Sara Niyaze Muhyadden
5th grade-Pharmacy Department-TIU – Erbil
A migraine is a headache characterized by recurrent attacks of moderate to severe throbbing and pulsating pain on one side of the head. The pain is caused by the activation of nerve fibers within the wall of brain blood vessels traveling inside the meninges (three layers of membranes protecting the brain and spinal cord). Migraines occur most frequently in the morning, especially upon waking. Some people have migraines at predictable times, such as before menstruation or on weekends following a stressful week of work. Many people feel exhausted or weak following a migraine but are usually symptom-free between attacks.
Two main types of migraine
- Migraine without Aura (Common Migraine)
A migraine without aura is also called common migraine. Symptoms include pulsing or throbbing pain on one side of the head. Sensitivity to light (photophobia), sensitivity to sound (phonophobia), nausea, and vomiting are also symptoms of this type of migraine. Pain may worsen during physical activity. Symptoms typically last between 4 and 72 hours. If the attack lasts beyond 72 hours, it is called status migrainosus.
- Migraine with Aura (Classic Migraine)
Migraine with aura is a type of migraine that includes symptoms like sensory and visual changes. These visual changes are called an “aura” and can include seeing spots, zigzags, or flashes of light. Other symptoms may include difficulty speaking clearly or tingling and numbness on one side of the body. These symptoms can last anywhere from 10 to 60 minutes. Often, these symptoms signal that a severe headache is about to occur.
Other types include
- Chronic migraine: This involves having an episode on more than 15 days per month.
- Menstrual migraine: This occurs in a pattern that follows the menstrual cycle.
- Hemiplegic migraine: This causes temporary weakness on one side of the body, which is rare.
- Abdominal migraine: This involves migraine episodes with irregular function in the gut and abdomen, often with nausea or vomiting. It mainly affects children under 14 years of age.
- Vestibular migraine: Severe vertigo is a symptom of this type.