Migraine headaches are headaches that stem from problems in the blood vessels and nerves in the brain. These type of headaches can last from four hours to three days in length and can happen several times a month or only once or twice a year. They affect anyone from men and women, young and old alike, and are more typical in females, especially in the teenage years.
Migraine headache symptoms can vary from person to person and even from one migraine to another. A typical migraine can produce some or all of the symptoms associated with these type of headaches. These can include head pain that pulsates or throbs, pain that is moderate to severe, pain that radiates on one side of the head or both, a sensitivity to light and sound, and nausea that may be accompanied by vomiting. Other migraine headache symptoms include pain that worsens with activity or pain that interferes with normal daily activity.
Many migraine headache symptoms that precede a migraine attack may or may not be that obvious to detect. These symptoms can include changes in one's mood or a difference in the sensations of taste and smell. Fatigue and tension in the muscles can also occur before a migraine attack.
Migraines with visual and auditory disturbances are called auras and have different migraine headache symptoms. Sometimes a person with these symptoms sees flashes of light or zigzag lines in their field of vision. They may experience blind spots in their vision and have tingling sensations in the arms or legs. Some may even experience auditory hallucinations.
There are even post migraine headache symptoms, called postdrome symptoms, that a person may or may not experience. These postdrome symptoms may include the inability to eat, not feeling well and fatigue. Migraine headaches can be triggered by certain types of food and stress. Avoiding these foods and stressful situations can sometimes prevent a migraine attack from occurring. Exercising on a regularly basis and reducing the effects of estrogen can help to prevent migraines.
If these methods of prevention do not work, it would be wise to seek help from a medical professional. Prescriptions are readily available for pain relief and preventative measures. While some medications may stop the symptoms that have already begun and abort the migraine headache, others are designed to reduce the frequency of migraines by taking certain medications on a regular basis. After diagnosing the migraines, a physician will be able to decide which methods of prevention are best suited for your needs.
