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Common Conditions We Treat at Vitality Urgent Care

Headaches and Migraines

Headaches vs. Migraines — What’s the Difference?

Both headaches and migraines cause pain and pressure in the head, but they have different causes, symptoms, and treatments. Understanding the type of head pain you’re experiencing is the first step toward getting effective relief.

Headaches typically involve a dull, aching pressure and can range from mild to moderate. Migraines are usually more intense, often affect one side of the head, and are frequently accompanied by nausea, light sensitivity, and visual disturbances.

Types of Headaches

  • Tension Headache — The most common type. Mild to moderate pressure felt around the head, neck, and behind the eyes. Usually triggered by stress, anxiety, or muscle strain. Can be chronic or recurring.
  • Cluster Headache — Short, intense, recurring headaches that happen daily for weeks or months, often at the same time each year. Causes severe pain around one eye. Frequently mistaken for allergies or stress.
  • Sinus Headache — Occurs when sinuses become inflamed due to infection or allergies. Pressure builds in the forehead, cheekbones, or behind the nose. Often accompanied by a runny nose, fever, ear pressure, and facial swelling.

What is a Migraine?

Migraines are moderate to severe in intensity and usually isolated to one side of the head with a throbbing quality. They can make working or daily activities difficult due to the severity of pain and accompanying symptoms.

Common migraine symptoms include:

  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Sensitivity to light and/or sound
  • Seeing spots or flashing lights
  • Temporary blurring or loss of vision
  • Pain in the temples or behind one eye or ear

The Four Phases of a Migraine

Prodrome (1–2 days before) — Early warning signs including constipation, mood changes, neck stiffness, frequent yawning, and unusual food cravings.

Aura (10–30 minutes before) — Sensory disturbances such as flashing lights or lines, tingling or numbness in the hands or face, difficulty thinking, or altered smell, taste, or touch.

Attack (4–72 hours) — The main migraine episode with intense head pain, nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound.

Postdrome (up to 24 hours after) — A “migraine hangover.” You may feel drained or elated, confused, moody, dizzy, or still sensitive to light and sound.

What Causes Migraines?

Migraines are believed to result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors, and may involve imbalances in brain chemicals including serotonin. Common triggers include:

  • Hormonal changes
  • Stress and anxiety
  • Disrupted sleep
  • Certain foods and drinks (aged cheeses, alcohol, caffeine)
  • Bright lights or loud sounds
  • Strong smells
  • Weather changes

How Are Headaches and Migraines Treated?

Treatment depends on the type and severity of your head pain. At Vitality Urgent Care, a visit for head pain includes a full evaluation and medical history to identify the type you’re experiencing and ensure you get the right treatment.

Tension headaches — Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Rest, hydration, and stress reduction also help.

Sinus headaches — Decongestants, nasal sprays, antihistamines, and saline irrigation to relieve sinus pressure. A humidifier can also help.

Cluster headaches — These respond poorly to OTC medications due to their rapid onset. Treatment may include oxygen therapy and fast-acting injectable or inhaled medications.

Migraines — A range of prescription medications are available, including triptans like Sumatriptan. Our providers will evaluate your symptoms and determine the most appropriate treatment. You may also be advised to identify and avoid your personal triggers.

Important: Frequently using pain relievers can lead to rebound headaches. If your pain doesn’t respond to medication, come see us.

When Should You Come to Vitality Urgent Care?

Most tension headaches can be managed at home, but you should visit us if you experience:

  • A sudden, severe “thunderclap” headache — the worst of your life
  • Headache with fever, stiff neck, confusion, or rash
  • Headache following a head injury
  • Headache with vision changes, weakness, or difficulty speaking
  • Migraines that are not responding to your usual medication
  • Frequent headaches occurring more than 3–4 times per week
  • A new headache pattern that feels different from your usual headaches

Our providers can evaluate your symptoms, rule out serious causes, and prescribe appropriate migraine medication if needed — all in a single walk-in visit.

When Is a Headache a Medical Emergency?

Go to the emergency room or call 911 if you experience:

  • Sudden, extremely severe headache with no warning
  • Headache with loss of consciousness, seizure, or paralysis
  • Headache with high fever and stiff neck (possible meningitis)
  • Headache with sudden vision loss or speech difficulty

Frequently Asked Questions

Can urgent care treat migraines? Yes. We can evaluate your migraine, provide treatment during your visit, and prescribe medications like Sumatriptan or other triptans if appropriate. We also help identify triggers and create a management plan.

What’s the difference between a headache and a migraine? Headaches are typically a dull pressure or ache. Migraines are more intense, usually one-sided, and come with additional symptoms like nausea, light sensitivity, and visual disturbances. A migraine often has warning phases before and after the main attack.

How long does a migraine last? A migraine attack typically lasts 4 to 72 hours. The postdrome phase — fatigue and brain fog afterward — can last up to 24 additional hours.

Can stress cause migraines? Yes. Stress is one of the most common migraine triggers. Managing stress through sleep, hydration, exercise, and relaxation techniques can help reduce frequency.

Are cluster headaches the same as migraines? No. Cluster headaches are a distinct type — extremely intense, short-duration headaches that occur in cyclical patterns. They typically cause pain around one eye and do not respond well to standard pain relievers.

When should I worry about a headache? Seek immediate care for a sudden severe headache, headache with fever and stiff neck, headache after head injury, or headache with neurological symptoms like vision loss or weakness.

Head Pain Keeping You Down? We’re Here.

Walk in any day of the year — no appointment needed. Our team at Buffalo Grove and Lake Zurich is ready to evaluate and treat your headache or migraine today.

Care When You Need It Most

Walk in when you need us. Book ahead if you prefer. Our doors are open.

🕒 Open 7 days a week, 365 days a year

Buffalo Grove: 56 W Dundee Rd, Buffalo Grove, IL 60089
Mon-Fri: 8 AM - 8 PM | Sa -Sun: 8 AM - 4 PM

Lake Zurich: 480 S Rand Rd, Lake Zurich, IL 60047
Mon-Fri: 8 AM - 8 PM | Sat-Sun: 8 AM - 4 PM

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