Migraines

When it comes to headaches, migraine headaches are in a class all their own.  If you have been diagnosed with migraine headaches, you already know how painful and debilitating they can be.  And if you are suffering from extreme headaches that are more than just a little head pain, you may need to talk to your doctor about migraine headaches.

Migraine headaches are also known as vascular headaches.  They are different from a standard tension headache because they are caused by the blood vessels in your brain.  Blood vessels will constrict in your brain and then suddenly they will dilate, or expand.

When that happens, blood rushes to your head and you have an extreme headache that also has symptoms such as sensitivity to light and sound, nausea and vomiting, and visual disturbances.  People who have extreme cases of migraine may also have symptoms such as speech and language difficulties.

Some people have one headache and then don’t experience another one for some time.  But for others, migraines can be even more painful because they come in clusters.  That means you have several headaches in a short period of time.

The causes for migraines can be dietary, hormonal, stress related, and also occur for unknown reasons.  For some people, migraines can be prevented by simply avoiding certain foods such as aged cheeses and meats containing nitrates such as hot dogs and deli meats.   For others, no exact cause can be found.  But for those people, there is hope for a more productive, pain-free life with treatment.

There are several medications designed to fight migraine headache pain.  Some of those medications are taken daily to prevent the onset of a headache.  These are generally prescribed to people who have migraine headaches frequently.  If you suffer from them only occasionally, you can take medication that’s designed to constrict the blood vessels and keep the headache from coming on.  These medications are prescription only and tend to be quite expensive.  However, they are worth the cost if migraine headaches are causing you to miss work and lowering your quality of life.

Migraine headaches can interfere with your life.  Most people who suffer from migraine pain find that they can’t participate in their normal, daily activities when they are in the middle of a headache.  However, if you suffer from severe headaches, you need to see your doctor.  A health care provider can prescribe medication that will improve your life and allow you to live without this terrible pain.

Tags: Headaches Migraine, Migraine, Migraine Headache, Migraine Headaches, Migraine Pain, Nausea And Vomiting, Nitrates, Sensitivity To Light, Tension Headache, Vascular Headaches, Visual Disturbances

Conventional treatments for migraine headaches have progressed along way in the past several years.
As little as twenty years ago, if you walked into your health care providers office complaining of a migraine headache,
the best he could do was empathize with you.  There just were not any effective conventional treatments to help.

Today the medical community is armed with a number of solutions for your pain.
Some of these have been specifically developed for the alleviation of the symptoms of a migraine headache.

Others are drugs which are used for a variety of health conditions other than migraine headaches..
Your health care provider may recommend you undergo what is called acute or abortive therapy.
This merely means that he will ask you take certain drugs when the  migraine attack occurs
which  may be able to halt the symptoms once they have already begun.

Specific pain-relieving medications include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs also known as NSAIDs.
The most commonly used of this class of drugs include ibuprofen, sold as over-the-counter remedies under
the brand names of Advil and Motrin.

Another NSAID is aspirin.  You may even find that some of these medications include caffeine as in the case of Excedrin Migraine.
These drugs usually seem to work fine for moderate headaches, but are not effective at all when the pain of a migraine worsens.

Your health care provider may recommend a stronger version of this class of drugs, one in which you can only obtain with a prescription.

While this may appear as a solution, you must keep in mind that the prolonged use of this class of medications can lead to some serious,
adverse side effects.
If used too long, these drugs have been known to cause ulcers as well as gastrointestinal bleeding in some people.

Ironically, the same medications taken to resolve the pain may also cause rebound headaches in certain individuals,
only making the problem worse.

There are also drugs that are tailored specifically to relief the pain unique to a migraine headache.
These are called triptans and are increasingly becoming the drug of choice for many health care providers.

They not only relieve the pain, but they also help to reduce the nausea and the light sensitivity that many complain of.

Here again, though, while this sounds like a blessing for migraine suffers,
you need to discuss with your health care provider all the possible side effects these drugs bring with them.
They include: nausea, dizziness, muscle weakness and in more serious cases, even stroke or heart attack.

