Experiencing A Migraine

A migraine headache can cause intense throbbing and pounding in the head and is often accompanied by other nagging symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and extreme sensitivities to lights, sounds and smells.  Living with migraines can be very draining, but life is something that just can’t be avoided when a migraine comes knocking.  Why is it that the day must take a sudden turn or your plans need to be postponed all due to a headache?

What Is A Migraine

A migraine is a debilitating headache that can cause excruciating pain from several hours up to several days.  When experiencing a migraine, pain often radiates in the temples or behind the eyes or ears.  In addition to the nagging symptoms mentioned above, in severe cases people have been known to experience temporary vision loss or other visual disturbances during a migraine episode.  Migraines can present themselves at any point during the day, though the most common onset is early in the morning.  The frequency in which migraines are experienced can vary from person-to-person.  While some people may have migraine two or three times a year, others may experience as many as two a week!  Migraines tend to affect people between the ages of 15 and 50, but most frequently impacting woman and those with a family history of migraines.

Telling the difference between a migraine and a standard headache can be hard at times, but it is important to know the indicators of a migraine, so proper pain management can be provided.  A tension or stress head differs from a migraine as they are less severe and very rarely disable the sufferer.  The pain accompanying a tension headache is typically mild-to-moderate and rarely includes any of the other symptoms associated with migraines.  While the pain may be present, it tends to start and remain at a steady ache. Migraines on the other hand come on strong and usually only intensify.

Tension or stress headaches can often be worked away by simply relaxing and allowing the tension in your body to release.  A simple shoulder massage could do the trick.  Migraines, on the other hand, can spark with or without a trigger. Some examples of migraine triggers are hormones, certain foods, and even weather changes.

Migraine is a broad title and there are several specific types of migraines that could be experienced.  Each type of migraine brings about its own challenges, symptoms, and needs.  Here are several of the sub-categories of migraines:

• Migraine with Aura
• Migraine without Aura
• Abdominal migraines
• Status Migraines
• Ophthalmologic Migraine
• Basilar Artery Migraine

Surviving A Migraine

As with any medical condition, all headaches respond differently to medication.  While some over-the-counter pain relievers may help in alleviating migraine symptoms, when things get severe they barely put a dent in the discomfort.  Surviving migraine headaches requires having a proper treatment plan in place and doing your best to eliminate possible triggers.

One of the first steps to properly managing migraines is to begin a migraine journal.  In this journal you need to document triggers, activity level, stress level, severity of migraine, and accompanying symptoms.  This will help your doctor identify possible trends occurring over time.  While there is no cure for migraines, the goal is to treat the symptoms quickly and put in place a preventative measure to reduce severity of future attacks.

Doctors frequently utilize the effectiveness of anti-depressants and anti-convulsant medication to ease migraine symptoms.  These helps to limit the pain signals sent to the brain therefore limiting the body’s feeling of discomfort.  If you prefer an herbal alternative, Feverfew is an herb that has shown successful in reducing migraine pain.  If you plan to try feverfew, be sure to discuss with your physician first, especially if you are already using another form of oral or topical medication.  Staying active, reducing stress levels, eating a well balanced diet, and avoiding known triggers is the best plan of attack for migraines without the need of medical intervention.  At any time, should you notice a significant change in your symptoms or type of migraine you are experiencing, consult your physician as your treatment plan may need to be changed to make “surviving” your migraines easier.

Tags: blurred vision, constipation, migraine attack, migraine headahces, migraine symptoms, migraine treatment, nausea, vomiting