Millions of people suffer from migraines, but not everybody necessarily understand what’s causing their headaches or how to get rid of them. Here’s a short questionnaire to test your knowledge of migraine symptoms, causes of chronic headaches and how to find headache relief.

Question #1: A headache that makes you feel like you’ve got a steel band wrapped around your head means you have a:

• a) Sinus headache
• b) Migraine headache
• c) Tension headache
• d) Cluster headache

Question #2: True or False: A migraine headache is always preceded by an “aura,” a series of light flashes or hallucination which warns you of an approaching headache.

• a) True
• b) False

Question #3: True or False: Chronic headache sufferers should avoid certain trigger foods such as chocolate, in addition to aged foods such as cheese and wine.

• a) True
• b) False

Question #4: What are your chances of suffering from migraine headaches if  one of your parents has been diagnosed with chronic migraines?

• a) 25%
• b) 50%
• c) 100%
• d) There’s no correlation between family history and likeliness to suffer migraine headaches.

Question #5: What do therapists recommend to chronic headache patients for identifying possible headache triggers?

• a) Visit an allergist
• b) Meditate
• c) Consult in a close family member
• d) Keep a headache diary

The causes of migraine headaches seem as numerous as the stars above. Migraines have been linked with everything from stroke, meningitis and heart defects to nightshade vegetables, oversleeping and too much caffeine.  Family history can also play an important part in identifying the cause of your migraines.

Similarly, migraine treatments abound; sufferers of chronic headaches often use a combination of various prescription pain medications, Botox injections, yoga, meditation and herbs such as butterbur extract for nerve health.

Read: Relieve Your Headaches With Yoga: Try These Moves!

Answers:

Question #1: If you answered c) tension headache, then you hit the nail on the head. Tension headaches are not typically as debilitating as migraine headaches, with pain pressure points occurring at the temples and the back of the neck. Learn which kind of headache you have one of 4 Headaches that Require Emergency Intervention.

Question #2: The correct answer is: b) False; only about 15-20% of migraine sufferers experience migraine with aura. If you do experience blind spots, feebleness, tingling or slurred speech, then you might have an underlying heart condition. Read Migraines with Aura may Signal Birth Defect in Heart

Question #3: The correct answer is: b) False; while it’s true that many migraine sufferers are highly sensitive to certain foods, the reaction varies among headache patients. Some chronic headache sufferers can tolerate chocolate every now and then, while others find that even a whiff of chocolate cake brings on a massive migraine. Also, some migraineurs are only sensitive to a certain combination of headache triggers. 11 Headache Triggers you Never Thought Of

Question #4: The correct answer is b)  50%; migraines are hereditary, so if only one parent suffers from migraines, then your chances of also getting them are 50/50. However, of both parents have been diagnosed with chronic migraine headaches, then your risk factor goes up to 75%. Read Is it a Cluster Headache or a Migraine?

Question #5: If you chose d) keep a headache diary, then you could be well on your way towards recovery. Practicing meditation, yoga and visiting an allergist are excellent options for treating migraines, but only if you know exactly what is causing your headache symptoms. Using a headache diary will help you pinpoint exactly when stress is the culprit, or if it’s a certain food trigger. Read 20 iPad Apps for Migraine Sufferers for some good recommendations.

Sources:

Health.com

Tags: causes chronic headaches, headache relief, headache triggers, migraine aura, migraine headache symptoms, migraine headache treatment

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 1st, 2011 at 4:55 am and is filed under Migraine Trivia. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.