How To Spot A Migraine Headache A Mile Away

Is it “just a headache” or is it a migraine headache?

It’s estimated that migraine headache affects more than 26 million people a year. Although “just a headache” can be caused by many of the same triggers as migraine, the severity of the migraine puts this headache in a class by itself!

Although there are several rare types of migraine headaches, most are categorized in two classes, the classic migraine headache and the common migraine. The biggest difference between the two is that before the onset of the classic migraine, the victim experiences an “aura”, typically 10 to 30 minutes in advance of the headache. An aura may be visual, including the appearance of flashing lights, zigzag lines or even temporary loss of vision. Other auras are manifested in speech difficulty, confusion, weakness in an arm or leg, or tingling about the face or hands.

Both the common and the classic migraine headache are typically unilateral, or in other words on one side of the head. Actually, the word migraine comes from the Greek hemicranios, meaning half a head. Both may be accompanied by light or noise sensitivity, nausea, and vomiting. The migraine headache is a debilitating enemy that can literally knock you off your feet. The pain of a migraine generally lasts from an hour to two days. Some severe cases have been reported where a single migraine headache lasted for two weeks! Migraines can be as infrequent as two to three times a year or as often as two to three times a week.

The only good news about the migraine headache is that it is a primary headache, which means that it isn’t caused by an underlying condition such as a brain tumor. Some doctors believe that the migraine is caused by a chemical or electrical malfunction in the brain, while others believe that heredity may be an important aspect of migraine. In fact, there is no definitive cause of migraine headaches, but there are certain stimuli that are known to trigger them. Common triggers span a range from dietary to environmental and include alcohol, caffeine, odors, lack of sleep, hormonal changes, processed foods that contain nitrates or MSG (mono sodium glutamate) or stress.

Medications for migraine headaches fall into two categories, those that are used during an attack and those that are used to help prevent attacks. The first OTC (over the counter) drug approved for migraine by the FDA is a variation of extra-strength Excedrin, sold under “Excedrin Migraine”. Two of the most common prescription medications for migraine prevention are Inderal (propranolol) and Depakote (divalproex sodium).