Migraine headaches and your average headache may be difficult to decipher between. For those who have not had a history of chronic headaches, the development of a severe headache may catch them by surprise and leave them wondering if the intense head pain was an actual migraine or just a very bad headache. There are several steps / approaches a person can take if this is his or her first experience with severe head pain.
- Wait – see if the head pain occurs again
- Seek – seek out medical advice
- Journal – keeping a headache journal will provide valuable information to a medical professional and help the medical professional make an informed diagnosis.
When it comes to headaches and or migraines, it can be a bit tricky diagnosing the two if the person asking for a diagnosis does not frequent headaches. In order to diagnose a migraine, frequency is often a must have and a headache log kept for several weeks. It is possible that a onetime migraine occurrence was had but before medical attention is sought you may want to research migraine headaches a bit further.
What Is A Migraine?
A migraine headache is unique due to the way it develops. Migraines change the chemicals in the brain and cause a series of painful symptoms to be let loose as a result. Migraine headaches are developed when the blood vessels in the brain begin to enlarge and release a harmful chemical into the brain to attack the brains arteries. The enlarging of the blood vessels is what spurs on or promotes the painful throbbing / pounding sensations in the head. Migraines are unilateral in that the pain is felt on one side of the head right above the eye. Migraine headaches last for several days and bring with them debilitating symptoms.
Migraine Symptoms
Migraine symptoms are unique to migraines and if migraine symptoms are known then there is no confusing migraine headaches with any other type of headache. Migraine headache symptoms include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Sensitivity to light / sound
- Blurred Vision
- Cognitive Confusion
- Diarrhea
- Throbbing / Pounding Head Pain
Diagnosing migraine headaches are done through a headache history, migraine journal and the symptoms complained about. Reoccurring head pain that differs with each attack should set off warning that something more complex could be wrong. Speaking with a medical professional could help ease the mind of the concerned patient.
Tags: Chronic migraine, enlarged blood vessels, headache, migraine, migraine attack, migraine headache, migraine relief, Migraines, nausea, neurological condition, pounding, Throbbing
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