Managing Migraines

Migraine headaches if left untreated can quickly get out of control. Many have tried but very few are able to successfully manage their migraine headaches and the immobilizing symptoms can leave an individual very frustrated, unable to work or function at a normal capacity costing them not only financially but limiting them socially as well. Research has shown that a migraine headache is a neurological condition that if not caught and treated could leave an individual incapacitated for seventy two hours several times a month.

A migraine headache is caused by an enlargement of blood vessels that creates a series of chemicals to be released and attack arteries in the brain. Once the chemicals have been released to wreak their havoc, the enlarging of the arteries begins to send painful symptoms that only magnifies until the arteries have stopped expanding or migraine relief has been found.  The pain associated with a migraine headache is so intense that a person becomes increasingly sensitive to light and sound which in return leaves them unable to function in an environment where light and noise are common occurrences. The increased sensitivity to light and sound makes it a challenge for one suffering from a migraine headache to function in their workplace effectively, when all they desire is a nice quiet dark place to lie down until the throbbing stops and sanity returns.

Feel The Need To Run?

When a migraine attacks, the individual may feel the need to run and hide, this is a normal response. A persons need to escape to a dark and quiet place while being inflicted with a migraine headache could be due to the sympathetic nervous system in the body being activated. The desires, feelings that come naturally to humans as part of their natural way of dealing or coping with stress and pain is often associated with one’s sympathetic nervous system. Once the sympathetic nervous system has been activated, symptoms begin to develop that hinder one’s functionality at home and work.

How To Treat

Treating migraines can be done a myriad of different ways and through several different methods. One of the most commonly used treatment methods is the use of prescription medications. Prescription medications are used as a preventative method and some success may come as a result, however there are several drawl backs to this approach such as the narrowing of the arteries that lead to the heart. Prescription medications should be a last resort and only used if every other treatment method has been attempted.

For those who are concerned about their health and the effect medications may have on their physical health and well-being there are alternative methods such as massage therapy, supplements, acupuncture and chiropractic care.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture as a therapy originated as traditional Chinese medicine. Acupuncture is based on the premise that there are patents of energy that flow through the body are and essential to total body health. Acupuncture uses stimulation of specific acu-points on the skin by inserting needles that range in length from 1 cm to 10 cm. A typical treatment involves the use of 5 to 15 needles and the generally the acu-points vary during each treatment session.

Massage Therapy

The two main symptoms that are presented by the condition of reoccurring migraines are fatigue and pain. Massage therapy can aid in lessening both of these symptoms by helping the migraine suffer to be able to experience less pain, obtain more sleep, and also to help relax some of the tightened and stiff muscles that can contribute too much of the pain. Research has proven that the use of massage therapy as a form of migraine treatment can help migraine sufferers experience deeper levels of sleep and lessen levels of pain and fatigue. The way that massage therapy accomplishes this is by using the different forms of massage to help oxygenate the body as a whole which can decrease the severity of symptoms that a migraine sufferer will experience. Massage therapy can help the migraine sufferers find relief from their symptoms specifically by:

1. Improving Sleep
2. Reducing Pain, and Stiffness in the Joints & Muscles
3. Decreasing Anxiety & Stress
4. Increasing Blood Circulation

Tags: Acetaminophen (a.k.a. Tylenol), migraine pain, migraine relief, Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), over the counter medication, treating migraines