subject: The Causes of Migraine Headaches [print this page] The Causes of Migraine Headaches The Causes of Migraine Headaches
A migraine headache is not like any other headache that you may have experienced. It is a severe, throbbing pain which usually occurs on one side of the head and can actually disrupt your entire life. Some migraines can render you totally inept to be able to function at all. They can leave you with a significant disability. One would think that migraines are relatively rare in your personal life; however, they are relatively common, especially in women. The affect approximately 18% of women and 6% of men in the United States and if left untreated can recur year after year.
Symptoms of a typical migraine include the fact that they normally occur on one side of the head, are of moderate to severe in intensity, they interfere with your daily activities, are exacerbated by physical activity such as coughing, walking, or climbing stairs, and are often accompanied with nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light and sound.
A person who suffers from migraine headaches is known as a migraineur and can recognize what is known as a prodrome in the 24 hours leading up to a migraine. One of the symptoms a migraineur recognizes might be sudden depression or exhilaration, decreased appetite, disruptions in sleep, and suffering from auras (Approximately 15% of migraine sufferers observe flashing lights or strange shapes just prior to when the headache occurs.)
Although there is no easy way to treat or prevent migraine headaches, a proactive person should seek help from a physician or neurologist to provide a treatment that will help to reduce the debilitation effects.
