Migraine Headaches- Classic and Common

Migraine headaches affect fifteen percent of the American population. Migraines are different from person to person, but they are usually associated with severe pain on one or both sides of the head. Migraines can come with symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, along with distorted vision and sensitivity to light. A migraine can last a few hours or a few days, and four out of five people that experience migraines have a family member that does as well.

People suffer from two types of migraines- classic and common. Classic migraines are preceded by what is known as an aura, which can occur anywhere from ten to thirty minutes beforehand. An aura can affect the vision, with the individual seeing anything from flashing lights to outlines of lights to losing their vision temporarily. With a classic migraine headache, the person can have trouble speaking, experience weakness in an arm or leg, become confused, and have a tingling sensation in their hands and in their face. A common migraine lacks an aura, but can come with tiredness and a change in mood preceding them. Migraines can occur as often as several times a month or once in a great while.

The cause of migraines is not crystal clear, but scientists believe that they result from a combination of expanding blood vessels and the release of certain chemicals into the system. Chemicals normally present in the brain such as dopamine and serotonin, if present in irregular amounts, can cause blood vessels to narrow and then to expand afterwards, which results in the pain symptoms. The ensuing reactions chemically in the brain can cause even more discomfort, and researchers think that this whole process is triggered, depending on the individual, by such diverse things as chocolate, cheese, alcohol, nuts, and a flavor enhancer known as MSG. Not eating can also precipitate a migraine in some people, as can stress, tension, smoking, and changes in estrogen levels in women.