You’re queasy. You have to turn off the lights, your head pain is so bad. It feels as if someone is hitting you in the face with a hammer. One side of your head is throbbing. What has brought on this angst? Tension? Stress? Chances are, if you are living with this type of pain, you are having a migraine headache. You head hurts so much, there seems to be no relief in sight.

A migraine is a type of headache which is intense and severe. In addition to head pain, additional migraine symptoms can include nausea, pain in the temples or pain behind one eye or your ear. People also report sensitivity to light, sounds and odors. Some migraines are more moderate, while others are more severe. It is not uncommon for individuals suffering with a migraine to have pain so intense it affects daily life. Vision can become blurred, and some people will see bright flashing lights, wavy lines or jagged lines, also known as an aura. Your migraine headache might also bring on stomach upset, fatigue and dizzy spells.

It has been reported that 3 million Americans currently suffer with migraine headaches. Migraines can begin as early as childhood, but may also manifest themselves in adolescence or in the young adult years.

According to the Mayo Clinic, there are four stages that a migraine progresses through including “prodrome, aura, headache and post-drome.” Not everyone experiences all of these stages.

The prodrome stage occurs in the days leading up to the migraine headache. The sufferer may experience a plethora of symptoms which could include mood changes, depression, neck stiffness, constipation, food cravings, increased urination, and increased thirst. During or before the onset of a migraine some individuals might experience an aura, but not all do. Once the migraine hits, it can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days without treatment. Just as each person is different, each migraine can be different.

After the migraine headache has dissipated, the “post-drome” stage takes place. Some individuals are left feeling utterly depleted after a migraine while others might experience the opposite symptoms, feeling significantly better than even before the migraine hit.

The causes of migraine headaches are not fully understood and new approaches are being tested to treat them before they strike. For some women, hormonal changes such as menopause or pregnancy can bring upon migraines. An imbalance in brain chemicals, goods, food additives, alcohol, sleep patterns, stress and a variety of physical and environmental factors may also contribute to what is a very unsettling syndrome for many.

Migraine headaches are painful, disruptive and for many, can be life limiting. As we move forward in regards to migraine research, ideally we can move forward with improved treatments.

In New London, research is underway to test a preventative treatment for migraine headaches. For individuals suffering 15 or more days of migraines each month, this investigational treatment is currently in the clinical trial phase. Those who are living with chronic migraines are welcome to contact the research site at (860)443-4567 to learn more about the study or visit www.CCRstudies.com to learn more about the clinical trial process.

Healthwise is an occasional column written by MaryLou Gannotti of Coastal Connecticut Research in New London. For further information, email marylou@ccrstudies.com or call (860)443-4567.