The common headache, or cephalalgia, and migraine are not the same condition. While a migraine is a type of headache, not all headaches are migraines. Understanding these differences is key to identifying symptoms and ensuring effective diagnosis and treatment.
Headaches can occur as isolated symptoms or as part of more complex syndromes. Primary headaches, such as migraines and tension headaches, are health problems in themselves. Secondary headaches, accounting for about 90% of cases, result from other medical conditions, like infections or injuries.
Migraine is a common form of primary headache, affecting approximately 16% of the Portuguese population over their lifetime. Ranked as the eighth leading cause of disability worldwide by the WHO, migraines typically begin between ages 15 and 40 and may have a genetic predisposition. They are more common in women, particularly after menarche and during the menstrual cycle, and can be influenced by hormonal factors.