In addition to this he may also provide you with a variety of preventive medications.
These may require that you take them on a regular basis,
usually once a day  in order to prevent the headache completely or at least reduce the severity or frequency of the problem.

These drugs may include those originally designed for use on cardiovascular problems
or they may be antidepressants or even anti-seizure drugs.

The approach your health care provider uses depends on several factors,
including the severity of the pain  and the corresponding degree of disability you experience
as well as the frequency of the headaches.

Some experts, for example, explain that an individual is a candidate for preventive therapy
if you experience at least two debilitating attacks a month or
if you are otherwise forced to take some type of pain-relieving medication more than twice a week.

Other reasons you may be placed on preventive therapy include an unusually long

time period of numbness or impaired movement on one side of your body,or the existence of an unusually prolong aura.

Tags: Headaches Migraine, Migraine Attack, Migraine Drugs, Migraine Headache, Migraine Headaches, Rebound Headaches

So, just who is at risk for developing migraine headaches?  If other members of your family suffer with this type of headache, your chances of getting them are increased.  But even if there is no history of migraine headaches in your family, you may still  be at risk if you are young and a female.

Women, it seems are three times more likely to experience the symptoms of a migraine than men.  We have noted that many migraines are triggered by hormonal changes in the body.  It should not come as much as a surprise then that many women report changes in their migraine experiences during a pregnancy or when they have reached menopause.

If your headache frequency fluctuates during these times, then taking birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy may only make  your headaches more unbearable.

When you begin to think that your headaches are true migraines, how can you tell for sure?  Your health care provider has several methods at his disposal to pinpoint exactly what type of headaches you are experiencing.

Your health care provider may first schedule you for a computerized tomography or CT Scan.  This is an imaging procedure which uses a series of computer-directed X-rays.  This provides the medical experts with a cross-sectional view of your brain.
Armed with this your health care practitioner can rule out a possible tumor, infection or other problem which may be at the root of your frequent headaches.

Another tool your health care provider  may make use of, is magnetic resonance imaging, better known as an MRI.  This particular device uses radio waves and a powerful magnet that produces an extremely detailed cross-section view of your brain.  This is just another tool your health care provider uses to help diagnose the presence of tumors, strokes, or aneurysms as well as various neurological diseases and other brain abnormalities.
These may all contribute to the occurrence of the headaches.  The MRI is also a method to evaluate the vessels that supply blood to the brain.

Your health care provider may also suspect that meningitis or the bleeding of a blood vessel outside of the brain may be the underlying cause of your pain.  In this case she may recommend that you undergo a spinal tap.  This procedure involves the insertion of a thin needle between two of the vertebrae in your lower back.  This injection extracts a portion of your cerebrospinal fluid for analysis.  The process itself takes about 30  minutes.  If your health care provider recommends this, you should be prepared to experience a headache at the completion of the process, since you system will experience a drop in your cerebrospinal fluid pressure.

Tags: Frequent Headaches, Hormonal Changes, Migraine Headaches, Symptoms Of A Migraine

Not only are migraine headaches one of the most painful health problems around, they are one of the least understood. Within the last several decades though, some researchers believe they have at least deciphered the causes of the headache.

Scientists now believe that actual function changes in the trigeminal nervous system may trigger migraine headaches. This is a major pain pathway of your nervous system.  When imbalances in your brain’s chemicals occur, then a migraine headache appears.

During a migraine headache, these researchers tell us, the level of your serotonin drops. The lowered quantity of this neurotransmitter causes the trigeminal nerve to release neuropeptides. These travel to the outer covering of your brain which in turn trigger the dilatation and inflammation of your blood vessels.  And that’s the immediate cause of the migraine.

What triggers this chain reaction, though, varies from person to person.  In some individuals for example, hormonal changes trigger the flare up of a migraine headache.  Science is yet unsure why this should be, but it appears that the natural fluctuations in estrogen in some women cause migraines.

Women whose headaches are hormonally based usually report migraines either immediately before or during their menstrual periods.  This corresponds to the time period when a woman’s estrogen level has dropped considerably.  Other women, though, may develop migraines during pregnancy or in their menopausal years.  Women also discover that if they use birth control pills or get hormone replacement therapy, the migraines may get worse.

