More than 29.5 million Americans suffer from migraine, with women being affected three times more often than men. This vascular headache is most commonly experienced between the ages of 15 and 55, and 70% to 80% of sufferers have a family history of migraine. Less than half of all migraine sufferers have received a diagnosis of migraine from their healthcare provider. Migraine is often misdiagnosed as sinus headache or tension-type headache.
Causes of Migraine
Foods. Certain foods appear to trigger headaches in some people. Common offenders include alcohol, especially beer and red wine; aged cheeses; chocolate; fermented, pickled or marinated foods; aspartame; overuse of caffeine; monosodium glutamate – a key ingredient in some Asian foods; certain seasonings; and many canned and processed foods. Skipping meals or fasting also can trigger migraines.
Sensory stimuli. Bright lights and sun glare can produce head pain. So can unusual smells – including pleasant scents, such as perfume and flowers, and unpleasant odors, such as paint thinner and secondhand smoke.
A migraine begins when, for some reason, blood vessels in the brain narrow (constrict) temporarily. When that happens, the amount of blood and oxygen flowing to the brain drops. So the brain sends a message: “Hey guys, we need some more blood and oxygen here!”
Until recently, the general theory on the migraine process rested solely on the idea that abnormalities of blood vessel (vascular) systems in the head were responsible for migraines.
Symptoms of Migraine
Intense throbbing or dull aching pain on one side of your head or both sides.
Migraines typically begin in childhood, adolescence or early adulthood and may become less frequent and less intense as you grow older. In addition to physical suffering, severe headaches often mean missed school days and trips to the emergency department, as well as lost work time for anxious parents.
Most experts now agree that the term migraine should be used to refer to a chronic, recurrent neurological condition resulting in periodic attacks of head pain rather than the headache.
Changes in how a person sees, including blurred vision or blind spots, zig-zags of light or light flashes
Treatment of Migraine
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three over-the-counter products to treat migraine. Excedrin® Migraine (a combination of aspirin, acetaminophen and caffeine) is indicated for migraine and its associated symptoms. Advil® Migraine and Motrin® Migraine Pain, both ibuprofen medications, are approved to treat migraine headache and its pain.
Ergots. Ergotamine (Ergomar) has been in use for more than 60 years and was a common prescription for migraine before triptans were introduced. Ergotamine is much less expensive, but also less effective, than triptans. Dihydroergotamine is an ergot derivative that is more effective and has fewer side effects than ergotamine.
Drug names and migraine headache treatments availability vary widely from the USA and UK. Migraine headache treatments fall into two broad categories: first with migraine treatments are analgesics and analgesic combinations and, secondly, migraine-specific therapies, such as the triptans, ergotamine and dihydroergotamine. Many of these are available only on prescription but there is a variety of therapeutic options available over the counter (OTC) and pharmacists can often advise patients about these.
Beta blockers (e.g., propranolol [Inderal®], atenolol [Tenormin®]) are the preferred medications. These drugs produce an effect on heart rate. They should not be taken by patients with asthma and should be used with caution in patients with diabetes.
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More likely than not, you will also want to use non-medicating methods such as lying quietly in a dark room and placing a cold cloth on your head. The visual and other sensory disturbances that can accompany a migraine are often very destructive and many sufferers find that they need a place of solitude and rest until their symptoms abate.
Acetaminophen (Paracetamol)
Acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol is an over-the-counter drug that can be taken immediately at the onset of an attack and it works to lessen migraine pain. Caffeine may also be added to the preparation, which helps to increase efficacy and is thought to produce faster pain relief.
Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS)
Over the counter preparations such as aspirin and ibuprofen are examples of NSAIDS that can ease migraine pain and also alleviate inflammation. Be careful with regards to long-term use, however, as aspirin can irritate the stomach and may lead to ulcers. Other NSAIDS your doctor may suggest are diclofenac, naproxen or indomethacin.
Antihistamines
Antihistamines affect migraine headaches indirectly. It is thought that histamine, which is involved in allergic reactions, also triggers migraines. As such, antihistamines can be helpful in treating allergic symptoms that may accompany a migraine as well as decreasing the trigger source itself during an attack, which should help to lessen migraine symptoms. Antihistamines may have a somewhat sedative effect so it’s best to avoid driving or anything requiring a clear head and focus. Most likely, you will wish to lie down anyways and the drowsy effect will likely help rather than hinder your relief.
