by Richard H Ealom
INTRODUCTION: Migraine is a disease, a headache is only a symptom. These headaches, with nausea and vomiting, normally start in childhood and tend to becomes less severe and frequent with age. They can happen any time of the day, though they often begins in the A.M.. The pain is caused by vasodilation in the cranial blood vessels (expansion of the blood vessels), while Headache pain is produced by vasoconstriction (narrowing of the blood vessels). The disease characteristics can include: Pain often on one side of the head with a pulsating or throbbing feeling, Moderate to intense pain affecting daily activities, Nausea or vomiting, Sensitivity to light or sound.
Attacks often last from four hours to three days, sometimes longer and visual disturbances or aura Exertion such as climbing stairs makes the headaches worse. Approximately 20% of people experience aura, the warning associated with migraine, prior to the headache pain. It is frequently mis-diagnosed as sinus headaches or tension-type headaches and affects up to 15% of the population. Migraines can produce a host of serious physical ailments including strokes, aneurysms, permanent loss of vision, severe dental problems, coma and even death. Sufferers experience not only excruciating pain, but social ostracism, job loss, disruption of personal relationships, and prejudices at work. These headaches seem to be caused in part by alterations in the level of a body chemical called serotonin and they are not the same in all persons.
SYMPTOMS: May include Moderate to severe pain on one or both sides of the head, Pulsating or throbbing pain, Pain worse with physical activity, Nausea with or without vomiting, Sensitivity to light or sound. Approximately 20 percent of these people experience what’s called an aura prior to the headache pain. Symptoms of an aura include flashes of light, zig zags, or blind spots in your vision or tingling in one arm or leg. With a Classic migraine, a person has these visual symptoms 10 to 30 minutes before an attack: sees flashing lights or zigzag lines, has blind spots or loses vision for a short time. With a common migraine, a person does not have an aura, but does have the other symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting. Women also tend to report higher levels of pain, longer headache time, and more symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting.
TREATMENT: Treatment is divided into getting rid of particular triggers, management of the specific attack, and long-term prevention. There are 2 basic ways to treat migraine headaches with drugs: prevent the attacks, or ease the symptoms during the attacks. Many people use both types of treatment. Other home treatment methods can help, such as doing relaxation techniques and using ice packs. In your headache diary (you should keep one), make a list of home treatment techniques that work for you in different situations.
Alternative medical treatments with drugs belonging to the group called Phenothiazines have proven helpful as non-analgesic options for treating severe headaches.
At present, there is no recognized cure for the disease, only treatments for the symptoms. Furthermore, such treatments are not yet totally effective and sufferers may show a decreased tolerance to a variety of medications, treatments, and pain control regimens. As always, talk with your physician about what sets off your headaches and to help find the proper treatment for you.
CONCLUSION: Migraine is a real neurological disease and often becomes worse in the 1st trimester of pregnancy, but many women are headache-free later in their pregnancy. This disease and epileptic seizure disorders are also interrelated. Persons who suffer from these headaches are frequently dismissed as neurotic complainers who are not able to handle stress. It is the second most common kind of headache syndrome in the USA and is most commonly found in females, with a 3 to 1 female-to-male ratio. They can continue through the 30s and 40s.
Migraines afflict 28 million Americans, with women suffering more frequently (17%) than men (6%). This kind of headache is one of the most common problems seen in emergency rooms and doctor’s offices. Occurrence among females increases sharply up to age 40 years and then decreases gradually. Headaches tend to run in families, indicating that genetic factors contribute to a persons susceptibility to the condition.
The National Headache Foundation recommends you talk to your MD about your headaches IF: you have several a month and each lasts for several hours or days, disrupts your home, work, or school life, you have nausea, vomiting, vision, or other sensory problems. Tests can be run to determine if you have migraine or not. Prior your appointment, write down: how frequently you have headaches, where the pain is, how long they last, when do they happen, such as during your menstrual cycle, other symptoms, such as nausea or blind spots, any family history of the condition. By just talking with your MD, you may be able to supply enough information to diagnose migraine.
About the Author:
Richard H. Ealom is a writer who has authored more than 60 articles on Diseases,Causes,Cures. Learn of Alternative Treatments for Migraines that work by visiting the
The Migraine And Headache Program! website. You are allowed to use this article as long as you leave this box unchanged