In quite a few individuals, eating certain foods seems to bring on a migraine headache. The most common offenders are just about any kind of alcohol, but the two major culprits are beer and red wine.  Many individuals soon discover that their food triggers include aged cheeses, chocolate, any foods that are fermented pickled or marinated and in some instances even caffeine.

Others say that ingestion of aspartame – the sugar substitute – or monosodium glutamate, a popular ingredient in some Asian foods, also cause migraine headaches. Still others say that if they skip a meal or try to fast they develop a migraine headache.

Stress can also contribute to a migraine headache, experts explain.  Some people say they have “weekend migraines.”  These occur after they’ve been bombarded with continual stress all week at work.  When the weekend arrives and their bodies actually have a chance to relax, then the migraine occurs.  But others say that the appearance of stress alone can also prompt the appearance of a migraine.

Another cause of migraine headaches for some people is certain sensory stimuli.  It’s not unusual for some individuals to complain that bright lights and the sun glare to produce head pain.  In others, migraines can be caused by the exposure to unusual smells.  Some people develop this type of headache when exposed to such smells as paint thinner or even second hand smokes.

Curiously, the smells don’t necessarily have to be offensive odors to produce pain.  Many individuals say that certain perfumes or the smell of certain flowers can trigger the migraine.

A migraine headache may also be triggered by intense physical exertion – even sexual activity – a change in weather conditions, the transitional climate changes from one season to next even fluctuations in the barometric pressure.
And in some instances, people have been complained their migraine headaches have actually gotten worse when they take certain prescribed medications.

Tags: Migraine, Migraine Headache, Migraine Headaches, Migraine Triggers, Natural Fluctuations, Neurotransmitter, Pain Pathway, Serotonin, Trigeminal Nerve

Prevent Painful Migraines Before They Start By Avoiding Common Triggers

Thousands of people suffer from migraines everyday, and for many, there is no cure, only prevention. Migraines can be caused by any number of triggers, and by staying away from the most common triggers, you can help prevent them, at least to some extent. Not everyone’s migraines are caused by the same triggers, so it may take some time to determine exactly what you need to stay away from, but in this article, you will learn about some of the more common migraine triggers.

One of the number one causes of migraines is caffeine consumption. Caffeine can be found in soft drinks, tea, coffee, and many over the counter products, so it is important to learn to read labels, if you think this may be part of your problem. If you suddenly cut out all caffeine from your diet, you may suffer withdrawal headaches, so a gradual elimination is the best course of action.

Artificial sweeteners, particularly those containing Aspartame, have long been linked to migraines, among other problems. Of course, the sweetener manufacturers swear that isnt the case at all. Learn to read labels, and steer clear of any products containing artificial sweeteners, just to be on the safe side, especially diet colas.

Smoking has also been known to cause migraines, and if you are trying to determine your triggers, it may be a good idea to give up the cigarettes for a while, just to see if it makes a difference. During this time, you will need to stay away from second hand smoke as well, to get an accurate result.

Try to go to bed at the same time every night, and get up at the same time everyday, even if you are on vacation. For some people, just this minor lifestyle adjustment has gotten rid of their migraines completely, so it might be worth a try.

If you are currently taking birth control pills, you might want to talk with your doctor about switching brands, or trying another form of birth control. Due to the havoc that oral contraceptives wreak on your hormones, they could very well be the source of your migraines, at least in part.

Dont stare at your computer monitor for long periods of time, particularly in a room with bright lighting, as this is not only hard on your eyes, but can lead to severe migraines as well. Take frequent breaks, and install a filter on your monitor, to help tone down some of that brightness.

Perfumes, while they smell good, can often trigger migraines, so it may be a good idea to go perfume free for a few days, and see if it makes any difference in the frequency and severity of your migraines. You may have to be satisfied with using a scented body wash or lotion, rather than perfume, if that is found to be the culprit behind your migraines.

There are lots of other migraine triggers, so it can take some time to find out specifics in your own individual case. Keep a migraine journal, to help you identify triggers, and hopefully, stay away from them in the future!