Ergot Preparations
Ergot preparations have been used for decades to treat migraines. Their mechanism involves the constriction of blood vessels, which corresponds with the belief that blood vessels dilate during a migraine attack, causing pain. Ergots are not commonly used now because they do have some potentially very serious side effects and can also lead to misuse and rebound headaches. They are also not considered as effective as new migraine drugs that are more targeted for migraine pain. They do, however, still provide pain relief for some individuals and your doctor may feel that an ergot preparation is appropriate for your specific symptoms. If you are taking ergot compounds, be sure to use care and caution when following instructions for use.
Triptans
Triptans are one of the newer classes of migraine drugs. As with ergots, they do work to narrow blood vessels when you are experiencing a migraine. In addition, it is also believed that they block any inflammatory effects around the blood vessels. A bonus to triptans is that they also act on additional migraine symptoms such as nausea. Some of the triptans you may be prescribed are sumatriptan, naratriptan, rizatriptan and zolmitriptan. Overall, the triptans are considered highly effective, safe and do not have any widespread serious side effects. There are, however, contraindications with some other conditions, namely cardiovascular based ones, so your doctor should do a thorough history with you before prescribing a triptan medication.
Drugs For Nausea
During a migraine attack, a person’s stomach may not function normally; digestion can slow and the time taken for specific migraine drugs to take effect can be delayed. Various migraine drugs work to get your stomach functioning more normally again. For some migraine sufferers, nausea and vomiting can also be worse than the head pain and it is important to treat these severe symptoms. Some of the drugs used to treat nausea are:
* Domperidone
* Metoclopramide
* Promethazine
* Hydroxyzine
Your first line of defense against a migraine is still prevention, but your doctor will discuss ways to treat immediate migraine pain and other distressing symptoms. Remember to follow all medication instructions carefully and alert your doctor to any unusual side effects. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions and voice concerns about medications that your doctor suggests.
Ultimately, you have to feel comfortable with the treatment plan and your doctor’s knowledge is there to guide, not rule the final migraine management plan. It is hoped that by increasing your own knowledge on migraine treatments, you will feel more control and comfort when handling your head pain.
Alien writes for Migraine treatment. He also writes for headache remedies and schizophrenia symptoms
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When your temporomandibular joint is out of alignment, it causes the muscles in your face, head, and neck that surround the joint, to strain at everything they do. Even while at rest, the muscles are having excess stress put on them because of the misaligned joint.
The strained muscles in your head, face, and neck can cause headaches or TMJ migraines. TMJ headaches are often so painful, severe, and frequent that they are misdiagnosed as migraines. One of the ways to determine if you are suffering from headaches or migraines as a result of TMD is by getting diagnosed by a specially trained neuromuscular dentist like Dr. Pavlenko in Edmonton, Alberta.
When the muscles are constantly strained or contracted they can cause tension headaches. TMJ headaches can also be caused by a build-up of blood pressure. When the muscles in your face, head, and neck are strained, they prevent blood from flowing to the correct places. When this happens, your body attempts to correct the problem by sending more blood to the area, which increases blood pressure. This can cause a very painful feeling of pressure around the head, called a vascular headache.
A neuromuscular dentist will work with you to diagnose your headaches or migraines and determine if TMJ is causing them. If it is, he will design a treatment plan specifically suited for you. First he will relax and rid the muscles around the joint to stop the pain they are causing. Then, your jaw will be stabilized so that the best treatment for you can be determined. Finally, the two of you can discuss a long-term treatment that is designed specifically for you.
The symptoms of TMD can cause discomfort and they can lead to serious physical damage. You could be suffering from TMD if you are experiencing symptoms like:
· Sensitive/Sore Teeth
· Sore jaw muscles
· Pain in the head, neck, and shoulders
· Facial Pain
· Headaches
· Migraines
· Ringing in the ears
· Locking of the jaw
· Clicking/Popping of the jaw
· Limited jaw movement
· Worn Teeth
· Chipped Teeth
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A migraine is a splitting headache that just seems to set in apparently due to no reason at all. The reasons for a migraine are mainly vascular. That means that certain changes in the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain trigger of the pain. Of course, the causes for the changes in the blood vessels may vary from person to person but this is generally how it starts.
