“Are my headaches really migraines?”

The term ‘migraine’ is often used to mean severe headache, however, there are diagnostic criteria that should be used to diagnose migraine to ensure consistency across all practices. These criteria are in the ICHD-3, the Intenational Classification of Headache Disorders – 3rd edition, which is available online. The diagnostic criteria for migraine do not state a cause for the migraines, but rather define the symptoms that constitute a migraine. It is important to note that headaches that meet criteria for migraine can be caused by several different conditions, which I will discuss in future posts.

Medical Disclaimer