It's the very rare person who has never had a headache. However, all headaches are not created equally. There are various forms and one of the most painful and difficult to handle is the migraine headache.
Migraines are classified as throbbing headaches that are felt on only one side of the head. Most migraine sufferers experience some degree of nausea and even vomiting. They are also sensitive to light and sound and the pain becomes worse with activity.
A person that suffers from 'classical' migraines will have what is called an 'aura' prior to the actual headache. They will experience sensory disturbances that could include brightly colored blinking lines, flashes of light, dots and black spots that pass in their field of vision. They might also lose a portion of their sight for this short period of time and may only see half of an object. The aura comes about 10 - 30 minutes before the headache and only 10% - 15% of migraineurs have this type of a migraine.
The other 85 to 90 percent will experience a common migraine (or migraine without aura). These people can still have warning signs though, which include a hot sensation in the head, a feeling of heaviness and a tightening sensation throughout the scalp. These warnings can actually appear from a few hours to even a day before the attack.
Learning to read your own body warnings and symptoms can be a very important part of developing an effective treatment program for your headaches. It's a good idea to keep a little symptom diary so that you can identify any patterns that might emerge. For instance, you might find that the migraine comes on around the same time every month. If that's the case, and you are a woman, it could be tied in with your monthly cycle.
Some people only experience the headache for 4 hours or so, but other will have the migraine for up to seventy-two hours. It mostly starts with a dull, aching pain, developing into an overwhelming throbbing pain, which can fluctuate. For those who are sensitive to light during this phase, they have to lie down in a darkened room and keep as still as possible. Bending over or sudden movements can increase the pain. Diarrhea, increased urination and loss of appetite are other changes that can occur.
While the headache is at its worse, the hands and feet can feel extremely cold. However, just before the migraine the head might have felt hot. All these temperature changes are thought to be due to disturbances taking place in the hypothalamus, which is the bodys thermostat.
Migraines can occur after a period of intense stress has actually ended. For instance, after getting back from a vacation, a weekend or shortly after meeting a deadline. Also, when the migraine is all over, it is not unusual for the person to feel completely wiped out. Some report actually feeling exhausted for days after. Some, however, feel a sense of renewal and a surge of energy.
If, after reading this, you believe that the headaches you are having are migraines, it is recommended that you visit your health care provider, as regular over-the-counter pain medication will do very little to help alleviate your headache.
Migraines are classified as throbbing headaches that are felt on only one side of the head. Most migraine sufferers experience some degree of nausea and even vomiting. They are also sensitive to light and sound and the pain becomes worse with activity.
A person that suffers from 'classical' migraines will have what is called an 'aura' prior to the actual headache. They will experience sensory disturbances that could include brightly colored blinking lines, flashes of light, dots and black spots that pass in their field of vision. They might also lose a portion of their sight for this short period of time and may only see half of an object. The aura comes about 10 - 30 minutes before the headache and only 10% - 15% of migraineurs have this type of a migraine.
The other 85 to 90 percent will experience a common migraine (or migraine without aura). These people can still have warning signs though, which include a hot sensation in the head, a feeling of heaviness and a tightening sensation throughout the scalp. These warnings can actually appear from a few hours to even a day before the attack.
Learning to read your own body warnings and symptoms can be a very important part of developing an effective treatment program for your headaches. It's a good idea to keep a little symptom diary so that you can identify any patterns that might emerge. For instance, you might find that the migraine comes on around the same time every month. If that's the case, and you are a woman, it could be tied in with your monthly cycle.
Some people only experience the headache for 4 hours or so, but other will have the migraine for up to seventy-two hours. It mostly starts with a dull, aching pain, developing into an overwhelming throbbing pain, which can fluctuate. For those who are sensitive to light during this phase, they have to lie down in a darkened room and keep as still as possible. Bending over or sudden movements can increase the pain. Diarrhea, increased urination and loss of appetite are other changes that can occur.
While the headache is at its worse, the hands and feet can feel extremely cold. However, just before the migraine the head might have felt hot. All these temperature changes are thought to be due to disturbances taking place in the hypothalamus, which is the bodys thermostat.
Migraines can occur after a period of intense stress has actually ended. For instance, after getting back from a vacation, a weekend or shortly after meeting a deadline. Also, when the migraine is all over, it is not unusual for the person to feel completely wiped out. Some report actually feeling exhausted for days after. Some, however, feel a sense of renewal and a surge of energy.
If, after reading this, you believe that the headaches you are having are migraines, it is recommended that you visit your health care provider, as regular over-the-counter pain medication will do very little to help alleviate your headache.
About the Author:
Jan Shimano was District Manager for Health & Welfare Canada for many years. She was also self-employed as a Nutritional Consultant and a Master Herbalist. She is presently a Business and Health Coach working from her home on Vancouver Island. Jan invites you to drop by her website and subscribe to her free newsletters on regaining and maintaining abundant health....you can be healthy again!
No comments:
Post a Comment