Migraine Headache

Nearly everyone gets headaches. But while some are tension headaches or headaches caused by a cold. Or flue, migraine headaches tend to rather severe. Migraine headaches tend to be severe and recurrent and are often accompanied by nausea. What begins as a pain on one side of the head may spread to both sides and can be a severe impediment in your daily routine. Some persons get warning signs before a migraine attack. These are called 'aura' - throbbing pulsating pain or flashes of bright lights or blind spots. It is thought that migraine headaches are caused by a change in the blood flow pattern to the brain. Trigerred by stress or other factors, arteries supplying blood to the brain may constrict. Serotonin, a chemical may also have a role to play since it is released from nerve fibers that coil around the blood vessels. To tackle this, certain arteries within the brain may dilate to accomodate better oxygen supply. This dilation may result in migraine headaches. While anyone can get migraine headaches, they are more common in women.

Migraine Headache Symptom

Migraine headache symptoms may vary in type and intensity from person to person. Migraines can be inherited and thus run in families. Some typical symptoms noticed in most migraine headache sufferers are:

• Throbbing pain on one or both sides of the head
• Nausea and vomitting
• Stiff neck
• Sensitivity to light and sound
• Visual hallucinations such as zigzag lines and flashing lights
• Tiredness, irritability and confusion
• Mood swings
• Sensitivity to cold
• Diarrhea and increased urination