Headaches and migraines are a real pain in the neck, or well, a pain in the head, but how do you know if you’re dealing with a migraine or a headache?

Both of them cause a lot of pain in your head, but what is the difference between the two?

If you’re not sure whether the head pain that’s making you feel extra grumpy every Monday morning is a headache or a migraine then you’re in luck, as we’re about to break down what makes the two so different.

Headaches are a common problem that many people deal with every day, especially after a wild Saturday night out!

It’s normally not a big deal, and many people just take some painkillers and are able to get on with their day without any problems.

Headaches normally last between 30 minutes and a few hours, so you usually won’t have to deal with a headache for long if you’re struggling with one.

Headaches can be caused by lots of different things, which is a part of why they’re so common.

Any a headache will either be a primary or a secondary headache but they will all affect you in different ways.

Some examples of these are:

• A tension headache – A primary type of headache that causes an ache all over your head which doesn’t have a throbbing sensation. As a result of this headache, you may also feel sensitive in the upper part of the body.
• A cluster headache – This is another primary headache but unlike other headaches, this is a series. Cluster headaches come with a burning feeling and a pain on one side of the face, often in and around the eye. Typically, a cluster headache will only last for 15 minutes or up to 3 hours. People who suffer from a cluster headache will experience between 1-4 a day. Men are three times more likely to experience a cluster headache.
• A sinus headache – A secondary headache type that often occurs as a result of an allergic reaction. This is a headache that occurs at the front of the face and head, with mucus build up in the nose. It is in fact often misdiagnosed as a migraine.
• A caffeine headache – This headache is caused by consuming too much caffeine, as it can affect blood flow to the brain. A caffeine headache can also be caused by withdrawals from caffeine after suddenly not having any.

Sometimes when you take painkillers you find that although they make your headache, backache, or whatever your aches and pains you’re trying to treat a bit better, they don’t quite do the job.

This is when you might consider picking up another painkiller to try to kick that pain to the curb. But how do you know if this is safe? Can you take more than one painkiller at once?

If you’ve ever looked into your medicine cabinet and asked yourself one of these questions then you’ve come to the right place.

We’re here to answer all of your questions about which painkillers you can take together, which you can’t, and which other medicines shouldn’t be taken with your pain relief.

For most cases of a migraine, the standard off the shelf treatments, paracetamol and ibuprofen, should be enough to help relieve the effects and successfully ease all aches and pains.

When those don’t work, an over the counter or prescribed treatment is likely the course required so you will need to speak to a doctor, pharmacist or specialist.

Although the exact cause of migraines isn’t known, there are lots of triggers that people have noticed tend to induce a migraine.

These triggers are different for everyone, so it can be wise to keep a diary of when your migraines happen so you can try to work out when and what triggers them for you.

Some of the most common migraine triggers you may want to keep track of include:

• Hormonal changes, e.g. menopause, your menstrual cycle, pregnancy
• Emotional triggers, e.g. stress, anxiety, depression
• Tiredness or not getting enough sleep
• Dehydration
• Not eating regular meals
• Alcohol or caffeine
• Bright lights, loud noises, strong smells
• Certain medications, e.g. sleeping tablets, the contraceptive pill, HRT