Migraine Headache
What is a Migraine Headache?
Headaches are a very common condition. They are one of the most common health complaints. A migraine is a very specific type of headache and not all headaches are migraines.
Migraine headaches often run in families. They affect about 28 million Americans. It can strike anyone, at any age. Migraines are most common in young women. If you have a close relative with migraines, you are more likely to have them.
What is a migraine?
Migraines are painful, throbbing headaches. They usually start in childhood and may either get better or worse with age. There are generally 2 types of migraine headaches. The first type is called a classical and the other is called a common migraine headache. The common migraine headache, as its name suggests, is more common than the classical type .
What are some of the causes?
The exact cause is still unknown. Doctors believe that migraines start when blood vessels in the brain tighten up or spasm. A blood vessel spasm in the brain causes blood flow to decrease to parts of the brain. This reduction in blood flow is thought to cause visual changes and neurological effects. After the spasm is gone, the blood vessels react and become wider, causing the severe headache. Researchers do not know what causes these changes, although the chemical serotonin may play a role. They may be the result of chemical imbalances in the brain. More recently, investigators now believe that migraine might be caused by inherited abnormalities in genes that control the activities of certain cell populations in the brain.
What are some of the symptoms?
One in five people with migraine have a warning before the headache. This warning is called an aura. You may see flashing lights, temporarily lose your sight, or go numb on one side of your body. An aura usually lasts 5 to 30 minutes. It can happen without a headache.
Other symptoms include:
• Moderate to severe headache that lasts 4 to 72 hours
• Throbbing pain, often on one side of the head
• Increased pain after exercise or movement
• Sensitivity to bright light, sound, and/or odors
• Nausea or vomiting with the headache
• Light-headedness
• Tender scalp
A person with migraines may not experience all of these symptoms. If you have any of these symptoms, you may have a migraine.
Copyright 2007 MD Kiosk
