No test can objectively tell you or your doctor that you suffer from migraines. Your doctor relies on you for information about the pain you feel. Because the diagnosis of a migraine is based on your own description of the pain, it’s very important that you communicate well with your doctor. It is important to learn how to describe your headaches clearly and, ideally to avoid misdiagnosis. All headaches are categorized according to the nature of the pain they inflict.

1. The intensity of your headache–the relative degree of your discomfort or pain.
2. The duration of your headache–how long it lasts.
3. The frequency of your headaches–how often they occur.
4. The location of your headache–the specific area of your head that hurts.
5. The type of pain associated with your headache–for example, dull and constant versus sharp and stabbing.

Evaluating your own Headache
Under each category, choose the listed item that best describes your headache. This should help you describe your headaches more effectively to your doctor.
Intensity of pain

• Mild.
• Moderate.
• Severe.
• Debilitating.

Duration of headache

• Lasting several minutes.
• Lasting an hour or longer.
• Lasting a day or longer.
• Lasting several days.
• Lasting a week or more.

Frequency of headaches

• Occurring once a month.
• Occurring once every two weeks.
• Occurring once a week.
• Occurring once a day.
• Occurring several times a day.

Location of pain

• Back of head (occipital).
• Front of head (frontal).
• Sides of head (temporal).
• Top of head (vertex).
• Area above or behind eyeball (sinus region).
• Upper/lower jaw area (mandible).

Type of pain

• Varying (see text for different types and explain to your doctor the type that best describes your headache).

Location of Pain
The location of your pain is another important clue to determine the type of headache you have. For example, tension headache is generally a band–like pressure around the head, and a sinus headache is usually felt on the forehead or face. But nearly 60% of the time, migraine headaches occur on just one side of the head and are centered above or behind one eye. The particular side of the headache often changes from one headache episode to the next. During a migraine attack, the pain can migrate from the original area of pain and even travel down the neck and into the shoulder. Frequently, the pain spreads during the course of the migraine, often until it covers the entire head. Doctors refer to seven specific regions of the head (see the illustration Pain Locations). When you describe your headache to your physician, you should make it clear which of these region(s) your pain is located in:

• The back of the head (occipital).
• The front of the head (frontal area).
• The sides of the head (temporal).
• The top of the head (vertex).
• The area between and above the eyebrows and behind the cheekbones (sinus region).
• The upper/lower jaw area (mandible).

Treatment of Migraine
Drug therapy, stress reduction, and right diet are the most common methods of preventing and controlling migraine and other vascular headaches. Regular exercise, such as swimming or vigorous walking, can also reduce the frequency and severity of migraine headaches. Yoga and whirlpool baths help to relax. During a migraine headache, temporary relief can sometimes be obtained by using cold packs or by pressing on the bulging artery found in front of the ear on the painful side of the head.