Migraines are the second most common type of headaches, after tension headaches. They tend to be hereditary, commonly running in families. Age of onset may vary, but most commonly begin in the 20s and 30s. Migraines rarely, however, commence in middle age or older.
Types of Migraine:
• Migraine without aura, also known as “common migraine”.
• Migraine with aura
• Others: basilar artery migraine, hemiplegic migraine, ophthalmoplegic migraine, retinal migraine, abdominal migraine etc.
Symptoms:
The signs and symptoms of migraine attacks vary greatly among individuals. There are 4 phases of a migraine attack commonly described, but not all phases are experienced by all individuals.
Prodrome Phase:
Prodromal symptoms occurs in about 40 – 60% of migraine sufferers. Symptoms include altered mood, irritability, fatigue, yawning, craving for certain foods etc, and may precede the actual headaches by several hours or days.
Aura Phase:
These migraine auras may be visual, sensory or motor disturbances, with the visual auras being, by far, the most common. Visual disturbances may include flashes of light, zigzag lines, cloudy vision etc. These auras usually do not last more than an hour. Continue reading ‘Migraine Headaches – Understanding Migraines and Its Management’ »