Migraine - Causes, Symptoms And Treatment
- Date: 2007-06-08 - Word Count: 649
Share This!
Migraine is a neurological disease of which the most common symptom is an intense and disabling episodic headache. Migraine headaches are usually characterized by severe pain on one or both sides of the head. Absent serious head injuries, stroke, and tumors, the recurring severity of the pain indicates a vascular headache rather than a tension headache . More than 28 million Americans three times more women than men suffer from migraine headaches, a type of headache that's often severe. In some cases, these painful headaches are preceded or accompanied by a sensory warning sign such as flashes of light, blind spots or tingling in your arm or leg. A migraine headache is also often accompanied by other signs and symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine pain can be excruciating and may incapacitate you for hours or even days. Fortunately, management of migraine headache pain has improved dramatically in the last decade. If you've seen a doctor in the past and had no success, it's time to make another appointment. Although there's still no cure, medications can help reduce the frequency of migraine headaches and stop the pain once it has started. The right medicines combined with self-help remedies and changes in lifestyle may make a tremendous difference for you.
A migraine headache is a throbbing or pulsating headache that is often one sided (unilateral) and associated with nausea; vomiting; sensitivity to light, sound, and smells; sleep disruption; and depression. Attacks are often recurrent and tend to become less severe as the migraine sufferer ages. Migraine headaches seem to be caused in part by changes in the level of a body chemical called serotonin. Serotonin plays many roles in the body, and it can have an effect on the blood vessels. When serotonin levels are high, blood vessels constrict (shrink). When serotonin levels fall, the blood vessels dilate (swell). This swelling can cause pain or other problems. Many things can affect the level of serotonin in your body, including your level of blood sugar, certain foods and changes in your estrogen level if you're a woman.
Causes of Migraine
The cause of migraine is unknown. The condition may result from a series of reactions in the central nervous system caused by changes in the body or in the environment. There is often a family history of the disorder, suggesting that migraine sufferers may inherit sensitivity to triggers that produce inflammation in the blood vessels and nerves around the brain, causing pain. Many factors can trigger migraines, including tiredness, stress, dehydration, missed or delayed meals, and certain food and drinks, such as cheese, chocolate, coffee, tea and alcohol.
Symptoms of Migraine
1. Anxiety
2. Exposure to light
3. Sensitivity to light and sound
4. Lack of food or sleep
5. Nausea with or without vomiting
6. Stress
Treatment of Migraine
1. Try avoiding any food which seems implicated and at a later stage take a small trial dose of the food again to see whether it genuinely is involved.
2. Sometimes bathing your head in cold water or using a cold compress on the forehead is helpful.
3. At the first symptom of an attack take a pain killer eg aspirin or paracetamol, even if this means waking yourself up when you notice symptoms while half asleep in the early hours of the morning. (Often by getting up time it is too late to abort the attack.)
4. Sometimes relaxation and meditation techniques may be helpful as may some of the complementary therapies.
5. There are some over the counter preparations which contain a pain killer and a medication which stops nausea and vomiting (antiemetic). These are often even more effective than the pain killer alone, as migraine is associated with poor absorption from the stomach and a tendency for food and drink to stay in the stomach much longer than usual (prior to being sick).
A migraine headache is a throbbing or pulsating headache that is often one sided (unilateral) and associated with nausea; vomiting; sensitivity to light, sound, and smells; sleep disruption; and depression. Attacks are often recurrent and tend to become less severe as the migraine sufferer ages. Migraine headaches seem to be caused in part by changes in the level of a body chemical called serotonin. Serotonin plays many roles in the body, and it can have an effect on the blood vessels. When serotonin levels are high, blood vessels constrict (shrink). When serotonin levels fall, the blood vessels dilate (swell). This swelling can cause pain or other problems. Many things can affect the level of serotonin in your body, including your level of blood sugar, certain foods and changes in your estrogen level if you're a woman.
