 |
|
|
 |
|
Migraine
The term 'migraine' has often been used to describe any severe headache. In fact, migraine is a special type of headache that is diagnosed through noting particular features about the headache.
These features include:
|
-
|
Pain on one side of the head
|
|
-
|
Throbbing, pounding or pulsating pain that follows the heartbeat
|
|
-
|
Pain severe enough to interfere with work
|
|
-
|
Worsening pain with exertion
|
|
-
|
Nausea or vomiting
|
|
-
|
Sensitivity to light and sound during the headache
|
Migraines tend to be triggered by various internal and external factors. These can include poor sleep, irregular meals, menses and changes in the surrounding temperature or light intensity.
About 10% of the Singapore population above the age of 12 have migraines.
Many people with migraine have family members with migraines.
Some people will have unusual warning symptoms before they get a migraine headache. These may include flashes of light, colours or blind spots in their vision, a spinning type of giddiness or even numbness and weakness of one side of the body. These warning symptoms are usually short-lived (less than an hour) and are called 'auras'. Occasionally, an individual can get migraine auras without much of a headache.
Treatment of migraines includes avoiding the factors that bring them on and taking medication. If migraine headaches occur very often, your doctor may discuss the need for daily medication to prevent the attacks with you, rather than giving you medicine to treat each attack as it comes.
- BACK TO LIBRARY
|
|
|
