Migraine Headache
Migraine headaches are less common than tension-type headaches. Nevertheless, migraines afflict 25 to 30 million people in the United States alone. Here are some facts about migraine headaches.
- As many as 6% of all men and up to 18% of all women (about 12% of the population as a whole) experience a migraine headache at some time.
- Roughly three out of four migraine sufferers are female.
- Among the most distinguishing features is the potential disability accompanying the headache pain of a migraine.
- Migraines are felt on one side of the head by about 60% of migraine sufferers, and the pain is typically throbbing in nature.
- Nausea, with or without vomiting, as well as sensitivity to light and sound often accompany migraines.
- An aura –a group of telltale neurologic symptoms–sometimes occurs before the head pain begins. Typically, an aura involves a disturbance in vision that may consist of brightly colored or blinking lights in a pattern that moves across the field of vision.
- About one in five migraine sufferers experiences an aura.
- Usually, migraine attacks are occasional, or sometimes as often as once or twice a week, but not daily.
Migraine or Tension headache?
Columns A and B show the symptoms commonly seen in two types of headache. Compare your symptoms with those listed and determine what type of headache you may have by noting whether your symptoms are most like those in column A or B. Some people have both of these types of headache.
If your headaches are very severe or if you think they are some other type, do not delay in seeking professional medical attention.
Symptom |
A
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B
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Intensity and Quality of Pain |
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Mild-to-moderate |
• |
• |
Moderate-to-severe |
• |
• |
Intense, pounding, throbbing and/or debilitating |
• |
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Distracting but not debilitating |
• |
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Steady ache |
• |
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Location of Pain |
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One side of head |
• |
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Both sides of head |
• |
• |
Associated Symtoms |
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Nausea/vomiting |
• |
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Sensitivity to light and/or sounds |
• |
|
Aura before onset of headache such as visual symptoms |
• |
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Note: Rebound headache may have features of tension and/or migraine headache |
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