When it comes to headaches, migraines are in a class all their own. If you’ve been diagnosed with migraine headaches, you already know how painful and debilitating they can be. And if you’re suffering from extreme headaches that are more than just a little head pain, you may need to talk to your doctor about migraines.

Migraine headaches are also called vascular headaches. They’re different from a standard tension headache because they’re caused by the blood vessels in your brain. Blood vessels will constrict in your brain and then suddenly they will dilate, or expand.

When that happens, blood rushes to your head and you have an extreme headache that also has symptoms such as sensitivity to light and sound, nausea and vomiting, and visual disturbances. People who have extreme cases of migraine may also have symptoms such as speech and language difficulties.

Some people have one headache and then don’t experience another one for some time. But for others, migraines can be even more painful because they come in clusters. That means you have several headaches in a short period of time.

The causes for migraines can be dietary, hormonal, stress related, and also occur for unknown reasons. For some people, migraines can be prevented by simply avoiding certain foods such as aged cheeses and meats containing nitrates such as hot dogs and deli meats. For others, no exact cause can be found. But for those people, there is hope for a more productive, pain-free life with treatment.

There are several medications designed to fight migraine headache pain. Some of those medications are taken daily to prevent the onset of a headache. These are generally prescribed to people who have migraine headaches frequently. If you suffer from them only occasionally, you can take medication that’s designed to constrict the blood vessels and keep the headache from coming on. These medications are prescription only and tend to be quite expensive. However, they are worth the cost if migraine headaches are causing you to miss work and lowering your quality of life.

Migraine headaches can interfere with your life. Most people who suffer from migraine pain find that they can’t participate in their normal, daily activities when they are in the middle of a headache. However, if you suffer from severe headaches, you need to see your doctor. A healthcare provider can prescribe medication that will improve your life and allow you to live without this terrible pain.