Migraine Headaches Explained

Are you one of those who suffer from recurring and blinding headaches? And during these incidences, are you sensitive to light, sound and smell?

Do you feel dizzy and nauseous when you get these headaches? If your answer is yes to any of these questions, then you are probably one of the many who suffer from one of many types of migraine headaches.

Migraine headaches are often characterized by a throbbing or pulsating pain that starts from one side of the head and scatters throughout the entire head in a matter of minutes. Depending on your condition, the headache can last for hours or days. Although the cause of migraine is not yet established, it can be triggered by the consumption of alcohol and caffeine. It can also be brought about by stress, lack of sleep and certain medicines.

Statistics show that 75% of migraine sufferers are women. People who have a family history of the ailment also have a greater chance of experiencing it. Migraines may seem to be the same in every instance that it is felt but there are different types of migraine headaches.

The two common types of migraine headaches are migraine without aura and migraine with aura. Migraine without aura is the most frequent type of migraine and can occur on one side or on both sides of the head. Prior to this headache attack, tiredness and mood changes are a common experience.

Oftentimes, nausea, photophobia, and vomiting can accompany migraine without aura. On the other hand, migraine with aura is characterized by seeing whiteor coloured light or light flashes around objects. This can happen within ten to thirty minutes from the onset of the headache. People who experience migraine with aura can experience temporary vision loss, dizziness, vertigo, and tingling in the extremities and face.

There are other less common types of migraine headaches including abdominal migraine, carotidynia, aura without migraine, ocular migraine, status migrainus, and basilar artery migraine. One of the types of migraine headaches also includes menstrual migraines which occur right before a woman has her period and is due to hormonal changes.

Abdominal migraine is often observed in children who have a family history of the ailment. A headache can easily be classified as an abdominal migraine when the child experiences abdominal pain without any gastrointestinal cause. Other symptoms include nausea, pallor and vomiting.

Carotydnia is often termed as facial migraine and causes aching in the jaw or neck. Ocular migraine is related to a headache that is felt in the eye and comes with vomiting. Status migraine is a severe type of headache which lasts for more than 72 hours and may require hospitalization. Basilar artery migraine involves the basilar artery and has symptoms such as severe headache, double vision and weak muscle coordination.

These are some of the types of migraine headaches that a person can experience. Now, you can identify what type of migraine you usually experience. However, it is still best to consult your medical practitioner for adequate advice on how to deal with this ailment.

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