5 Things You Need to Know About The Types of Migraine Headaches
1. Diagnose Your Aching Head
Migraines belong to a group called vascular headaches, probably caused by problems with blood vessels in the brain. Several types of migraines exist, and migraine headaches are as individual as the people who get them. Some people have one a year while others have them like clockwork. Sleep, exercise, food and even sneezing can trigger migraines. Migraines can also mimic other conditions, so it's important to get a definite diagnosis before starting any treatment. Both general practitioners and neurologists see people with migraines.
2. Locate the Throbbing Pain
The most common shared symptom is a dull ache that turns into a throbbing and even pulsating head pain. This is what people with common migraines feel, such as migraines without aura, the most frequently occurring type. Head pain is often at one temple, but it can alternate sides or travel to the back of the head. Pain may radiate from pressure against inflamed blood vessels. Nausea and sensitivity to light often accompany the throbbing. Migraine pain often incapacitates people who must retreat to a cool, dark room.
3. Lights, Action, Migraine
About 1/3 of the people with migraines get a preview of coming attractions from an aura before the pain begins. The aura tends to be some kind of visual disturbance, like flashing lights, tunnel vision or a temporary loss of vision. Auras can even be some type of hallucination. Up to 30 minutes later, intense pain happens at the temple or around the other eye. People who experience migraines with aura can also have numbness, tingling and confusion. Some people can curb the intensity of the migraine if they recognize the aura as a hint of things to come, take prescribed medication and lie down.
4. Consider Your Time of the Month
Young women with basilar artery migraines may suffer from a hormonal imbalance associated with their menstrual cycle. Signs that a hormonal migraine is about to hit can include dizziness, double vision and problems with coordination. Headache pain my travel to the back of the head and include vomiting. If migraine headaches start soon after you start hormones for birth control or menopause, talk to your doctor about alternatives. Some women find success in taking preventive medication about a week before their period starts.
5. The Eyes Have It
Several types of migraine headaches focus on the eyes, including ophthalmoplegic or ocular migraines. Pain centers on the eye and may even paralyze muscles around the eye to cause a droopy eyelid. Although rare, this type of migraine needs medical attention because there might be a problem with pressure on the nerves of the eye. Also referred to as retinal migraines, ocular migraines start with a visual disturbance like blind spots or temporary blindness. Afterwards, pain sometimes starts on the same side of the head. Ocular migraines occur more in older people, but any migraine involving the eyes needs an evaluation to rule out other problems.
Member Comments
by zamber3 on January 26, 2009 at 9:34 PM
wow..number 2 and 3 are EXACTLY what happen to me. I tend to get migraines frequently and when i visited my doctor recently, i told her of my migraines and symptoms and she asked if they have always approached me the same. I said yes and she said thats normal. The only thing that takes my migraines away is Excedrine. I think its the caffine that does the trick but is it normal to have them more than a handful of times a month??
by eywc25 on February 16, 2009 at 1:22 AM
I used to get migraines once in a month after going outdoors on a sunny day or incorrect sleeping position. It started off with a burning sensation on my left eye and then the pain spread to the back of the head and neck (Its always on the left side of my head). When I am having migraines, I get very irritated with lightings and noise and the pain will usually go on continuously for two to three days in a row.
Point 3 & 4 might also be the reasons at times.
Miki Rina - solutions-to-101-health-problems.blogspot.com
by mrbumpy on March 1, 2009 at 11:07 AM
My son gets migraines from eating too many nitrites/nitrates. Common children's food like hot dogs, lunch meat and pepperoni can incapacitate him. We had a miserable summer until we started tracking his food, sleep and outdoor activities. It only took a few days to find the common link.
He still eats pepperoni in moderation, but we found Hormel's nitrate free lunch meat and bacon. It takes great and we all fee better about eating it.
He's too young to recognize an aura, and if we don't get him to a dark, quiet room quickly, he'll start throwing up. We've recently learned that if we give him ibuprofin as soon as he notices the migraine, it goes away before getting too bad.
by sdtoohey on March 9, 2009 at 8:35 PM
sometimes I will get a migraine while I am asleep, or almost like clockwork, within 5 minutes of waking up.
by Maxxxx on March 13, 2009 at 6:01 PM
I have had similar experiences....I started taking Magnesium, B2 , B-complex, cleaned up my diet and took 3 mg of Melatonin before bed to help me sleep. I have done much better and sleep thru the nighttime headaches. Good luck.
by readsausten on April 21, 2009 at 2:00 PM
same here! It can be a windy day, it is as if my head knows that is windy b/4 waking, cause that migraine is SURE THERE when I wake up!
by readsausten on April 21, 2009 at 2:01 PM
same here! It can be a windy day, it is as if my head knows that is windy b/4 waking, cause that migraine is SURE THERE when I wake up!
by flower222 on March 11, 2009 at 3:30 PM
Sometimes knowing your triggers doesn't help. I avoid most of what causes my migraines and they last for wweks or months at a time with no relief.. I can't take anything because of ulcers and sensitivity to drugs. OUCH!
by ella77 on March 13, 2009 at 9:43 AM
I have noticed that in my family, ocular migraines have a strong hereditary quality. I frequently monitor whether or not my young son is presenting any migraine symptoms. As far as treatment goes, I have found that taking Zomig 2.5 plus Advil at the onset of the ocular aura greatly reduces the intensity of the migraine. Although there are some minor funky side effects, I have discovered that this treatment allows me to continue my normal activity within an hour (instead of being incapacitated for hours on end). I hope this helps! P.S. I try to avoid meds, but anyone who experiences true migraines knows how painful they can be. Seeing a nuerologist for a script is the way to go for this condition.
by trynytee on April 3, 2009 at 3:55 PM
awesome article!