Headaches With Lupus Are Common. They Actually Migraine?

While headaches are a common complaint among people with lupus, they are not always migraines. Headaches associated with lupus can vary in intensity, duration, and location. Migraines, on the other hand, are a specific type of headache characterized by intense, throbbing pain, often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound.

In people with lupus, headaches can occur due to various underlying factors. Some common causes include inflammation associated with the disease, medication side effects, hormonal changes, stress, and sleep disturbances. The exact cause of headaches in lupus patients may not always be clear, and it can be challenging to distinguish them from migraines based solely on symptoms.

If you are experiencing headaches as a person with lupus, it's important to discuss them with your healthcare provider. They can evaluate your symptoms, assess the potential underlying causes, and provide appropriate treatment. This may involve managing lupus activity, adjusting medications, or implementing lifestyle changes to reduce headache frequency and severity.

While some headaches associated with lupus may resemble migraines in their intensity and associated symptoms, they may not necessarily meet the criteria for a true migraine diagnosis. A headache specialist or neurologist may be consulted to help differentiate between lupus-related headaches and migraines, as the treatment approaches may differ.