Tags: causes of migraines, Migraine, Migraines, second hand smoke, time

Migraines are a common adult health problem, but did you also know that kids suffer from migraines too? There are many triggers of migraines, but they are all basically caused by the same thing, the expansion and contraction of blood vessels inside the brain. Around 5% of children in the US alone suffer from migraines. This problem usually afflicts younger children, and then disappears until puberty, when hormonal changes in your girls often bring them back again.

Children as young as 4 years old have been diagnosed with migraines, but it is much more difficult for doctors to diagnose at this age. To diagnose migraines in children, doctors usually rule out all of the other more serious problems, research into the family’s medical history, and do a complete neurological exam, which can take quite some time.

Studies have shown genetic links to migraines. Pediatricians advise parents who suffer from migraines to keep a close eye on their children, particularly if they start to notice any kind of motion sickness, which could be a warning sign of future migraines. Oftentimes, kids suffering from migraines had other problems when they were younger, such as colic, trouble sleeping, or nightmares. Migraines interfere with kid’s lives, affecting their interactions with others, their school performance, and their participation in normal, childhood activities. The condition can actually be worsened by physical activity, which makes it extremely difficult for a child to experience a normal, active childhood.

Most migraines suffered by children last only for about four hours at a time, although some can last considerably longer. Some children also experience the inability to talk, loss of feeling, or pass out during migraine episodes. Some children have visual disturbances, where items appear much larger or smaller than normal, known as the “Alice in Wonderland” Syndrome.

Over the counter medications may be given to children for migraine pain, usually Tylenol, or Ibuprofen. If these medications don’t control the pain, the child’s doctor may prescribe a stronger medication, primarily for pain relief. Parents can help their children keep a migraine diary, which can help identify the migraine triggers they have, and help to prevent migraines in the future by avoiding the known triggers whenever possible.

Your child’s pediatrician will also need you to keep up with the number of migraines your child has each week, where the pain was during the migraine, duration of the migraine, as well as anything that may have triggered the migraine, which is where the diary comes in handy. The pediatrician will use this information to monitor your child’s migraines, and in choosing the right medication for your child. You will probably be asked to bring this information with you to every appointment your child has.

Migraines are terrible, no matter how old you are, but in the case of young children, they can be even more devastating, for all parties involved. As a parent, it is difficult to know your child is in pain, and as a child, especially a young child, it is hard to cope with the severe pain often associated with migraines. If you suspect your child may suffer from migraines, it is important to seek proper medical treatment.

Tags: Migraine, Migraines, pain

Aspartame and Migraines, What They Don’t Want You To Know!

If you suffer from migraines, odds are, you would be willing to do almost anything to prevent them in the future. That being said, you should take a long hard look at what you eat and drink, and the ingredients in those products, especially aspartame, and other artificial sweeteners. Diet soft drinks, while better for your waistline, can often lead to migraines, because of the use of aspartame and artificial sweeteners.

Take the time to do some research of your own into aspartame and migraines, and you may be shocked to find out that you are still alive, after all the years you have blindly spent consuming this poison. Aspartame has been linked to many health problems, some proven, some not, but there is enough research to say that there is a definitive link between aspartame and migraines.

Some doctors think that the majority of migraine headaches, about 90%, can actually be linked to a food trigger, particularly additives, such as aspartame. In one research trial done at a Florida university, research found that the consumption of aspartame increased the occurrence rate and frequency of migraines by more than 50%.

There has been no written in stone link found, but if you suffer from migraines, odds are, you should stay away from aspartame and artificial sweeteners. If you do use products with aspartame, you shouldnt just quit cold-turkey. If you do wean yourself away from aspartame, and in the future decide to try again, be prepared for more intense, more frequent migraines to begin again.

Of course, manufacturers who use aspartame claim that there are no health risks or side effects associated with the sweetener used in their products. But, you should know that right now, more people than ever are starting to look at products containing other sweeteners, such as Splenda. This has resulted in many food manufacturers switching to Splenda from aspartame-based sweeteners, due to the number of health complaints and concerns they have had to address over the last few years.

In the end, you have to do your own tests to find out if aspartame really is causing your migraines. If you switch to non-aspartame products, and find that your migraines go away, then you should have your answer. Its worth a try, if it can possibly lessen the frequency of your migraines, isnt it?

