How to identify and deal with a migraine

A bad headache is one thing, but shouldn't be confused with migraine

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There are many different kinds of headache and each has its own distinctive symptoms. The most common is the tension headache. The pain is dull and heavy, as if a band is being tightened around your head.

Tension headaches can last several days. The cause, as the name suggests, is usually stress. Try lowering stress levels, perhaps through relaxation techniques, yoga or meditation.

Identifying migraines

Migraines are very different. They can last for between four hours and three days, commonly affect only one side of the head and are often characterised by a throbbing or pulsating pain.

There are four main symptoms of migraine; headache, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound. Some people experience 'aura' - this is when a migraine sufferer gets warning signs such as visual disturbances e.g. flickering lines, zig zags or sensory symptoms such as pins and needles. Menstrual migraines are those that always occur just before or during a period.

If you suddenly start to experience frequent headaches, you should visit your GP to check out the cause: different types of headache are managed and treated in different ways.

If you think you might suffer from migraines, talk to your GP or local pharmacist to discuss your symptoms further.

Doctors are yet to identify the exact cause of migraine, though it is thought to involve changes in the levels of a brain chemical, called serotonin.