IMPORTANT FACTS
About 28 million Americans experience migraines, typically beginning in their 20s. Prevalence is higher in women, with 70% of those with migraines are women.
The causes for migraines and headaches is not well known. Research suggests that the pain is due to inflammation, the trigeminal nerve, blood vessels surrounding the brain, and Serotonin levels.
It is important to record your migraine experience. For example, what did you eat before the migraine started, what was the weather that day, etc. This will help you learn the warning signals that trigger your migraine.
The most common type of headache is a tension headache. Tension headaches are due to tight muscles in your shoulders, neck, scalp and jaw. They are often related to stress, depression, anxiety, lock of sleep, missed meals or use of alcohol. Other common types of headaches include migraines, cluster headaches and sinus headaches.
Most people can feel much better by making lifestyle changes, learning ways to relax and taking pain relievers. A migraine headache can cause intense throbbing or pulsing in one area of the head and is commonly accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine attacks can cause significant pain for hours to days and be so severe that all you can think about is finding a dark, quiet place to lie down.
