Ask 86% of the population the question ‘What is a migraine?’ and most of them will answer ‘It’s a headache’.
A headache.
The other 14% are reported to suffer from migraine and may well give you a different answer.
The definition of a migraine….
The NHS says
….it is a moderate or severe headache felt as a throbbing pain on one side of the head.
Well, yes, I suppose that’s right.
The Collins English Dictionary (learner) says:
A migraine is an extremely painful headache that makes you feel very ill.
Hmm, that’s a bit more like it.
Healthline.com says:
Migraine is a neurological condition that can cause multiple symptoms. It’s frequently characterised by intense debilitating headaches. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, difficulty speaking, numbness or tingling, and sensitivity to light and sound.
Now we’re getting somewhere.
The trouble with attempting to describe a migraine is that the migraine attack takes many different forms. One person’s migraine is unique to them and each sufferer will have a different combination of symptoms.
When I say I suffer from migraines, people often say,
Oh, I had a migraine last night, yeah, it was so bad I had to take some aspirin and go to bed early. Does that happen when you get a migraine?’
I reply well, actually, no, this is what happens when I get a migraine.
© Michelle @ http://www.5pmfriday.org
Out Of The Office 