True or False Quiz: What Do You Know About Migraines?

June is Migraine Awareness month and although 36 million people in the United States suffer with migraine headaches, researchers have still found no cure.

How much do you know about migraine headaches?

1. Migraine headaches are always accompanied by aura, nausea and vomiting. True or False

False. While "with aura" are accompanied by visual disturbances, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, extreme sensitivity to sound, light, touch and smell, "migraines without aura" can occur with severe pain but no other aura-like symptoms.

2. Caffeine can relieve migraines. True or False

True. Caffeine is a common ingredient in many prescription and over-the-counter headache medications. Caffeine additives make pain relievers 40 percent more effective in treating headaches.

Caffeine also helps the body absorb headache drugs more quickly, bringing faster relief. By adding caffeine and, in turn, taking less medication, you can reduce the risk for potential side effects and possible drug addiction.

3. All migraines occur on the one side of the head. True or False

False. The unilateral headaches typically change sides from one attack to the next and 1/3 of the attacks can occur on both sides or the back of the head.

(Warning, a new headache with pain that occurs on the same side of the head should alert the doctor to consider other issues such as a brain tumor.)

4. Migraine affects women than men. True or False

True. Approximately 27 million female sufferers are in the United States, most during peak reproductive years. More severe and more frequent attacks often happen around the monthly cycle as a result of fluctuations in estrogen levels.

5. A migraine and tension headache are the same thing. True or False

False. Although stress can bring on a migraine, the mild to moderate pain from a tension headache is often described as feeling like a tight band around your head. Physical activity typically worsens migraine pain, but the same type of exercise may relieve a tension headache.

6. Botox is considered a treatment for migraines.True or False

True. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has recently given the go-ahead to prescribe Botox injections as a treatment for those who are badly affected by chronic migraines, but it is important to seek out a migraine specialist for this type of treatment.

7. Relaxation techniques often relief migraines without the use of medication.True or False

True. Acupuncture, biofeedback and massage therapy have become effective treatments for some migraine suffers. Massage therapists from The University of Miami found that treatment between migraine attacks, involving deep tissue work around the base of the skull, neck, shoulders, and upper back, helped to relieve tension contributing to the recurrence of migraines.

8. Migraine headaches are frequently undiagnosed and undertreated. True or False

True. Because migraines remain a poorly understood condition, nearly half of all migraine sufferers go undiagnosed and many do not seek medical care for their pain. Only 4 percent of migraine sufferers who seek medical care consult headache and pain specialists.