Causes of Migraine
The cause of migraine is unknown. The condition may result from a series of reactions in the central nervous system caused by changes in the body or in the environment. There is often a family history of the disorder, suggesting that migraine sufferers may inherit sensitivity to triggers that produce inflammation in the blood vessels and nerves around the brain, causing pain. Many factors can trigger migraines, including tiredness, stress, dehydration, missed or delayed meals, and certain food and drinks, such as cheese, chocolate, coffee, tea and alcohol.
Symptoms of Migraine
1. Anxiety
2. Exposure to light
3. Sensitivity to light and sound
4. Lack of food or sleep
5. Nausea with or without vomiting
6. Stress
Treatment of Migraine
1. Try avoiding any food which seems implicated and at a later stage take a small trial dose of the food again to see whether it genuinely is involved.
2. Sometimes bathing your head in cold water or using a cold compress on the forehead is helpful.
3. At the first symptom of an attack take a pain killer eg aspirin or paracetamol, even if this means waking yourself up when you notice symptoms while half asleep in the early hours of the morning. (Often by getting up time it is too late to abort the attack.)
4. Sometimes relaxation and meditation techniques may be helpful as may some of the complementary therapies.
5. There are some over the counter preparations which contain a pain killer and a medication which stops nausea and vomiting (antiemetic). These are often even more effective than the pain killer alone, as migraine is associated with poor absorption from the stomach and a tendency for food and drink to stay in the stomach much longer than usual (prior to being sick).
Related Tags: anxiety disorders, headache cure, migraine home remedies, migraine treatment, migraine causes symptoms
Juliet Cohen writes articles for headache doctor. She also writes articles for migraine treatment and anxiety disorders. Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- How To Beat The Winter Blues By Growing Bonsai Trees
Why do some folks dislike the winter time with such a hatred? Is it the snow, the cold, the slippery - What Is Email Marketing? Email Marketing Explained So Even A 2nd Grader Can Understand It-part 7-7
What is Email Marketing? That is a question I get asked more than any other question to do with inte - Anxiety And Depression Solutions Explained
Anxiety and depression are both mood conditions that affect the psychological and physiological stat - The Seven Most Common Physical Symptoms Of Depression
Depression reveals itself in so many ways and experiencing physical symptoms of depression is not un - Natural Remedies For Treating Depression And Anxiety
People are living a fast-paced way of life today, and because of that, many are getting stressed out - Massage Therapy: Today's Solution To Leading A Normal Life
Many people dismiss the idea of hiring a personal therapist or taking external help because of pride - Therapist Directory A Best Source To Find A Good Therapist
A therapist refers to a person who is professionally trained to provide different kinds of therapies - What Is Depression And How Do You Know?
To feel sad time to time is a normal part of life. But when loneliness and despair take hold and won - Psycho Psychotherapist Anxiety
This is the age when everything is going very fast and it become very difficult to pace with the fas - How To Deal With Depression
Overcoming depression isn't quick and easy. But of course it is not impossible to escape from it. If
Most viewed articles in this category:
- 5 Herbs That Can Help Relieve Symptoms Of Depression
If you feel that you want as joyful as you should be in your emotions are getting the best of you th - Help for Depression
Depression is indicated if a number of symptoms persist for more than a couple of weeks and are seve - Do Not Accept Depression as a Normal Part of Aging
Depression is not a part of getting older. If you are one in the senior age groups and you are feel - Handling Depression
Depression may often be initiated by high levels of long term stress, by failure associated with str - Depression Medication
Clinical depression is a condition of grief, dreariness, or anguish that disturbs an individual's so - Holiday Depression
During the holiday season, it seems that even with all of the lights and gifts and fanilies reunitin - Is Bipolar Disorder A Disability - Do You Qualify for Social Security Disability Income?
Many people would consider Bipolar disorder to be a disability simply because it affects much aspect - Depression Natural Cures - One Proven To Bring Relief
There is one natural compound that is part of the natural food chain which has been the result of mu - Why Aromatherapy?
In this fast-paced society that we are living in today, depression has become quite a common sight a - Depression Symptoms - Six Do's And Dont's When You're Feeling Down
Do you or someone you know suffer from depression? It's actually quite common these days, especially