Verdict: FALSE.
Unilateral pain is common in migraine, but it is not required.
Many people have migraines located on one side of the head, often at the temple or behind one eye.
However, others experience bilateral pain, affecting the forehead, both temples, or the entire head.
What further characterizes migraine is its pulsatile nature: the pain gives the impression of beating to the rhythm of the pulse.
Other elements also point towards this diagnosis:
- Sensitivity to light;
- Discomfort to noise;
- Nausea;
- Worsened by physical exertion;
- Duration from several hours to several days.
Conversely, tension headaches more often cause a feeling of pressure or tightness, like a band around the head, without significant nausea.
This confusion is common. Many people dismiss the possibility of a migraine because the pain affects both sides of the head, while other symptoms are very suggestive.
Experts also emphasize the importance of triggering factors: lack of sleep, dehydration, heat, stress, prolonged fasting or certain foods can promote attacks in predisposed people.
If headaches repeat, change characteristics or become more frequent, medical consultation is recommended.
A migraine is therefore often one-sided… but certainly not always.
Advice from Dr Gérald Kierzek
A migraine should cause concern if it becomes sudden and very intense, clearly changes in nature, or is accompanied by fever, stiff neck, severe vomiting, vision problems, difficulty speaking, weakness of a limb, confusion or convulsions.