Understanding MIGRAINE and OTHER HEADACHES(by DR Anne MacGregor)

                            DIFFERENT TYPES OF MIGRAINE 
WHAT IS MIGRAINE?
The name'migraine' is derived from the word' hemicrania' meaning a one sided headache, although the migraine headache can be generalised.Migraine headache is often described as a throbbing pain that gets worse on physical activity>Althought  be the pain may be severe, migraine is not in itself life threatening .although a bad attack often feels like it.
 WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
Migraine is however more than just a headache and the headache is not necessarily  the major syimptom.Some attacks are preceded by visual disturbances.Other typical symptoms include nausea,vomiting, and sensitivity to light,noise, and smell.Many sufferers cannot bear even the thought of food,whereas others find that eating takes the edge off their nausea.
  Migraine has been likened  to power cut.During a migraine you may find you whole body seems to shut down for a while and you whant to hide away until the attack is over.
                                                 WHO GETS MIGRAINE?
GENDER
Migraine effects more women than men in a ratio of about three to one.Hormonal changes in women are the obvious reason for this difference betwen the sexes and account for the fact that until puberty migraine is equally prevalent in boys and girls.
AGE
At  least 90 per cent of people who get migraine have their first attack before the age of 40.For most people migraine starts during their  teens or early 20s,although it has been diagnosed in young children and even babies.It's rare for everyone over the age 50 to experience their first attack of migraine.
         THE FIVE PHASES OF MIGRAINE
Migraine can divided into five distinct phases
1.premonitory(warning sign)
2.aura
3.headache
4.resolution
5.postdromal(recovery)