If your head is pounding so hard that it hurts to touch, you probably have a migraine headache. A migraine headache is one of the worst types of headaches. It is a condition characterized by a throbbing, moderate to severe pain usually on one side of the head. And this is made even worsened by physical activity, sounds, light and smells that are often associated with nausea and vomiting.

Migraine headaches usually begin between the ages of 10 and 40 and are three times common among women than among men. In the United States, there is an estimate of 10-20% of the US population who suffer from this type of headache. These people experience migraine attacks that may occur frequently for a long period of time but may also disappear for many weeks, months or even years.

There are different kinds of migraine headaches. The most common are classic migraine and common migraine.

Classic migraines start with a so-called aura, a warning sign that often involves changes in the way you see. Auras last about 15-30 minutes and during this duration, you may see flashing lights and colors, temporarily lose some of your vision, feel a strange prickly or burning sensation, have muscle weakness on one side of the body and feel depressed, restless and irritable.

On the other hand, common migraines do not start with aura. These start more slowly than classic migraines and the pain may be only on one side of the head. But these last longer and interfere more with daily activities, that is why many people find these even more frustrating than the classic migraines.

If you experience any migraine headaches, you have to seek medical attention at once. Your doctor can recommend of the two types of treatments: treatments that are used to relieve the headache pain and treatments that are used to prevent headaches before they occur. Do not hesitate to seek out treatment because this will be the key to getting rid of migraine headaches.