Question: How do I know if the pain I am feeling is actually caused by a migraine--and not another type of headache?

Answer: You are not alone in your confusion--migraines are often mistaken for other types of headaches. But here are some guidelines for distinguishing between them: A migraine usually gives rise to throbbing that affects just one side of the head. Dull, pounding pain on both sides of the skull often indicates a tension headache (of which stress may be the source). A cluster headache (often precipitated by drinking alcohol or smoking) is marked by discomfort near the eye, while a sinus headache generally lays claim to gnawing pain in the sinus region below the eyes, above the nose, and in the forehead. (The latter often increases in severity over the day and may be spurred by a respiratory infection.)

Q: Why do I often get migraines around my period?

A: About 70 percent of women who get migraines can predict their onset around their menstrual cycle because of fluctuating hormones. In addition, as women approach menopause, estrogen levels fall--and headache incidence increases. (However, on a happier note, with the end of menopause the headaches generally taper off.)

Q: Are migraines hereditary?

A: Yes, migraines do run in the family. In fact, if one of your parents suffers from these headaches, you have a 50 percent chance of being afflicted, too. If both Mom and Dad are migraineurs, you have a 75 percent chance of inheriting their headache misery. And even if a distant relative like your Great Aunt Bertha falls prey, you have a 20 percent chance of getting them, too.

Q: What are typical migraine food triggers?

A: The usual suspects include chocolate, processed meats, aged cheese, alcohol, pickled and marinated foods, citrus fruits, bananas, and monosodium glutamate (MSG). Substances in these particular foods trigger the painful headaches. For instance, chocolate contains vasoactive amines, which can bring on a headache by dilating blood vessels. Processed meats contain additives called nitrates that also cause blood vessels to swell.

Food triggers are tricky because they may only cause problems 10 to 20 percent of the time that you eat them. Keep a migraine journal that records your triggers (food and otherwise) and be patient when it comes to uncovering the culprit.

Q: Is an "aura" the telltale sign of a migraine?

A: Many individuals wrongly consider an aura--marked by light flashes, zigzag lines, shimmering lights, or numbness and tingling in the arm and face--to be the indicative symptom of migraines when less than one-third of sufferers actually experience it. Nausea and sensitivity to light can also accompany a migraine. While these symptoms can often be part of migraine, they do not dictate whether you have one. It's important to remember that there is no one-migraine-fits-all description.

Q: How long do migraines generally last?

A: These headaches can last anywhere from 4 to 72 hours and hit, on average, twice a month. The attacks tend to occur in three phases: pre-headache (which can endure for several hours), the headache itself, and post-headache (which can drag on for up to 2 days and include nausea, fatigue, and mood swings).

Q: How are migraines treated?

A: "Abortive" drugs, taken at the onset of a migraine, can be effective against these headaches. One such class of these drugs is the triptans, which are available in tablet, dissolvable wafer, injectable, and nasal spray forms. The triptans relieve pain by mimicking the neurotransmitter serotonin. Some headache specialists are using Botox in their practices. The anti-wrinkle med is injected into the forehead, temples, or back of the head, temporarily paralyzing the muscles and causing them to relax. To find out about these therapies and others, talk to your doctor.

Q: Will exercise--like going for a brisk walk or jog--help alleviate migraine symptoms?

A: No, exercise cannot stop a migraine in progress. In fact, working out could very well worsen your migraine.

Q: Does weather really bring on a migraine?

A: In a recent study, researchers looked at the headache journals of 77 migraine sufferers and found that half of the volunteers experienced migraines triggered by the weather. The biggest precipitating factors: cold dry weather (22 percent); hot, humid weather (12 percent); high or low barometric pressure (13 percent); and changes in weather patterns (14 percent).

Q: Do migraines afflict men or women more frequently?

A: Call it unfair, but three times more women experience migraines than men. The hormonal component may account for the difference.