Wellness Tips: What is a Migraine?

Posted March 29th, 2006 by admin

Learn more about today’s wellness tips topic; what is a migraine?

Today’s wellness tips topic; what is a migraine? A migraine is a type of headache. What makes a migraine different from a headache? Migraines usually have a duration between four hours to seventy-two hours. It is not uncommon to have a migraine last seventy hours or more. If you have a migraine that lasts longer than 24 hours seek emergency medicine for treatment.

Along with severe head pain, other symptoms that usually accompany a migraine include vomiting, nausea, sensitivity to light, and auras. There are two types of migraines: the classic migraine and the common migraine. The classic migraine develops through four stages: prodome, aura, headache, and postheadache.

The prodome stage begins with feelings of irritability, depression, or fatigue. The prodome stage usually lasts about 24 hours. The aura stage involves an increasing area of blindness girdled by a shimmering border that can include up to half your field of vision in both eyes. You may also notice bright spots, zigzagging lights, flashing lights, and burning sensations or weakness on one side of the body. This stage may last up to thirty minutes. During the headache stage, throbbing pain occurs that may affect one side of the head while expanding to the other side. Bright lights and loud noises can magnify the pain. The postheadache stage is characterized by tiredness and fatigue.

The common migraine develops slower in comparison to the classic migraine. The common migraine is often preceded by feelings of tiredness, depression, and anxiety. Before the onset of a common migraine, you might find yourself very irritable, have sudden cravings, or yawning uncontrollably. The common migraine usually is limited to one side of the head.

Here are a few things you can do to treat your migraine. Migraine sufferers usually feel the migraine coming on before being totally blind sided by the migraine. The best treatment is to take action before the migraine progresses to an unbearable stage. Apply a cold compress or an ice pack to your head. You can also splash some cold water on your face. Try to rest in a cool, dark, quiet place. You should try to sleep, meditate, or listen to soft music. Do not read. If you have been prescribed medication, follow your doctor’s instructions to the letter. Wellness tips encourages migraine sufferers to seek medical treatment if a migraine lasts longer than 24 hours.

by Kristy Haugen


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