About Headaches Dictionary

abdominal migraine: Common in children, a migraine marked by frequent vomiting, severe abdominal pain and stomach pain. Episodes may last for one hour or more, interspersed with periods of normal health.

basilar artery migraine: Affects the arteries that the brain supplies with oxygen-rich blood, often causing pain, vertigo and speech, vision and coordination problems.

BOTOX®: Acronym for botulism toxin, a medical protein injected into facial muscles to minimize the appearance of lines and furrows. Research shows such injections can help relieve migraine pain.

carotidynia migraine: More common in the elderly, these migraines cause pain in the jaw and neck areas. Can last many hours and often occurs several times a week.

childhood obesity: A diagnosed cause of migraines in children. The more obese the child, the more intense his migraine symptoms.

classic migraine: Occurs when an aura is experienced minutes before the actual pain of a migraine headache begins. Auras can involve visual sensory illusions, such as jagged bands of light obscuring vision, or a shimmering light around the edges of objects.

common migraine: A migraine with no aura. Most sufferers experience common migraines.

divalproex sodium: An anti-seizure medication first developed as an epilepsy treatment, it also is very effective in preventing migraines. Prescription name is Depakote®.