What Do We Mean By A Migraine Headache And What Are Its Symptoms?
One of the most frequent migraine symptoms is an intense throbbing pain that is normally situated on one side of the head close to the area of the temple. Migraines, unlike normal headaches, are also frequently accompanied by other symptoms that can include sensitivity to noise and light, nausea and occasionally vomiting.
Migraines are fairly common and affect about one in ten people in the United States, or in excess of 28 million Americans. They are also far more commonly seen in women than in men (about 3 times more women suffer from migraine) and can also be found occasionally in children.
Despite the fact that migraine headaches are so common and generally very painful with an attack lasting anywhere from a matter of hours to two or three days, only roughly half of all sufferers consult their physician and the remainder elect to suffer in silence.
It had long been thought these headaches were caused by a of dilation of the blood vessels in the head but, although there is no general consensus, medical opinion appears to be moving away from this theory in favor of a genetic cause for this condition. Current thinking is that migraine headaches results from the interaction of brain chemicals such as serotonin with the nerve cells. At present however the truth is that we really do not know what cause a migraine headache.
In fact there are two forms of the condition, the first of which is referred to as 'classical migraine', which is characterized by an accompanying 'aura'. In this case 'aura' refers to visual light effects which are experienced immediately prior to the onset of a headache including things like bright light spots and flashing lights. In some cases a total loss of vision can be experienced for a few minutes before the start of the headache.
The second type of migraine is a migraine with no 'aura'.
Just as we do not really know what causes a migraine headache, we also have very little idea about just what triggers an attack, although there are a variety of factors which do seem likely to trigger an attack. For instance, too much sleep appears to be one factor and so does skipping meals or eating certain foods like cheese.
Hormonal factors are also thought to influence both the onset of attacks and their severity and this is evidenced the increased incidence of migraines among women. In part this is thought to be because estrogen affects the blood vessels and some studies have noted that there is a link between the contraceptive pill (containing estrogen) and migraine headaches.
However, just to confuse matters studies have also shown that everyday activities such as climbing stairs can trigger an attack, as can exposure to heat or cold, loud noises, flashing lights and even stress.
Fortunately, there are a number of migraine treatments available today, though no single treatment is really effective in all cases. One thing which we do know though is that over-the-counter medicines are rarely effective and, if you suffer from migraine headaches, you would be best advised to ask your doctor for help in finding a solution which works for you.
Related Articles
- Undisclosed Information On An All-Natural, Genuine Medicinal Herbal Migraine Headache Therapy
- Where To Find Helpful Sinus Headache Aid: Alternative Or Usual Treatment Techniques?
- Read The Symptoms Of Migraine Headache And Know How To Overcome It
- What Do We Mean By A Migraine Headache And What Are Its Signs And Symptoms?
- Secret Information On An All-Natural, Legitimate Medicinal Herbal Migraine Headache Therapy
- Underground Info On An All-Natural, Genuine Herbal Migraine Headache Treatment
- What Characterizes A Migraine Headache And What Are Its Symptoms?
- Top Secret Information On An All-Natural, Legitimate Medicinal Herbal Migraine Headache Treatment
- How Can You Recognize A Migraine Headache And Just What Are Its Symptoms?
- Top Secret Information On An All-Natural, Legitimate Medicinal Herbal Migraine Headache Therapy
- Where To Find Helpful Sinus Headache Relief: Alternative Or Regular Treatment Techniques?
- Read The Symptoms Of Migraine Headache And Know How To Cure It
- Exactly What Is A Migraine Headache And What Are Its Symptoms?
Associated Resources