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.
Some migraineurs experience sensory disturbances (auras) at the beginning of a headache. This might include brightly colored blinking lines, flashes of light, colored dots or black spots. It can also cause a person to see only half of an object. This type of an attack is called a ‘classical migraine’ and the headache usually starts within 10 to 30 minutes of experiencing the aura. This type of headache is experienced by 10 to 15 percent of all migraineurs.
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.
A migraine can last for quite a long time…anywhere from four to seventy-two hours. It starts with a dull, aching pain but then develops to an overwhelming throbbing pain that fluctuates. As mentioned, most sufferers are sensitive to light and sound and need to be in a darkened room. Moving, bending over or sudden movement, can make the pain worse. Some experience nausea to the extent of vomiting. Other changes in the body include diarrhea, increased urination and a loss of appetite.
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 body’s thermostat.
Often people get migraines after a period of intense stress has ended, such as on vacation, a weekend or shortly after meeting a deadline. It is not unusual for the migraine sufferer to feel completely drained when the migraine is all over. Some report feeling exhausted for days after; yet others feel a sense of renewal and experience 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.
Author: Jan Shimano
Jan Shimano was District Manager for Health & Welfare Canada for many years. She has also been self-employed as a Nutritional Consultant and a Master Herbalist. She is currently a Business and Health Coach and works from her home on Vancouver Island. Jan invites you to learn more about her by visiting her website at http://www.JanShimano.com where you can subscribe to her free newsletters.
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