MedifocusHealth

There are two types of headaches that have been identified: primary headaches which are not associated with any underlying pathology and include migraine, cluster, and tension headaches and secondary headaches, which are attributable to an underlying pathological condition such as tumor, infection, or a vascular condition.

People who suffer from migraine headaches are called migraineurs. Migraine headaches are characterized by:

• Pain typically starting around the eyes, on the side of the head (temples), or in the forehead
• Pounding, throbbing, or pulsating pain
• Unilateral (one side of the head) pain but could be bilateral
• Pain duration of 2 hours to three days
• Sensitivity to light and sound during the migraine
• Disabling and incapacitating pain during severe headache
• Presence of an aura, a pattern of lines or shadows in front of the eyes, in a minority of patients
• Physical exertion, such as lifting or climbing stairs may intensify the pain
• Nausea, with or without vomiting in approximately 80% of migraineurs
• An almost universal desire to lay down in a dark, quiet room and sleep

The National Headache Foundation (NHF) estimates that approximately 20.5 million people in the U.S. suffer from migraine headaches. Migraines occur most commonly between the ages of 15 and 55 though they are not uncommon in preschoolers and elementary school-age children. Migraines typically peak at 40-50 years of age and subside thereafter in both men and women. Up to 80% of migraineurs have a family history of migraine headache.

The largest subgroup of people who experience migraine headaches is women in their reproductive years. It is estimated that up to 25% of all migraine attacks occur in the perimenstrual period of the menstrual cycle (from two days before up to 3 days after the cycle begins).

It is estimated that less than half the people suffering from migraines receive a correct diagnosis by their physicians. Migraines are severely underdiagnosed and are often misdiagnosed as tension or sinus headaches. When left untreated, a migraine headache can continue for up to 72 hours. They may occur as infrequently as twice a year or as often as daily. For unknown reasons, some migraineurs spontaneously go into remission and experience an extended period of time (even years) without headaches.

Many migraineurs never even go to a doctor for an official diagnosis for several reasons, including:

• They feel like they can manage their headaches with over-the-counter (OTC) medication or home remedies.
• They may feel that their headache is not serious enough to warrant medical attention.
• They may have been misdiagnosed and when medication didn't help, they assume that there's nothing else available.
• They may have been correctly diagnosed but may have been given incorrect medications or inadequate doses of the appropriate medications.

Because so many people are not receiving proper treatment for their migraine headaches, it is estimated that less than 50% of migraineurs are pain-free two hours after taking medications and up to 30% are not pain-free even after 24 hours after taking medications.