com
article provided by: Lansing State Journal