Learning The Ins And Outs Of Migraine Headaches

Migraine headaches is a condition which affects millions of individuals worldwide and can leave a sufferer of migraine headaches overwhelmed by the symptoms that are felt as well as the number of treatment options available. Those who are unfortunate enough to suffer from migraine headaches should understand that every migraine headaches sufferer will experience differing levels of pain, symptoms, and each will respond to treatment options in varying ways. The key piece of advice when it comes to learning the ins and outs of migraine headaches are to weigh the options and then begin searching to find out what works best on a personal level for each individual migraine headaches sufferer. There is not one size fits all approach to treating migraine headaches because every migraine headaches sufferer experiences different levels of the symptoms of migraine headaches, it is okay for a little bit of trial and error to take place, that is sometimes the only way that any individual migraine headaches sufferer will be able to find the option that works best for them.

The first place to start when learning about the ins and outs of migraine headaches is to understand some of the risk factors, triggers, as well as warning signs that commonly do take place among those who suffer from migraine headaches.

• Risk Factors – Some of the risk factors that can contribute to a person experiencing migraine headaches are gender, age, family history (genetics), as well as other medical conditions such as depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, stroke, or even epilepsy.
• Triggers – Some of the triggers can that contribute to a person experiencing migraine headaches are hormones, lack of sleep (or too much sleep), lighting, certain foods, caffeine, and fasting as well as stress.
• Warning Signs – the warning signs that can signal the onset of migraine headaches vary among individuals, however the most common warning signs of migraine headaches are drowsiness, irritability, depression, fatigue, excessive yawning, food cravings (such as those high in sugar and/or salt), as well as mood changes.

Understanding each of these categories that often times will precursor migraine headaches can help the individual sufferer of migraine headaches to be able to more fully understand how migraine headaches affect them personally so that treatment options can be weighed.

The Ins & Outs of Treating Migraine Headaches

While just being able to understand the causes, triggers, warning signs and risk factors of migraine headaches can seem a bit overwhelming, we haven’t even covered all of the many variations in treatment plans for migraine headaches. Again, it is important to remember that each sufferer of migraine headaches will have different variations of symptoms and will respond differently to all the forms of treatment for migraine headaches. The key is to find the treatment options that will provide the most relief (or prevention) from their own personal migraine headaches. Below are listed some of the most common forms of treatment for migraine headaches:

• Medications – Often times the first line of defense when it comes to treating migraine headaches is the use of prescription medications. Prophylactic medications (such as Beta Blockers, Calcium-Channel Blockers, Antiserotonin Agents, Anticonvulsants, as well as Tricyclic Antidepressants are commonly used) are most often used for the prevention of migraine headaches. The use of prophylactic medications are not as effective when taken after the occurrence of the migraine headaches has already developed, but when taken properly can help to reduce the reoccurrences of migraine headaches. For treatment of migraine headaches once they are in full force the use of prescription medications such as Vasoconstrictors, Triptans, or even Ergot’s are commonly used. These medications are designed to bring relief of the migraine headaches when one is taking place in full swing.
• Alternative Treatments – While medications are often the first line of defense when it comes to treating migraine headaches they can cause many different negative side effects or even worse become habit forming. There are many different treatment options for finding relief from migraine headaches including chiropractic care, occupational therapy, physical therapy, massage therapy, biofeedback, or even acupuncture. Alternative treatments are worth looking into because they do provide relief from migraine headaches and have excellent health benefits.
• Supplements – Another great alternative to using prescription medications is the use of supplements for treating migraine headaches. Some of the commonly used supplements for migraine headaches are Magnesium, Coenzyme Q-10, 5-Hydroxytryptophan, as well as Vitamin B-12.

Tags: Acupuncture, Alternative treatment, chiropractic care, herbal supplemetns, migraine treatment, Migraines, natural alternative, therapy