On today's show we are speaking with Kathleen J. O'Shea, Professor of English at Monroe Community College, (Rochester, N.Y.) 

Kathy is a 43-year migraine sufferer, who has taken her passion for literature and her chronic illness to create "So Much More Than A Headache, Understanding Migraine Through Literature"

As we know, migraine is so much more than 'just a headache' but possibly a refresher would help us understand and in understanding, create a level of empathy for those around us living with this chronic disease.

A migraine is a headache that can cause severe throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation, usually on one side of the head. It's often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine attacks can last for hours to days, and the pain can be so severe that it interferes with your daily activities.

For some people, a warning symptom known as an aura occurs before or with the headache. An aura can include visual disturbances, such as flashes of light or blind spots, or other disturbances, such as tingling on one side of the face or in an arm or leg and difficulty speaking.

Medications can help prevent some migraines and make them less painful. The right medicines, combined with self-help remedies and lifestyle changes, might help. (Credits: Mayo Clinic)