The Dreadful Migraine
A migraine is a throbbing or pulsating headache that is often
one sided (unilateral) and associated with nausea; vomiting;
sensitivity to light, sound, smells; sleep disruption, and
depression. Attacks are often recurrent and tend to become less
severe as the migraine sufferer ages.
Types
Migraines are classified according to the symptoms they produce.
The two most common types are migraine with aura and migraine
without aura. Less common types include the following: Basilar
artery migraine, Carotidynia, Headache-free migraine,
Ophthalmoplegic migraine, Status migraine.
Some women experience migraine headaches just prior to or during
menstruation. These headaches, which are called menstrual
migraines, may be related to hormonal changes and often do not
occur during pregnancy. Other women develop migraines for the
first time during pregnancy or after menopause.
Incidence and Prevalence
Migraines afflict about 24 million people in the United States.
They may occur at any age, but usually begin between the ages of
10 and 40 and diminish after age 50. Some people experience
several migraines a month, while others have only a few
migraines throughout their lifetime. Approximately 75% of
migraine sufferers are women.
Causes
The cause of migraine is unknown. The condition may result from
a series of reactions in the central nervous system caused by
changes in the body or in the environment. There is often a
family history of the disorder, suggesting that migraine
sufferers may inherit sensitivity to triggers that produce
inflammation in the blood vessels and nerves around the brain,
causing pain.
Signs and Symptoms
Migraine pain is often described as throbbing or pulsating pain
that is intensified by routine physical activity, coughing,
straining, or lowering the head. The headache is often so severe
that it interferes with daily activity and may awaken the
person. The attack is debilitating, and migraine sufferers are
often left feeling tired and weak once the headache has passed.
A migraine typically begins in a specific area on one side of
the head, then spreads and builds in intensity over 1 to 2 hours
and then gradually subsides. It can last up to 24 hours, and in
some cases, several days.
For more information, visit the Migraine Info Center at
http://www.migraineinfocenter.com