What are Migraines? What is Migraine Disease?

If you're reading Somebody Heal Me, you may already fully understand how a migraine attack and migraine disease are characterized. However, I know many people come upon my blog through Google searches or other paths who are looking for basic information or who are unsure if what they or (a loved one) are experiencing is migraine or something else.

According to the International Headache Society Classification, these are the common features of a migraine:

• A headache lasting 4 - 72 hours when left untreated or when unsuccessfully treated;
• The headache causes moderate to severe pain;
• The headache is one-sided;
  
• Nausea or vomiting; and
  
• Sensitivity to light or sound.
  

A migraineur may have migraine with aura or migraine without aura, so the absence of an aura does not mean the person does not have migraine disease. Aura is a set of neurological disturbances that occur before a migraine attack. This can include visual disturbances, fatigue, yawning, a stiff neck and sensitivity to light and sound.

For more information on important migraine-related topics, read the essential articles I have collected at this link:

Essential Migraine Articles

I also recommend the My Migraine Connection website for answers to all your questions.

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Content by Diana E. Lee.