Whilst migraines are characterized most obviously by the painful headache that they are accompanied by, there are also other symptoms that differentiate them from other types of headaches.
To begin with there are two types of headaches, primary and secondary headaches. Primary headaches can be put into four main categories and are non-fatal but can lead to a serious reduction in quality of life.
Primary Headaches:
Cluster Headaches: These are known as cluster headaches because they recur for a number of weeks before subsiding. They occur around the temple or the eye and are confined to one side of the head. They last for an hour or less each time but they can happen several times each day and night which cause problems with sleeping.
Tension Headaches: This is the most common form of headache and is felt in a pain in the neck or head. The pain is felt as a pressure on both sides of the neck or head and can last as little as a couple of minutes or as long as a few days. The pain is mild to moderate and whilst unpleasant it is not debilitating. Crucially there are no additional effects to a tension headache such as nausea and it is not significantly worsened by exercise.
Migraine Headaches: A moderate to severe headache which is usually confined to one side of the head. It is a pulsating or throbbing sensation. In contrast to the other types of headaches it is worsened by exercise or exposure to bright or flashing lights as well as loud noises. There are a variety of other symptoms which can include nausea, diarrhea and some people experience visual problems in the build up such as flashing lights and blurred sight. Migraines can last from 4 to 72 hours and occur with varying frequency.
Chronic Daily Headaches: These occur daily and can be any one of the above types. To come under this definition they must occur at least 15 days a month for a period of 3 months or more.
The main difference between headaches and migraine headaches is therefore the severity and the time they last for. The severity of migraines is not just the actual headache period but also the associated symptoms in the build up such as nausea and sensitivity to lights and sounds.
Secondary Headaches:
Secondary headaches occur due to underlying reasons and can be very serious. They usually occur in older patients and can be accompanied by fever, stiff necks and are not responsive to usual treatments. Examples of underlying reasons for secondary headaches can include brain tumours, brain aneurisms and spinal abnormalities. As such any patient suffering from secondary headaches are advised to consult a doctor immediately.
Helen Stone is an author, artist, interior designer and homeopathic practitioner with a keen in interest in theatre and skiing.
Having suffered from headaches and migraines for much of her adult life she decided to spend the last few years travelling worldwide in order to research migraines, what causes migraines and how best to relieve the pain through natural treatments.
She believes in living life to the full and experiencing and understanding the world as best she can, learning more with each day.
For more migraine tips, treatments and remedies go to http://www.the-migraine-cure.com/
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