Tags: Aspartame, health, Migraine Headaches, occurrence rate, research

You stay in bed.  You can’t stand sunlight because the brightness makes the pain unbearable.  The pain, in fact, is so intense that you’re nauseous.  Before the pain got so severe, you might have seen an aura, or bright lines or lights in your line of vision.

What are you suffering with? The classic migraine headache.
There’s no doubt about it, the pain of a migraine headache can be so severe and intense that it’s actually disabling.  It’s when the symptoms are this brutal that people seek the refuge of a dark, quiet room where you can lie down without interruption.
Up to 17 percent of women in the United States suffer with migraine headaches.  Six percent of men have experienced a migraine at one time or another.

Twenty years ago, the medical community offered no help for those who experienced these one-of-a-kind headaches.  Today, though, no cure has been discovered, there are treatments that can help not only reduce the frequency of your headaches, but also stop the pain even after it has started.

How do know if your headache is a migraine or another type, for example a tension or a sinus headache?  In addition to moderate to severe pain which may only affect one side of your head, your classic migraine attack also produces a pulsating or throbbing pain which only gets worse when you try to perform any type of physical activity.

If your pain is bad enough to actually interfere with your daily activities, you’re probably experiencing a migraine headache.  Another indication that your headache is a migraine is the nausea that you feel.  Some individuals will experience vomiting – others won’t – but most everyone affected by these headaches are extremely sensitivity to both light and sound.

If you don’t treat this headache it usually disappears in as little as four hours, but it could also stick around for as long as three days.(Of course, any length of  time suffering with a migraine seems like an eternity!)  Some individuals, thankfully, only develop these painful headaches once or twice a year.  Others, however, aren’t as lucky and come down with these several times within a single month.

Every individual experiences a migraine headache just a little differently from the other.  While most people experience migraines without the much noted auras, there is a minority of people who do experience this unique visual precursor of the pain.  Those who experience no aura are said to have a “common migraine.”

Those who have the symptoms of auras are experiencing the “classic migraine.”
Auras usually appear between 15 to 30 minutes prior to the start of the pain. They may continue even after the onset of your pain.  You can recognize an aura through its sparkling flashes of light, which display themselves as dazzling zigzag lines in the field of your vision.

You may also notice slowly spreading blind spots in your vision.  But the aura affects more than your vision. You may feel a tingling sensation, which can be best described as “pins and needles” in one arm or leg.  In very rare cases, individuals say that the aura also produces speech problems.

If you’ve suffered from quite a few migraines and are sensitive enough, then you may be able to predict the onset of your migraine.  Some individuals say that they have what the medical community calls a prodrome several hours to a day before the headache actually appears.

They can tell that their migraine will occur because they possess a feeling of elation or intense energy, along with an unexplained irritability.  Some individuals say they experience a depression prior to the pain.  Other signs that indicate a migraine may be forming are cravings for sweets, a greater than average thirst and and unexplained drowsiness.

Tags: Classic Migraine, Headache Migraine, Migraine Attack, Migraine Headache, Migraine Headaches, Nausea, Physical Activity, Quiet Room, Severe Pain, Sinus Headache, Sunlight, Tension

Migraines can be triggered by many differing factors, it seems though that the number one trigger is Stress, followed in

second place by food additives. Unless you live under a rock, most people including children are exposed to some form of

stress in their daily lives. Stresses for children can be as simple as the daily waking up and going to school or as

complicated as the social interactions in the school environment.

On the adult level stress comes at us from many sources,the daily grind of the office, figuring out how to keep up with all of the bills and juggle a

demanding hectic schedule of family life and work, or the nagging feeling in the back of your mind that the bank you have your money in is going

to go the way of The IndyMac bank in California and close it’s doors before you can say broke.

More women then men suffer from migraines. Almost 75% of people that suffer from migraines are women. Women between the

ages of 35 and 45 are more prone to migraines then other age groups. Probably as a result of this period in their lives

having more commitments, career, social and family. Women also have a tendency to experience higher pain levels, prolonged

headache time and other symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting.

