Diagnosing The Head Pain

Migraines are not an exact science, research evolving around the topic of migraines is constantly being unveiled and new information is then tested to see if accurate. The diagnosis of migraines is often done by the symptoms of a migraine; when migraine symptoms are felt often enough to warrant concern or remark. Another clue is if you fall into any of the common risk factors for migraines such as your gender, age and family history.

Migraine headaches are often a recurring condition, therefore, it is important that those individuals that suffer from frequent migraine headaches become familiar with the warning signs that help determine if a migraine is in the process of developing. By recognizing the warning signs or symptoms commonly related to a migraine, an individual is than able to prepare his or herself emotionally and physically for the onset of intense head pain that could ultimately last up to seventy two hours. Awareness can limit the immobilizing affect that a migraine headache can have and steps to finding migraine relief can be taken. If preventative steps are not taken than time away from work and family will be the consequence on top of the obvious pain.

Look For The Signs

The warning sides that tell if a migraine is on the verge of breaking through may be overlooked or explained away, however if these warning signs are noted and charted migraines can be stopped before they get started.

• Sleepiness is often explained away by  an overactive brain, bed discomfort and a million other reasons but drowsiness is a sign that a migraine might be in the near future.
• Sudden irritability or changes in mood. Irritability can often be chalked away as not having had a goo night’s rest, be cautious of overlooking unexplained irritability.
• Fatigue
• Bouts of depression
• Obsessive yawning
• Cravings for foods high in sugar of lathered in salt

Symptoms such as the ones mentioned might go unnoticed by most, but those that suffer with frequent migraine headaches should take note of the warnings signs, chart them and prepare for the onset of a migraine headache.

Symptoms That Make The Head Pain A Migraine

Symptoms of a migraine headache can vary from moderate to intense and can affect people differently here is a list of the most commonly complained about symptoms:

• An intense throbbing, pounding feeling typically located on one side of the forehead
  • Pain can also generate in the back of the head
  • Pain can formulate right above one eye
• The pain is often described as unilateral meaning the pain is typically felt or experienced on one side of the head.
  • Reports have shown that about one third of most migraine headaches are described as being felt on both  sides of the head also referred to as bilateral.
  • The pain felt from the migraine on  one side of the head can alternate to the other side of the head during the next migraine attack. If you frequent migraine attacks on the same side of the head please speak with your doctor immediately this could  imply something more serious is occurring.
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Paleness
• Coldness in the hands and feet
• Sensitivity to light and sound

Migraine headaches often start revealing signs several hours and even days before attacking in full force. A shocking 40% of most migraines have preemptive signs before striking an individual helpless.

What Makes A Migraine A Migraine?

The onset of a headache is nuisance and can cause productivity to temporarily stop until it subsides but how do you differentiate between a headache and a migraine? Though both a headache and a migraine have some similarities, there are a few distinct characteristics of a headache that sets it apart from a migraine.

• A headache attacks quickly and with no  warning where as a migraine we learned has preemptive warning signs.
• Migraines can last up to three days  headaches a few hours.
• A headache though bothersome does not  typically result in a loss of productivity and the inability to function.
• Headaches feel more like a pulsing feeling  inside your head; migraines on the other hand tend to be felt only on one  side of the head.
• A bout of irritability might occur with a headache but typically resides after some over the counter medicine  has been taken, sadly those suffering with a migraine do not bounce back as quickly.
• Feelings of nausea, dizziness, sensitivity to light and sound are all characters of a migraine and will not be present with a headache.
• Most headaches are often short lived with no cause for concern there are times when a headache causes severe tension in the facial muscles putting a strain on the neck, shoulders eyes  these headaches are called tension headaches and can be treated with over the counter medication.

Some forty million people suffer with headaches throughout a given year making headaches a very common complaint, the concern is not that a headache has occurred but the frequency of the headache as well as the length in which the headache last.

Tags: Depression, diagnosing migraines, headache, migraine, migraine symptoms, migraine treatment, symptoms, treating migraines