Headache World

Most people are familiar with the term migraine, and those afflicted by this debilitating and painful condition will need no further explanation as to the basics of the condition. There is, however, more than one type of migraine as the condition comes in several types with some being more common than others.

The first type of migraine to mention is widely known as the classic migraine. With this type around half an hour before the onset of pain the sufferer experiences something called “aura” which involves sensory illusions most common in vision (as in the case of seeing flashes of light) but hearing and smell can also be affected. Yet another type of migraine is known as the common migraine which presents the same symptoms, only without the initial aura. The aura stage, as suggested by the name of this type, is not experienced by most sufferers.

Many migraine sufferers are also afflicted by the phenomenon of rebound headaches which are caused by the overuse of pain medication during the onset of a migraine. The consistent usage of the same medication causes the body to become resistant to it, thereby requiring ever-larger doses to be effective. This causes even more frequent headaches and so the cycle continues.

Ocular migraines occur when the blood vessels of the eyes go into spasm rather than those of the skull or brain-stem. The spasm instead of causing initial pain causes the sufferer to become aware of lights in their peripheral vision which intensify and enlarge until they reach the central visual point. This type of migraine usually lasts around twenty minutes and often leaves the sufferer with either a slight headache or a feeling of fatigue.

Following on there are also ophthalmoplegic migraines which, like ocular migraines, are centered in the eye. The difference between these two is is that with an opthalmoplegic migraine the sufferer will certainly feel pain and will often also experience vomiting. During the progression of the actual headache the muscles controlling eye movement go into a state of temporary paralysis with the eyelids assuming a droopy appearance and may remain somewhat droopy for a few weeks afterwards.

Sufferers with a long history of migraines may also experience the headache-free migraine, where an aura presents itself without the onset of a headache. Elderly sufferers may also experience the carotidynia migraine, which causes pain in the neck and lower jaw. During an attack the cartoid artery may become tender and, depending on the individual, the pain may be dull or sharp. A typical attack may last for several hours and may occur several times a week.

Children may be afflicted by an abdominal migraine as well, a type most commonly seen in children aged between five and nine. It can occasionally be seen in adults though it is much less common and the symptoms tend to present as abdominal pain, feelings of nausea and vomiting. Links have been found suggesting that children that suffer from this kind of migraine grow into adults likely to suffer from migraines either with or without an aura affect. There are various criteria for the diagnosis of abdominal migraines, and any concerned parent should immediately consult their doctor for further advice.