What is status Migrainous (also spelled Migrainousus)?
Migraine has now been shown to be a genetic neurological disease
characterized by flare-ups often called "Migraine attacks." A headache can be
one symptom of a Migraine attack, but it's just that -- one of the possible
symptoms. Some Migraineurs (people with Migraine disease) have Migraine attacks
without having a headache.
When a Migrainuer does experience the headache phase of a Migraine attack, it generally lasts from 4 to 72 hours (untreated or unsuccessfully treated). The International Headache Society's International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd Edition, defines status Migrainous as:
Description: A debilitating Migraine attack lasting for more than 72
hours.
Diagnostic Criteria:
A. Typical of previous attacks except for duration.
B. Headache has both of the following features:
1. unremitting for more than 72 hours
2. severe intensity
C. Not attributed to another disorder
A general rule of thumb recommended by many Migraine specialists is:
If moderate to severe Migraine pain lasts more than 72 hours, with less than a solid four-hour pain-free period, while awake, it should be considered an emergency requiring an office call or a trip to the emergency room.
Why is it important that status Migrainous be treated?
The pain of a Migraine is from dilated blood vessels in the brain and the
inflammation of tissue and nerves around those blood vessels. Extended dilation
of the blood vessels puts us at increased risk of stroke. Thus, it's important
to stop a Migraine attack, as opposed to simply masking the pain with pain
medications, as soon as possible.
There you have the condensed answer to, "What is status Migrainous?" For more information, here is some other content that will expand up on this.
- Head Pain: NOT To Be Ignored!
- Memorial to Abi, Migrainous Stroke Victim
- Anatomy of a Migraine
- Is Migraine a Progressive Brain Disease?
- Medication Overuse Headache: What's a person to do?
- Medications for Headache and Migraine Prevention
- Migraine and Stroke Risk: The Study Results
- Migraines, Not Really "Headaches"
- Migraines Often Triggered By Change In The Weather
- MIST II Begins: Testing the PFO/Migraine Connection
- Orgasm & Headaches/Migraine
- PFO: A hole in the heart affecting Migraine?
- Game: Ouch! Headache and Migraine Triggers
- Game: Who!? Famous Migraineurs
- Quiz: Do you know the truth about Migraine?
Published March 6, 2006
