With so many types of headache, it becomes essential to determine what particular type of headache you are suffering from. The duration of the pain is one means of identifying the headache type. Migraines often last four hours or more, and have been known to last days at a time. Often, migraine headaches also have triggers, or set circumstances that cause them, such as stress, fatigue, hormonal changes, changes in the weather, food allergies or sensitivities, and even other medical conditions. The severity of the pain may vary from moderate to severe; more severe pain is notorious for causing harsh side effects of migraine headaches. Side Effects of Migraine Headaches Every person experiences individual side effects of migraine headaches; some people only get the pain, and others have new and unusual side effects. Some of the most common side effects are nausea, light sensitivity, noise sensitivity, body aches, and fatigue. Many sufferers combat these symptoms with over-the-counter pain relievers, while others prefer herbal and other natural remedies. Before starting any migraine headache treatment, it's good to seek a doctor's advice. Among migraine side effects, nausea is thought to be caused by sensitivity to smell and physical stomach pain. A person should seek comfort in a place free of food or other smells in order to relieve the side effect. Sometimes, in severe cases the nausea can be accompanied by vomiting. Since it also can be due to another medical condition such as a virus, a doctor should be consulted. Environmental sensitivities are also common side effects of migraines. The sufferers often experience light or sound sensitivity, and the best remedy for most of them is a long rest in a dark room. Light and sound are often more aggravating to a person suffering one of these headaches, because the head is already throbbing with pain. Light or sound seem to further agitate the situation. Dietary Triggers Some foods that you eat can also trigger migraine headaches. Among them there are such common items as chocolate or red wine. Sometimes, a migraine headache is just a first step to complex allergies or sensitivities. If you notice sensitivity to any particular food, you should avoid it for a while, then start getting back to this type of food in small amounts until the sensitivity is gone. However, the results are very individual, so it would be best to consult a doctor to be certain of what is right for you. Other dietary factors can include caffeine consumption and the number of meals a day; even skipping meals can give a person a migraine headache. The drop in blood sugar from missing a proper meal causes all kinds of problems within the body, and it isn't surprising that this can also trigger a migraine headache. Having too much caffeine or withdrawal from caffeine can also trigger a migraine headache. If you know what triggers your headache, you can try and avoid it. Existing Medical Conditions Many existing medical conditions can contribute to migraine headaches, some examples of these are asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome, and sleeping disorders. Such headaches can also be hereditary, with many migraine sufferers having a family history of the condition. For example, if one parent has a history of migraine headaches, each child has a 50% chance of having migraines themselves; if both parents have a history the children's chances jump to 75%. Educating yourself about signs, symptoms, individual triggers, and how these factors react with existing medical conditions can help you successfully cope with migraine headaches. Various medications as well as natural treatments are available to relieve the pain of migraine headaches. However, individual treatment that would be most effective can be prescribed by a doctor only, and that is after evaluating all the factors and the present state of health.
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