A vascular headache is a type of headache that is believed to be caused by blood vessels in the brain working abnormally. Examples of a vascular headache are migraines.
Migraines
Migraines are considered the most common of vascular headaches. Some of their symptoms include severe pain on one side or both sides of the head, sick feeling, sensitivity to light or noise and disturbance in vision.
Migraines have two known types -- the classic migraine and the common migraine.
Classic Migraines
A classic migraine is usually preceded by a warning sign known as an aura. This aura occurs around half an hour before the actual migraine starts. A person who is about to have a classic migraine attack will experience seeing dazzling lights or zig-zagging lines.
People who suffer classic migraines may have difficulty talking, feel weakness in an arm or leg, have tingling sensations in the face or hands, and be confused.
Those who suffer from classic migraines describe the pain as similar to a severe pounding or throbbing in the front of the head, temple area, around the ear, jaw or eye. The pain also typically starts on one side of the head and spreads to the other side as the migraine attack progresses.
Common Migraines
Common migraines are not usually preceded by an aura, but various other symptoms might be felt by the person before it begins. Among the symptoms of a common migraine are fuzzy headedness or inability to think clearly, mood swings, tiredness, fluid retention and an overall feeling of being bloated, diarrhea and more than usual urination, and a sick feeling.
Common migraines usually last for three or four days, and can be an exhausting and draining experience for the sufferer.
Other Types of Migraines
- Hormonal migraines caused by fluctuations in hormone levels. Hormonal migraines include premenstrual migraine, menstrual migraine, pregnancy migraines and menopausal migraines
- Ophthalmoplegic migraines mainly affect the eyes, with symptoms including pain, drooping eyelids, double vision and other vision problems.
- Basilar Artery migraines are most common in teens and young adult women. Often linked to the menstrual cycle, a basilar artery migraine primarily involves the disturbance of a major artery in the brain, which can also cause vertigo, double vision and poor co-ordination.
- Benign exertional headaches usually only lasts for several minutes. This type of migraine can be triggered by exercise, coughing, sneezing, bending over or sex.
- Headache-free migraine is an unusual type where all the symptoms are present except for the headache.
Other Vascular Headaches
A toxic headache is another type of vascular headache that is frequently triggered by the high fever that goes with illnesses like measles, mumps, tonsillitis and pneumonia. Foreign chemicals present in the body can also trigger a toxic headache, hence the name "toxic." Cluster headaches and other headaches caused by rising blood pressure are also other known types of vascular headaches.
For more help on the prevention, treatment and remedies for migraines please see the Complete Guide To Migraine Headaches.
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