Introduction

Sure we all get headaches from time to time and sometimes the headaches are severe. However, what many people may not realize is that headaches and migraines are not the same thing. A migraine is not just a severe headache but actually another condition all together.

When a person experiences their first migraine, it is like a pain they could have never before imagined. This pain is unlike any other. It is excruciating and relentless. A person can suffer an assortment of other symptoms with the pain. Each person’s experience with migraines is different. People experience different symptoms and to different degrees.

Migraines With Aura and Migraines Without Aura

More common symptoms of migraines include: throbbing, pulsating and other severe pain, nausea and often vomiting, dizziness, sensitivity to light and noise. The two main types of migraine headaches are migraines with aura and migraines without aura.

Auras are often visual in nature and can include things like seeing flashing lights, seeing zigzag lines or losing part of all of your vision. Other aura symptoms can include: muscle weakness, difficulty talking, or numbness somewhere on the face or body. There will normally be head pain following the aura after about 15 to 30 minutes. However, sometimes people experience only an aura. About 15% of migraine suffers have migraines with aura.

The majority of individuals suffering from migraines do not experience an aura. They suffer from migraines without aura (also known as common migraines). These migraines often come on a person more slowly. Common migraines are often the migraines that last for a longer duration. The pain associated with these migraines is sometimes one-sided.

Diagnosing Migraines and How Migraines Manifest Themselves in Different Ways tin Different People

It is difficult to diagnose migraines. There is no specific test that you can have that will tell you that you have migraines. Doctors often make the diagnosis of migraines after running tests to be certain you do not suffer from another or more serious condition. If they rule other illnesses and take a look at your symptoms, they may arrive at the diagnosis of migraines.

Migraines affect everyone differently. Their level of intensity, symptoms, duration and frequency can vary greatly from one person to the next. Most migraines last from 4-72 hours. Many people experience migraines that only last for several hours. While others have migraines for days or even weeks straight. Some migraine suffers have migraines a few times a year, others a few times and month and some people suffer from daily or nearly daily migraines.

For some their migraines do not have a major impact on their daily lives. Most days they are migraine free. When they do have a migraine they are horrendous and can even be debilitating. But they have far more good days than bad. Others suffer from chronic migraines and even intractable migraines. Their migraines wreak havoc on nearly every day of their life. Some people are disabled by their migraines and are unable to continue working.

Treatment Options

Any migraine sufferer should know that there is hope and help out there. Not everyone responds to the same treatments and unfortunately there are some who do not respond well to any treatment. But for the most part if you work closely with your doctor you can come up with a plan to lessen the frequency and intensity of your migraines.

Some people respond well to over the counter pain medications. These are medicines such as Excedrin Migraine, aspirin, Tylenol and Ibuprofen. It is important to always read the directions on medicine bottles to make sure you are taking the medication correctly. There are also prescription drug treatment options for migraine sufferers.

Triptans are a prescription medicine commonly used to treat migraines. Some people do need to take a pain medication when they are suffering a severe migraine. In addition, it is sometimes necessary to visit your local emergency room to receive medication and IV therapy for your migraines.

There are also many prescription drugs that are used to help prevent migraines. These medications include: NSAIDs, beta-blockers, anti-convulsants, anti-depression and calcium channel blockers. Your doctor may try one or more these medications for your treatment plan. If one combination or medicine does not work, do not despair because there are many that you can try.

Triggers and Migraines

Aside from taking medications, there are things you can do to try to treat and limit your migraines. One step is to try to identify common triggers. You may want to keep a migraine diary. Most migraine diaries include the date of a migraine attack, the duration, what medications you took that day, what other treatment you used for your migraine and what you ate that day.

By keeping track of your migraines you can look for patterns. For example, does it seem that whenever you are overly tired you have migraines? Did you have a lot of caffeine to drink many of the days you suffered a migraine? There are some common migraine triggers. These triggers do not affect everyone. Stress can add to other migraine triggers and result in a migraine. Having too little or too much sleep can be a trigger. Other common triggers include: skipping meals, changes in the weather, menstruation, chocolate, excessive amount of caffeine or cigarette smoke. There are many others as well and everyone is different.

Some of the triggers you cannot avoid while others you can try to work with. For example, trying getting enough sleep each night and try not to skip meals. These little things may help to cut down on the frequency of your migraines.

Conclusion

For anyone who suspects that they may be experiencing migraines, you should consult your physician. If you are having severe headaches and other out of the ordinary symptoms, you need to talk to your doctor. They can rule out any more serious conditions. Then, if they discover you do have migraines, you can begin working with your doctor to treat your migraines.

Stay informed. Ask your doctor any questions that you may have about migraines or migraine treatment. If you do not feel your doctor is providing enough help, ask to be referred to a migraine specialist. When you take new medicines use caution. Report any side effects out of the ordinary to your doctor.

Work with your doctor and with yourself to treat your migraines. There are no miracle cures. However, many people are able to control their migraines rather well. Even if you are one of the people who have intractable migraines that do not respond well to medicine, do not give up hope.