A migraine headache is a very popular disease associated with neurological conditions. It is different from other headache types and can affect people of all ages. Millions of people around the globe suffer from migraines but in the vast majority they are women especially between the ages of 20 to 50.

A migraine headache crisis can last between 4 to 72 hours and most patients report that sometimes the pain is intense. People who never experienced a migraine headache cannot understand the discomfort that such types of headaches can cause to sufferers.

A migraine headache attack can be initiated with or without any warnings and during the crisis can affect daily life activities. It is very important to be in position and identify the symptoms prior to a migraine attack so that you take the necessary preventive measures to avoid the pain. It should be understood that the headache itself is not the first sign of a migraine headache crisis. There are other signs that come before the attack, warning the patients of the upcoming event.

Migraine warning signs may include:

Sudden desire for sweets (or other type of foods)
Being un-usually excited
Feeling hyperactive, full of energy
Feeling suddenly tired
Your mood may change without any special reason
You suddenly want to sleep and start yawning.

The above signs are warnings that a migraine attack will take place. What actually triggers the migraine may be one or more of the reasons below:

Emotional factors: anger, anxiety, tension, excitement, depression, stress

Physical factors: Being tired mentally and physically, change in sleep habits, poor gesture, changes in weather conditions, changes in time (when traveling)

Diet factors: When you are on a strict diet or fasting, excessive consumption of certain foods like caffeine and alcohol

Environmental factors: bright lights, loud sounds, intense smells, smoking

Hormonal factors: Hormonal changes during and before menstruation, menopause, and pregnancy

Other factors: taking sleeping pills, sinus problems, neck ache

If you manage to be in position to identify the migraine warnings then you will make your life easier by taking preventive measures. In the cases that the above warnings are not visible and you are attack by a crisis then you can either use some self help measures to get relief from migraines such as massage or lying down in a quiet room and try to sleep until the pain is gone, or seek the advice of a doctor on how to treat the pain. Usually the most common medication used today for migraine cure are triptanes, which are stronger than normal pain killers, and can provide relief during the crisis and also be used for the prevention. In any case, if the pain and frequency of the migraines cannot be cured by medication or self help measures then you must visit one of the doctors specialized in migraine headache treatment to make a proper diagnosis and suggest better medication.