Migraine and headache basics

Migraine Basics:

• Abdominal Migraine - What Is It?
  Abdominal Migraine is a form of Migraine seen mainly in children. It's most common in children ages five- to nine-years-old, but can occur in adults as well. Abdominal Migraine consists primarily of abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.
• Acephalgic or Silent Migraine – What Is It?
  The term "Acephalgic Migraine" or "silent Migraine" refers to any type of Migraine where no headache is present, but the migraineur still has the other symptoms.
• Anatomy of a Migraine
  When many people think “Migraine,” they think only of the pain of Migraine. In reality, a Migraine (often called a "Migraine attack") consists of far more.
• Basilar-Type Migraine - What Is It?
  Basilar-Type Migraine (BTM), also called "Basilar Artery Migraine," is marked by aura symptoms originating in the brainstem such as temporary blindness or decreased levels of consciousness.
• Hemiplegic Migraine - What Is It?
  Hemiplegic Migraine is a rare form of Migraine disease with symptoms that can mimic those of stroke, epilepsy and other neurological conditions.
• Migraine With Aura - What Is It?
  Migraine with Aura, formerly called "classic migraine" is a genetic neurological disease marked by severe headaches as well as visual, sensory and speech symptoms.
• Migraine Without Aura - What Is It?
  Migraine without aura, formerly called "common migraine," is a neurological disease often characterized by headaches that occur on one side in the head and are pulsating or throbbing.
• Ocular, Optical, and Opthalmic Migraines
  Although many individuals are diagnosed with optical, ocular, and opthalmic Migraine, these are not standard diagnoses according to the International Headache Society.  Find out what these types of Migraine are more commonly called.
• Retinal Migraine, A Look at
  Retinal Migraine is marked by a variety of monocular (in one eye) visual disturbances, including, twinkling lights, decreased vision, or even temporary blindness.
• Status Migrainous - What Is It?
  A Migraine attack lasting longer than 72 hours is often indicative of "status Migrainous" a condition requiring immediate medical attention due to an increased risk of stroke.
• Transformed Migraine - What Is It?
  Transformed Migraine is marked by increasingly frequent Migraine attacks, eventually becoming daily less severe headaches punctuated by debilitating Migraine attacks.

Headache Basics:

• Chronic Daily Headache - What Is It?
  Do you have headaches that occur 15 or more days a month?  If so, you may have a condition known as "chronic daily headache" or "CDH."
• Cluster Headaches - What Are They?
  Learn more about the signs, symptoms, and treatment of cluster headaches, extremely severe headaches that have been described as "like a hot poker in the eye."
• Headache Attributed to Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension... What Is It?
  Headache attributed to IIH is often daily. It is most often a steady ache, not pulsatile, and is worsened by coughing or straining.
• Hemicrania Continua - What Is It?
  Learn more about Hemicrania Continua, a primary headache disorder that shares symptoms with Migraine disease, chronic daily headache, and cluster headache.
• Hypnic Headache... What Is It?
  With only 80 documented cases, hypnic headache (HH) is one of the rarest headache disorders. HH is primary headache disorder, which means that it cannot be attributed to another condition.
• Ice Pick Headaches - What Are They?
  Ice pick headaches are stabbing, extremely intense headaches that can be absolutely terrifying. They generally only last between five and 30 seconds. However, they come out of nowhere, can strike anywhere on the head, literally feel as if an ice pick is being stuck into your head, then disappear before you can even figure out what's happening.
• Medication Overuse Headache: When the Remedy Backfires
  Every person who has headaches or Migraine disease should be told about MOH by our doctors because knowing about it in advance could save us a great deal of pain. Unfortunately, we're not.
• New Daily Persistent Headache – What Is It?
  Although NDPH shares some symptoms with tension-type headache, it is unique in that many patients can pinpoint the date their headache began.Many doctors consider NDPH to be the most treatment refractory (not responsive to treatment) of headache disorders. Unfortunately, NDPH can be very disabling because it often does not respond to preventive or abortive medications.
• Primary Exertional Headache - What Is It?
  PEH is a headache brought on by exercise, any form of exercise and is experienced by approximately 10% of the population.
• Tension-Type Headaches - What Are They?
  More than 78% of the world population experiences tension-type headache. Learn about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of tension-type headache, or TTH.

Medical review by John Claude Krusz, PhD, MD

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© Teri Robert, 2000 - 2010. Last updated June 15, 2010.