Last time, I introduced a niche type of migraine called “cluster migraine”, and then many of my friends left comments asking me how to distinguish migraine from cluster headache in daily life. One of them said, “I’ve been having migraine headaches for more than 10 years, always on my right side, always when I haven’t slept well or when I’ve had a cold wind, and each attack lasts for several hours. I wonder if it’s a cluster headache, but when I looked up cluster migraine on the Internet, it said that it hurts around the eyes during the attack, but I don’t have it, so it’s a little unclear.” Based on the current understanding of the pathogenesis of migraine and cluster headache, it is generally believed that the pathogenesis of migraine is related to abnormal diseases of nerves and blood vessels. And the mechanism of cluster headache is primarily posterior hypothalamic activation, activation of the trigeminal and cerebral parasympathetic nervous systems through the hypothalamus, trigeminal pathway and trigeminal facial brainstem reflex pathway. Also, migraine attacks are more frequent in women and cluster headaches are more common in men. The difference between cluster headache and migraine can usually be judged in three ways: a. Difference in symptoms Migraine is a throbbing pain that can occur on both sides of the head or only on one side of the head or forehead. These symptoms are called aura, numbness or tingling, weakness, difficulty with speech or hearing. Cluster headache fixed pain symptoms are usually more severe than migraines. It usually occurs on one side of the head, and the pain is also usually concentrated in one eye, temple or forehead. It is often accompanied by redness of the eye on the same side of the headache, tearing, severe swelling on the same side, nasal congestion, runny nose, droopy eyelids, sweating, flushing, and sensitivity to light. Migraine is slow onset, lasting from a few hours to a few days, and after the headache disappears, the patient has a “hangover” feeling. Cluster headache, on the other hand, is a fast onset, with each attack lasting for a variable amount of time, from about 15 minutes to 3 hours. It occurs in clusters, usually at about the same time each day, and over a period of weeks or months, patients can have up to eight attacks per day, and then no more attacks for months or years. c. Different causes The causes of migraine patients’ attacks: weather changes, too much or too little sleep, strong smells, stress, loud sounds, too little food, anxiety or depression, certain medications, changes in hormone levels, caffeine, chocolate, red wine, tea, etc. can all cause migraine attacks. Cluster headache: Cluster headaches strike when sensory nerves in the patient’s face are activated, and experts believe that it may be related to changes in the biological clock that maintains a normal sleep schedule. It doesn’t have as many triggers as migraine, but some patients report that drinking or smoking can also trigger a range of symptoms or make the condition worse. Some patients also find that headaches can strike during seasonal changes such as spring or the beginning of fall. These are the differences between migraine and cluster headache series, and I hope you have gained something from reading this article.