A women’s menstruation cycle may also have an effect on when they suffer from migraine headaches. This is probably due to

hormonal changes in a women’s body at these times.

Stress is a factor in everyone’s life to some degree, your choice of career can reduce the stress in your work life to

some degree, there is much more stress involved in being the attending doctor in an emergency room or racing around in

an ambulance,fire truck or a police cruiser then there is in building homes or serving French fries at jack in the box.

During these uncertain economic times many more factors can add to the stress of daily life. The choices between the

$4.11 a gallon gas or the $5 loaf of bread, can you afford to go on vacation this year and still meet the mortgage ?

Financial issues can lead to many stress related health problems.

All of the previously mentioned stressful situations can be triggers for Migraine Headaches. For the majority of people

though it is a combination of problems. Relief of stress is important and should not be ignored, too much stress build

up without relief can lead into health problems other than Migraines. Such as high blood pressure.

If it seems to you that the cause of your migraines could to some degree stress related then including stress management

techniques in your migraine management arsenal can be helpful. Removing some stress factors can also help, such as

turning down that one extra little project at work or declining that social engagement that you would really rather not attend.

Spending more time with friends and family can help relieve stress.

Some form of exercise whether it be walking,riding a bike or playing tennis can also help in reducing built up stress

and contribute to overall better health. It is best to consult your personal Doctor about your stress and Migraines.

Tags: Migraine, Migraine Headaches, Migraines, stress

For most of us, whenever we have a problem, we automatically run to the medicine cabinet, and that is often the first line of defense for migraine sufferers as well. When they feel a migraine beginning, they know that if they can take medication right away, they may be able to keep the migraine from getting worse. There are many different types of migraine medications, and you should be familiar with the possible side effects of those medicines before use.

Aspirin is known as the essential pain reliever, and for many, this is what they try first for their migraines. Now, we know that not only can aspirin help with pain, but that it can help prevent potentially fatal heart attacks as well.

Although known as the universal pain reliever, aspirin is not appropriate for everyone, and it should never, ever be given to a child under 12 years of age. Aspirin has been linked to stomach problems, such as ulcers, so those who already have stomach conditions should look for alternative medications if possible.

One alternative to Aspirin is Paracetamol, which is particularly good for those people who can’t tolerate the effects of Aspirin on their stomach. Follow the package directions carefully; overdosing on this product could potentially cause severe liver damage, which could be fatal.

A very popular prescription medication used for treating migraines is Imigran, or in it’s generic form, Sumatriptan. This drug was invented specifically for the treatment of migraines, and comes in many different forms; nasal spray, capsules, and injections. This drug can cause tightness in the chest and airway, and can cause stomach upset. Anyone who has problems or has had problems with circulation, or heart conditions, should not use this medication.

Doctors often prescribe Ergotamine for migraines, as they are non-narcotic like many of the other commonly used medications, and rather than just treating the pain, work to treat the constriction of blood vessels that leads to migraines. Most often, these pills are combined with caffeine, for maximum effectiveness. This medication often causes stomach upset, and should not be used by anyone with circulatory or heart problems.

Two of the most commonly prescribed migraine medications actually have some of the worst side effects, Pizotifen and Propranolol. Both of these drugs work to effectively treat migraines, but they both can cause sudden weight gain, sedation, nightmares, and depression. Patients taking these medications are usually closely monitored by their physicians, and advised to report any unusual symptoms immediately, in case medical attention is needed.

Alternative, herbal medications are also very popular lately, and Feverfew is perhaps the most popular herbal treatment for migraines. There are very few known side effects with the use of Feverfew, but one has to be careful, because not all manufacturers produce supplements in the same way, and many are too weak to actually be effective for the treatment of migraines. If you plan to try Feverfew, make certain it comes from reputable manufacturer.

While we all need medications from time to time, for all sorts of maladies, it is important to know the potential risks that come with using them, as many over the counter and prescription medications can cause potentially fatal side effects, especially if not used correctly.

As with any Medical Condition it is always the first and foremost priority that you consult your personal doctor before taking advise from friends and relatives.

Tags: liver damage, Migraine, migraine sufferers, pain, stomach problems, universal pain