No one knows for sure what causes migraines

The cause of migraines is something that has been the subject of investigation and scientific research for a very long time. There is still no consensus on what the cause of the migraine headache is. The only real progress that has been made is debunking some previous theories about their causes. Unfortunately, no significant further progress into finding an actual cause has been made.

The diagnosis of migraine headaches are something that is much easier however and their symptoms are quite recognisable by doctors. The characteristics of migraine usually include nausea and vomiting combined with an intense throbbing pain in the head. Not all of these symptoms are necessary for a diagnosis to be complete but at least one of these elements must be present.

In about 30 percent of people who suffer from migraines they will see an aura. This is a neurological event that usually occurs in the form of a visual hallucination. These include seeing dark or light box in your field of vision or seeing flashing lights. It is also possible that you will experience tunnel vision. Complete vision loss is not usual and if you suffer from this then you need to seek medical attention to make sure that you are not suffering from a different neurological problem.

These types of aura usually come with other sort of symptoms which can have a physical effect on the body. This can include numbness or tingling feeling in some of the body’s extremities, such as the hands or feet. This is something that usually increases as the onset of the migraine comes closer. It is possible that a tingling feeling that occurs in the hand will spread up the arm and even to the shoulder. If this is the first time it has happened to you then you should inform your doctor as it is an important symptom to take note of.

Despite migraine headaches having quite clear diagnostic criteria, they can often be misdiagnosed. Many people who come to the doctor with migraine headaches could be told that they are suffering from a tension headache, toothache, a headache related to their sinuses or a headache caused by an allergy. If the medical professional takes more care in applying the migraine criteria more carefully a correct diagnosis will be made.

In most situations however, the patient will have a migraine diagnosed successfully and there will be little need for additional testing. There are however rare cases where there is a complication and further tests will be required. This is usually when the doctor fears there could be a more serious condition causing the migraine.

Headaches in people who have recently suffered from head trauma can be much more serious as can a headache that comes on very quickly. It is also uncommon for people over 50 years to have a first-time migraine, so these often warrant further investigation.