Migraine

Migraines are severe headaches that totally disrupt a person's life.  The pain is usually centered on one side of the head.  Migraines are commonly accompanied by light sensitivity, nausea, or sound sensitivity.  Approximately 20% of migraine sufferers also experience what is called an aura, or other visual anomalies.  Migraines are usually separated into two groups, common migraines and classic migraines. 

The common migraine is the most common, hence its name.  Its symptoms include head pain, light and sound sensitivities and nausea.  Not every patient has every symptom for every migraine.  The pain is often characterized as being a throbbing or pulsing pain, usually on one side of the head but sometimes both sides are affected.  It may get worse with physical activities and often hinders a person's daily routine.  The nausea may or may not include vomiting.  Many people who have not gotten a proper diagnosis of migraine headaches from their doctor lie in a dark, quiet room and wait for the migraine to pass on its own.  Migraines can vary in length from 4 hours up to 72 hours.  Some people complain of getting migraines frequently, two or more a month, while others only experience migraines once or twice a year. 

The classic migraine is very similar to the common migraine with the exception of the aura.  A person with classic migraines reports the same pain, light sensitivity, nausea and sound sensitivity as a person with common migraines.  The aura is the reason for the different names.  Originally, only classic migraines were considered migraines, but then doctors realized common migraines had causes similar to classic migraines and were not just extremely painful headaches.  Why some people experience aura while others do not remains unknown.  The aura can consist of the typical 'aura' vision, or bright light surrounding a person or building.  They can also consist of zigzag lines of bright lights across your field of vision, slowly developing blind spots, blurred or cloudy vision or even tunnel vision.  The aura may also be accompanied by a pins-and-needles feeling in the legs or arm, which may spread up to the face, causing speech problems. 

Both of these migraine types may be preceded by what many migraine sufferers call their 'premonitions' or physical symptoms that a migraine is on its way.  These can include a craving for certain foods, for example chocolate, nuts, peanut butter, or other sweet foods; feelings of extreme happiness or energy; thirst; depression; even sleepiness.  These may appear hours, or even days before the actual migraine begins.  The most common time frame for these to appear is 6 to 24 hours before the migraine begins. 

Many people don't think that children can get headaches, let alone migraines.  Research has shown however, that children as young as one can have a migraine headache.  It also shows that migraines often began in childhood, but lessened in frequency and intensity, as the child got older.  It is awful if your child has migraines, because they cause missed school and frequent trips to the emergency room, something no parent ever wants to experience.  One good thing about children's migraines, they tend to be shorter than adult migraines usually lasting only 1 to 48 hours.  Children's migraines usually have the same symptoms as common migraines and children rarely experience auras.  Children typically have pain on both sides of their head and often have the same premonition symptoms.  Some children have 'abdominal migraines' or the nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound typical of migraines but do not experience any head pain.  These are difficult to diagnose because parents think their child is just playing 'sick' to avoid school.  The good news about children's migraines is they are just as easily treated as adult migraines.