Verdict: FALSE.
Migraine is the most common cause of throbbing headaches, but it is not the only one.
Throbbing pain occurs when vascular structures of the head are involved. It can be felt as a beating synchronized with the pulse.
In migraine, this pain is often accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light, and worsened by physical activity.
But other situations can cause a similar feeling.
A severe bout of high blood pressure can lead to pounding headaches, particularly in the temples or back of the head.
Some acute sinusitis also causes throbbing pain located above the eyes or in the cheekbones, often associated with a feeling of pressure and a runny nose.
In people over 50, new throbbing pain in the temples deserves special attention, as it may suggest inflammation of the temporal arteries.
The “throbbing” character alone is therefore not enough to conclude that it is a migraine.
Doctors are also interested in the location, intensity, duration, associated symptoms and context of occurrence.
Unusual throbbing pain, very intense or accompanied by neurological disorders, fever or significant vomiting requires urgent consultation.
Feeling your heart beating in your head is often linked to a migraine… but that’s not enough proof.
Advice from Dr Gérald Kierzek
A migraine should worry 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.