Migraine vs. Chronic Migraine: What Are the Differences?

"Migraine vs. Chronic Migraine: Uncovering the Differences"

Migraine vs. Chronic Migraine, Have you ever experienced a migraine headache? Depending on how often you have symptoms, your doctor may diagnose you with either episodic or chronic migraine. If you have intermittent migraines, it may be weeks or months between attacks. However, if you experience migraine symptoms for 15 or more days a month for three or more months, you may have chronic migraine. For those with chronic migraines, longer episodes may also occur.

It’s estimated that 39 million people in the United States suffer from migraines, making it the third most common disease worldwide. Headaches are among the top five reasons people visit emergency departments annually. Treatment plans for episodic and chronic migraines may differ. It’s important to talk to your doctor about how many migraine days you experience each month, as it can affect your quality of life, response to treatments, mental health, and even financial stability.

Occasional migraine Chronic migraine
repetition Less than 15 days a month 15 or more days per month for at least three months
Duration Usually, less than 24 hours It can be continuous
treatment Preventive and symptomatic over-the-counter medications Over-the-counter, prescription, and preventative medications
Sharp pain maybe Possible
Comorbidities (depression and anxiety) maybe Possible

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Characteristics of episodic migraine

Your doctor can diagnose episodic migraine based on the following criteria:

  • Having experienced at least five migraine attacks in your lifetime.
  • Experiencing migraines on fewer than 15 days per month.
  • Episodes typically last from 4 to 24 hours.

Diagnosing migraines does not rely on a single test. Instead, your doctor will inquire about your symptoms to make a diagnosis. Migraine attacks often affect one side of the head, leading to a throbbing or pulsating sensation. Additional symptoms commonly accompanying the pain include:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Sensitivity to light (photosensitivity)
  • Sensitivity to sound

Episodic migraines can be triggered by various factors such as stress, menstrual cycles, and changes in weather conditions.

To ensure an accurate diagnosis, your doctor will eliminate other potential causes of your symptoms. This may involve ruling out medication side effects and considering the possibility of an underlying eye disorder or brain injury contributing to your migraines.

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Characteristics of chronic migraine

Individuals with chronic migraines experience more frequent attacks than those with episodic migraines. Your doctor may diagnose chronic migraine if you meet the following criteria:

  • Migraine headaches occur on 15 or more days per month for three months.
  • I am experiencing migraine symptoms on at least 8 of those days.
  • Attacks that can last longer than 24 hours.

According to a 2012 study published in Current Pain and Headache Reports, individuals with chronic migraines reported episodes lasting an average of 65.1 hours without treatment and 24.1 hours with treatment. In contrast, individuals with episodic migraines had attacks lasting an average of 38.8 hours without treatment and 12.8 hours with treatment. These findings highlight the extended duration of migraine episodes for those with chronic migraines.

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How common are the two conditions?

Did you know that episodic migraine is more common than chronic migraine? According to the American Migraine Foundation, about 12 percent of Americans suffer from migraines, with women being more affected (18 percent) than men (6 percent).

Prevalence can also differ by race and ethnicity, which may be attributed to socioeconomic factors and health inequalities that affect stress and anxiety levels. Recent research discovered chronic migraines are more prevalent among low-income individuals, blacks, African Americans, and Hispanics. Still, after adjusting for multiple variables, only household income was linked to higher rates.

Women in their 40s are more susceptible to chronic migraines, which suggests that hormones may play a role in the development of migraines. According to the National Headache Foundation, around 60 percent of women experience migraines during their menstrual cycle.

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Other factors associated with a higher prevalence of chronic migraine include:

  • obesity
  • depression
  • anxiety
  • Overuse of medications

treatments

If you experience occasional migraines, your doctor may suggest using over-the-counter medications. In some cases, they may also prescribe medication based on the frequency and severity of your symptoms. Certain preventive medications can help reduce the number of attacks for people with episodic migraines. Opting for such preventive measures can also lessen the severity of headaches and reduce the need for preventive medications.

Treatment for chronic migraines includes:

  • Over-the-counter medications to treat an ongoing migraine attack
  • Drugs prescribed to treat a constant migraine attack
  • Medicines that prevent migraine attacks from occurring, called prophylaxis

Medications that can help reduce the frequency, length, or severity of migraine attacks include:

  • Some cardiovascular medications
  • Antidepressants
  • Anti-seizure medications
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
  • Onabotulinomatoxin A (Botox-A)

Will episodic migraine become chronic?

It is reassuring that most individuals with episodic migraines do not progress to chronic migraines. A study published in the journal Current Pain and Headache Reports in 2012 stated that only 2.5% of those with episodic migraines develop chronic migraines annually. Furthermore, individuals with chronic migraines may experience remission and revert to episodic migraines if their symptoms improve.

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individual cost

Migraines are a debilitating condition that can disrupt your daily routine. They are the third leading cause of disability in individuals under 50 and the second most common cause of missed work days. If you experience chronic migraines, you may miss out on more work and family time than those with occasional migraines. Chronic migraines can also lead to chronic pain, anxiety, and depression.

Headache’s 2021 report indicates that the more headache days you have monthly, the greater the disability and costs. The cost of medications, office visits, emergency department visits, lab tests, and treatment side effects is rising yearly. A 2016 study in the Journal of Headache found that chronic migraines are more expensive to treat than episodic migraines, with an average annual cost of $8,243 compared to $2,649 for episodic migraines.

These costs increase if migraines are accompanied by depression or anxiety, as a 2021 study in Frontiers in Neurology found an average annual price of $11,102 for treating these conditions. Fortunately, experts are working towards developing new and improved migraine treatments to alleviate the symptoms and burden of migraines.

away

If you experience frequent headaches or notice other symptoms, speaking with a doctor about the impact migraines can have on your work, income, and relationships over time is essential. Even if you’ve already been diagnosed with migraines, scheduling an appointment is crucial if your symptoms become more severe or frequent. A doctor can help you identify the underlying cause of your symptoms and recommend effective treatment options to manage them.

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