Migraines are vascular headaches characterized by changes in arteries surrounding the skull. As blood vessels become swollen, pain receptors respond to the increase in pressure. Migraines are repetitive, inherited headaches that can have a debilitating effect on the sufferer's ability to function in everyday life. There are three major types of migraines: classic, common and rebound.
Symptoms
Several symptoms commonly may accompany a migraine, including sensitivity to sound and light, intense unilateral or bilateral head pain, and a sense of nausea with or without vomiting. Physical often activity intensifies the pain.
Classic Migraines
Migraines with auras involve visual distortions, such as shimmering light, blind spots or vision loss. Auras may include “vision or hearing hallucinations and disruptions in smell, taste or touch,” according to the National Headache Foundation. Even though auras can be frightening, the effects usually end within an hour of onset and fade as the migraine pain begins.
Common Migraines
Common migraines are simply migraines without auras. Since only 1/3 of sufferers experience auras, the majority of migraines are common.
Rebound Migraines
Unfortunately, rebound migraines occur when too much pain medication is used. The body eventually becomes resistant, which requires the sufferer to increase the dosage of pain medication, causing even more resistance. The resultant migraines are typically more frequent and stronger. Many migraine sufferers alternate pain medications to minimize resistance.
Prevention and Treatment
Keep a log of all activity and encounters before migraines occur. Narrowing down the most frequent triggers will help minimize your exposure. According to the American Headache Society, sunlight and fluorescent lights cause over 1/2 of all migraines, and caffeine frequently instigates headaches. The National Headache Foundation indicates that anxiety and depression caused by stress are common triggers. Swings in blood sugar and dehydration will promote tension headaches. If migraines continue, consult a doctor to prescribe anti-seizure, beta-blockers, anti-depressants or medications to ease pain or stop migraines from occurring.
Other Rare Forms of Migraines
Several other serious and rare forms of migraines exist. Seek medical care immediately if you experience any of the rare forms. They include ocular, ophthalmoplegic, headache-free, basilar artery, abdominal and carotidynia. Ocular or retinal migraines usually begin with partial or complete vision loss in one eye. Ophthalmoplegic migraines are characterized by intense pain surrounding the eye and often paralysis of eye muscles that can last for months. Headache-free migraines are migraine auras without an actual headache. Basilar artery migraines are more common in children and involve the basilar artery in the brain stem, producing loss of coordination, vertigo, speech and vision problems. Abdominal migraines are hard to diagnose and begin with a sense of nausea followed by diarrhea and vomiting. Carotidynia migraines, also called facial migraines, induce pain in the neck and jaw regions and are more frequent in the elderly.
