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Migraine (Vascular) Headaches:

According to Zahid H. Bajwa, MD and R. Joshua Wootton, Ph.D., at Harvard Medical School, between 12 to 16 percent of people in the United States experience migraines, making it the second most common type of headache. Nausea and vomiting, as well as an acute sensitivity to light and sounds often accompany with migraine headaches. In addition, Migraines tend to run in families. Therefore, genetic factors do contribute to a person's susceptibility to migraines.

Migraines without Aura: The pain of migraine without aura headache usually begins gradually. The headache is typically dull, deep, and steady when mild to moderate; it becomes throbbing or pulsatile when severe. In 60 to 70 percent of people, the pain occurs on only one side of the head. In addition, a migraine headache can last from 4 to 72 hours.

Migraines with Aura: The pain of migraine with aura is similar to migraines without aura, except for the fact that people who experience migraines with aura will also experience visual or other neurologic symptoms prior to the onset of headaches. The aura may include: flashing lights or bright spots, zig-zag lines, loss of part of the field of vision, numbness or tingling in the hand, tongue, or side of the face, or weakness in one of the extremities. Fortunately, aura usually last around 15 minutes, and no more than 60 minutes.