How Kofi learnt the difference between headaches and migraines.
My friend and his sister who have migraine headaches, say it’s possible that their genes make them more likely to have migraines since their parents have them too. They complain of a temporary disturbance to their vision, known as migraine aura, as their main migraine symptom. It can be experienced as visual problems such as seeing flashing lights, zigzag patterns, or even blind spots. However my migraines have never been accompanied by vision problems.
Did you know that migraine can occur at any age but is most common between the ages of 25 to 55 years?
Find out more about Migraine symptoms.
I heard the myth that migraines only ever affect one side of the head but the pains I get are usually on both sides, and affect my face or neck. According to my friend's uncle, one of the main migraine symptoms is vomiting but that also turned out to be a myth. While some people find their migraines are accompanied by nausea or vomiting, others don't ever experience these symptoms. Or, like me, they may sometimes feel nauseous but never actually vomit.
My migraine headaches can feel severe, with an intense throbbing in my head. I’m an active person but I rarely do anything particularly strenuous. I’ve found trying something new can often trigger a migraine, climbing for example. So, I find it best to ease into new activities slowly, letting my body get used it.
After having a headache earlier in the day, I was over at a friend’s watching a movie and it all started adding up. The bright light of the screen was worsening my headache, so I mentioned my sensitivity to light to my friend. They said it sounded like their migraine symptoms and that I should chat to my GP about it. I did, and my GP diagnosed what I thought were headaches as migraines.
What I learnt
Recognising the difference between an ordinary headache and a migraine isn’t always easy, but here’s something that can help.
A tension headache can be confused with a migraine. A tension headache can be painful for a few hours, but the symptoms are different to a migraine. Compared to a migraine, a tension headache starts more gradually, is shorter and less severe than a migraine. Tension headaches generally don’t worsen with normal daily activity and they don’t have the same throbbing feeling of a migraine. That’s why I think understanding the signs and triggers of your migraine can help understand the pain and treat it. Both can usually be treated with over the counter pain medicine.
Find out more about Migraine symptoms.
Facts about migraines
Whilst researching migraines, I found some interesting facts that helped me understand my symptoms and hopefully they can help you too.
- Migraines affect more women than men. Sometimes there may be other family members who also suffer from migraines.
- Migraines can occur on one side of the head or you can feel pain on both sides. In some cases, migraine headaches can affect your face or neck.
- Not everyone who experiences a migraine feels nauseous or vomits.
- Not every migraine affects everyone the same. Some people have symptoms that allow them to carry on with their day-to-day life, although it may be a struggle to do so.
It’s said that migraines are best treated as early as possible. Taking Nurofen Migraine Pain which contains ibuprofen lysine, can help relieve migraine and headaches for up to 8 hours based on a 400mg dose (2 tablets/capsules).
Myths about migraine symptoms and causes continue to be passed on. Knowing the facts can help you to manage your migraines better, as well as enabling you to treat them as effectively as possible. If you have any questions or queries about migraine symptoms, don’t hesitate to contact your doctor or pharmacist.
This is not a real case study, but an illustrative example of real migraine symptoms and treatment options. All information provided has been reviewed for scientific accuracy.
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