By Emily Jensen

Headache sufferers should know when their headache is classified as a migraine. They also should know when the headache has reached the symptom-point of contacting a doctor.

The AMA gives these migraine symptoms to aid in determining whether one suffers from migraines:

-- A moderate to severe headache that usually lasts from four to 72 hours.

-- Pain is often, but not always, on one side of the head and throbbing.

-- Pain is aggravated by movement, physical activity.

-- Pain is often associated with nausea and sensitivity to light, sound or odors.

Sometimes the headache is associated with flashing lights, blindness or numbness on one side of the head. This is called classic migraine, or migraine with an aura, and only 20 percent of migraine sufferers experience these symptoms. So one could still have a migraine without undergoing these symptoms.

This information and more about headaches can be found at the AMA site at http://www.ama-assn.org/insight/spec_con/migraine/howis.htm

The American Council on Headache Education explains that while very few headaches are signs of serious medical conditions, sufferers should call a doctor if they have any of the following:

-- Three or more headaches per week.

-- Headaches begin after age 50.

-- Stiff neck or fever accompany the headache.

-- Headaches begin or persist after a head injury.

-- Unexpected symptoms affect eyes, ears, nose or throat.

-- Headaches have changed in character.

-- Confusion or drowsiness accompanies the headache.

-- The headache is "first and/or worst."

-- Headaches keep getting worse and won't go away.

The final advice of ACHE is that is one has had headaches for many years, "it is still possible to develop a new and possibly more serious type of headache." ACHE is at http://www.achenet.org.

MS
MS

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