Migraines are easily the most common headache syndrome. It affects 10 to 15 percent of the global population. One peculiar feature of a migraine is that it usually starts in childhood or adolescence and is most common
in young and middle-aged adults.
The only good thing about a migraine is that it usually stops as people get older. Migraines have nothing to do with a person’s background, upbringing, or social class. Migraines do not discriminate.
Migraines have a strong impact on the quality of a person’s life. It affects not only the person but also the lives of those who move in close contact with he person. Migraine attacks can some times be so severe that person may have to abandon his or her routine activities for three or four days at a stretch.
Once the pain of a migraine sets in, it is sheer agony. It is almost as if one side of your head is being ripped off. There is very little a person can do to stop this pain.
The good thing about a migraine is that it is transient, that is the pain will go away after sometime. This usually happens after the person gets a few hours of sound sleep. But the worst thing about migraines is that they recur. But migraines too can be prevented to a very large extent as the tips below explain.
There are two main types of migraine, the classic migraine and the common migraine. Both the classic and the common kind can occur as often as several times a week or as rarely as once every few years.
Both types can occur at any time. But for some people at least, it is possible to predict the occurrence of the migraine. For example there is a greater tendency for a migraine near the days of menstruation or every Saturday morning after a stressful week of work.
Although many sufferers have a family history of migraine, the exact hereditary nature of this condition is not known. People who get migraines are thought to have an inherited abnormality in the regulation of blood vessels. The following factors often
act as triggers that set of the migraine.
Stress is one of the major factors that can contribute to the onset of a migraine. Now it may not be possible for you to get away from the cause of stress, particularly if it is something connected with your job.
Anger can trigger of a migraine as well. It would be good for short tempered people to learn ways of controlling their anger. The best method is of course the one to ten method. The next time you get angry count to ten very slowly before you really blow your lid. By the time you get to ten you should have cooled down.
Both physical and mental fatigue can lead to a migraine so do not push your self too much. Enough is enough and when your body starts giving you signals that it has had enough, take heed and stop whatever you are doing. Just bear in mind that a little more productivity on one day is not worth the productivity of the next couple of days.
Filed under migraine by on Nov 29th, 2011. Comment.
Some of the explanations may be issues in the central nervous system, a different environment or changes in your body. But recent research has concluded that migraine can have hereditary roots, and it may pass from generation to generation, usually indicated by an inflammation in the blood vessels which causes pain in the area.
There are plenty of trigging stimulus for a migraine headache such as: hormonal imbalance, bad sleeping habits, certain foods, alcohol or drugs consumption, episodes of stress, certain medicines and perfumes. Although these stimulus themselves are not the cause for the headache but the trigger, avoiding them can reduce migraine episodes, both in intensity as in frequency.
A migraine episode is extremely painful, and the pain changes and becomes more acute when moving around, coughing or lowering the head. The pain takes diverse forms, it can be pulsating or throbbing, and it can also cause dizziness, vomiting and sensibility to the light and sound. Migraine headaches are so painful that the person finds it difficult to carry a normal, everyday life while having a migraine episode.
What’s a migraine headache like?
Those who suffer or have ever suffered a migraine headache know the answer very well. A migraine headache starts with pain located on one side of the head, but it gradually spreads. It’s extremely painful and it gets worse with physical activity, even with everyday life activities. It’s sometimes accompanied by nausea sensation and vomit. Usually, people who suffer from migraine headaches also become sensitive to sounds and sources of light. If the person doesn’t take any type of medication, a migraine episode could last anywhere from an afternoon to three days. The frequency varies from person to person since episodes may occur once or twice a week or a year.
Another theory claims that the inflammation produced in the blood vessels alongside with hormones and chemical released into the body may cause the painful migraine episodes.
Recent research has shown that smoking can cause severe migraine headaches, both in smokers and in second-hand smokers. This is due to nicotine. Nicotine makes the blood vessels in the head to narrow, therefore causing a headache.
Stop looking for the exact cause of migraine. Go see your doctor instead, since migraine headaches cannot be solved with regular over the counter painkiller, but your doctor will prescribe a specific medicine for migraine.
Cindy Heller is a professional writer. To learn more about exact cause of migraine, please visit frequent head ache.
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Filed under migraine by on Nov 28th, 2011. Comment.