Have you ever been reading a great article about migraines which contained words that were new to you or you had forgotten their meaning? This new article is going to be a quick reference guide to a few of the medical terms associated with headaches and migraines. Hopefully in the end this will save you a little bit of time from having to look up words while learning new information.

Abortive Medications- Medication taken after the headache or migraine pain is already present.

Acupressure- A massage used to give the same stimulating results as acupuncture. This massage can be given with the fingers, palms of the hands, elbows, knees and feet. It’s used to restore the bodies energy flow.

Amines- Nitrogen based proteins which have known to trigger migraines.

Analgesics- This is the most common type of medications used for headache and migraine relief. Examples are Tylenol and Ibuprofen.

Aneurysm- A bulge in the artery wall that was a chance of rupturing.

Aura- A symptom that occur with migraines such as temporary vision loss, flashing lights or seeing spots.

Beta-Blocker- A drug that slows heart rate, lowers blood pressure and reduces the hearts oxygen requirements.

Brain Scan- Radioactive chemicals are injected through the arm, these chemicals then travel to the brain. These chemicals enhance the outline when x-rays are taken.

Calcium Channel Blocker- A drug used to lower blood pressure. Used frequently in migraine treatment.

Cephalgia- Medical term for headache or head pain.

Constriction- Contracting muscles that cause the blood vessels to narrow.

EEG aka Electroencephalography- Test that can read nerve cell activity in the brain. This test can provide information on seizures, tumors and blood clots.

Hypertension aka High Blood Pressure- Caused by the increased volume of circulating blood.

Hypotension- Low blood pressure.

Magnetic Resonance Scanning aka MRI- An imaging technique that uses magnets and computers to form 3-D images of internal organs.

Meningitis- An infection that affects the membranes of the brain and spinal cord.

Migraineur- A person who sufferers from migraines.