IDENTIFYING MIGRAINES

A migraine headache is one of the most debilitating experiences you can face. It can keep you from your daily activities and really put a damper on your social life. However, not every headache is a migraine. There are other headaches such as tension headaches that can be a part of any normal person’s life from time to time. In order to try to distinguish between these different headaches, here are 18 ways to identify a migraine headache.

• Aura – Aura is a common symptom of migraine. The most common auras are flickering lights, jagged lines or hash lines, or spots that might move in a curved manner. This lasts between five minutes to one hour. Then there is a “pause” phase of about an hour before the pain of the headache begins. However, some people do not experience any pain with the migraine. This is called a “silent migraine”.
• Depression, irritability, or excitement – Changes in mood can be a sign of migraine. Many people become very depressed or irritated when having a migraine. Others appear to become very high. Researchers have reported a possible link of depression to migraine, especially those who have aura with their migraine. Other data suggest that depression raises the risk of turning episode migraines into chronic ones.
• Lack of deep sleep – Those who wake up tired or have trouble going to sleep at night also tend to have migraines. Studies show a link between lack of restorative sleep and migraine headaches. This can be a vicious cycle as migraines keep patients from getting a restful night’s sleep and lack of this deep sleep triggers migraines. It can be a “catch 22” situation.
• Stuffy nose or watery eyes – Although these could be symptoms of an allergy or cold, some people with migraine report sinus symptoms such as stuffy nose, clear nasal drainage, droopy eyelids, and tearing. One study discovered of people reporting sinus headaches, 90% were also having migraines.
• Cravings – Before a migraine hits, many people report having cravings for certain foods. Among the most common is the craving for chocolate.
• Throbbing pain on one of both sides of the head – Pulsating pain is a classic symptom of migraine, although not always present. This pain can be on one side of the head or on both sides. In studies with migraine patients, 50% report that they always have pain on one side of the head, while 34% say they “frequently” have this symptom.
• Eye pain – Many people complain that the pain is right behind their eyes. Many will get their eyes examined but to no avail. Their migraine headaches are not because of eye strain.
• Neck pain – Many people complain of stiffness in their neck before the migraine sets in. Others experience neck stiffness of pain after the migraine has left. In an online survey, 38% of participants reported always having neck symptoms with migraine and 31% said that they “frequently” have this symptom.
• Frequent urination – If you find that you have to use the bathroom a lot, it may be a sign that a migraine is on the way. This is one of the many symptoms that arrive before the migraine pain comes. This and other symptoms start in what is known as the prodrome phase of migraine. These symptoms occur in as little as an hour or as much as two days before the actual pain.
• Yawning – Although everyone from time to time yawns from tiredness or upon awakening in the morning, yawning can also be a sign that migraine is about to strike. Unlike the normal yawning, those who experience this symptom say that the yawning is excessive and may occur every few minutes.
• Numbness or tingling – Some people with migraines report sensory aura. They may experience a temporary lack of sensation or a pins-and-needles effect that moves from the fingertips, through the arm, and across the face.
• Nausea and vomiting – In a study, 73% of people with migraine suffer from nausea and 23% experience vomiting. Those who have the worst headache pain symptoms also have the worst nausea and vomiting experiences. Those who have little or no nausea or vomiting have migraines with less headache pain.
• Light, noises, or smells – Bright lights, loud noises, and strong smells worsen or trigger migraine headaches.
• Activity – Although exercise and activity is normally good to do, in certain people, activity can induce migraine headaches. It can also make a migraine worse. Those who have activity-induced migraines need to have a thorough medical workup to rule out other underlying causes like brain aneurysm.
• Speech disturbances – This is another symptom that a migraine may be on the way. However, it is a good idea to have this checked out to rule out the possibility of stroke.
• Weakness on one side of the body – If an arm goes limp, it could be a sign of migraine. However, this can also be a sign of a stroke so get it checked out with a doctor to rule out this more serious condition.
• Vertigo or double-vision – One type of migraine can cause vertigo or double-vision. Patients also can experience balance issues during a migraine. A link has been found between migraine and dizziness or double-vision. The more intense the headache, to more prevalent these symptoms.
• Headache hangover – After a migraine headache passes, patients frequently complain of fatigue, trouble concentrating, weakness, dizziness, lightheadedness, and loss of energy. These symptoms cause most people added grief in that they are unable to quickly recuperate from the effects of migraine.

Migraine headache is no picnic. If you suffer from this condition, knowledge can be one of your greatest weapons. Knowing the symptoms and receiving the proper treatment before the migraine happens is important to minimizing the experience to you can recuperate as quickly as possible and resume your life.

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