A "probable migraine" is really a migraine... probably.
A patient with the diagnosis of Probable Migraine {Cephalgia 2004;24 (Suppl 1)} (formerly defined as migrainous headache) is defined for research purposes as someone who is missing one element from the definition of common migraine.
Research suggests a Probable Migraine is a true migraine headache. The International Headache Society (IHS) lists different classifications of migraine and this enables a person to make a very quick and practical definition of migraine.
If a patient has recurrent headaches (at least 5) that last 4 to 72 hours and are at least moderately severe, then they only need to have one of the following criteria to be considered to have migraines in clinical practice.
- Unilateral location
- Pulsating or throbbing quality
- Aggravated by walking stairs or similar routine physician acitvity
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Photophobia (lights seem unusually bright) and phonophoiba (sounds seem unusually loud)