Health: Understanding Migraines

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Migraines differ from regular, everyday headaches. Do you know the difference? Explore the definition of "migraine" and see what increases your risk of experiencing one.

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What type of headaches do you get?

Migraines often go undiagnosed, and therefore untreated, but you can address the subject by learning more about this painful phenomenon.

According to Merriam-Webster, the official definition of "migraine" is:

1: a condition marked by recurring moderate to severe headache with throbbing pain that usually lasts from four hours to three days, typically begins on one side of the head but may spread to both sides, is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light or sound, and is sometimes preceded by an aura and is often followed by fatigue

• Migraine affects three times as many women as men.
• --The Journal of the American Medical Association​

2: an episode or attack of migraine  

However, not all migraines are alike. The Migraine Association of Ireland categorizes migraines into seven types:

• Related to aura
  • Migraine aura without headache - describes those who experience the neurological disturbances of an aura without the pain of a headache; a fairly rare form
  • Migraine with aura - describes a variety of neurological disturbances that occur in addition to a migraine and before attack onset; thought to last approximately 20-60 minutes in total
  • Migraine without aura - experienced by most patients who suffer from migraines
• Unrelated to aura
  • ​Basilar migraine - may include symptoms such as blurred or double vision, difficulty speaking, loss of balance, and/or loss of consciousness; a rare form, usually occurring in women, that is caused by abnormal circulation to the areas of the posterior brain and neck
  • Hemiplegic Migraine - noted by the occurrence of reversible paralysis (normally only on one side of the body); associated auras may last for several days or even weeks; a rare but severe form that usually begins during childhood in patients with family history of this type of migraine
  • Ophthalmoplegic Migraine - additional symptoms may include difficulty moving the eye a certain direction, droopy eyelids, and/or pupil dilation; an especially rare form that usually occurs in younger people that already have muscle weakness in the eye
  • Vestibular Migraine (aka. Migraine Association Vertigo) - besides headache, additional symptoms are extensive (view full list here); this disorder describes those with problems relating to coordination of bones, muscles, sensory information sent by the eyes, and/or vestibular organs of the ears

Now that you know the different types of migraines, what predisposes you to developing the condition?

Several factors may make you more prone to develop migraines. Mayo Clinic references these factors that affect your risk:

• A change in hormones - some women report migraines that occur slightly before or just after menstruation; pregnancy and menopause may also affect onset or severity of headaches 
• Age - though migraines my start at any age, the number you experience will likely dissipate with age; most experience their first migraine during adolescence, a peak in frequency during young adulthood (around your 30s), and a reduction in both severity and frequency as more years follow
• Family history - your chance of experiencing migraines significantly increases if you have family members who also get migraines
• Sex - though more headaches affect boys during childhood, studies show that women are about three times more likely than men to experience migraines

Other factors such as obesity may affect your risk for developing migraines, and according to Migraine.com you might want to consider factors affecting migraine progression. However, if you have migraines you are not alone, and this condition has several identifiable triggers and symptoms (see related post > "Migraine Triggers, Symptoms, and Diagnosis").

I hope that this post helps readers better understand what a migraine is, thereby prompting the exploration of medical diagnosis and treatment. Perhaps increased awareness will help those who suffer from migraines receive appropriate care and sympathy. 

What specific form of migraine do you most often experience?

Please remember to participate in our Interactive Online Community by commenting below to share your migraine story. We want to hear from you! 

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Blessings for migraine awareness,
Danielle

See related post >> Migraine Triggers, Symptoms, & Diagnosis
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