Medical Dilemma

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.

Cause For Worry

Migraine headaches can happen to anyone; however, there are factors that play a part in increasing the risk of some individuals such as:

Gender – out of the millions of people that suffer with migraines 18% of the migraine sufferers are women. This statistic is not limited to the United States only but relevant to women across the globe. During childhood or adolescents, the frequencies of migraines between sexes were not that different but a drastic increase in migraine headaches in females become apparent as they neared puberty.

The reason being that as a female enters puberty her hormone levels especially her estrogen levels. It is common for women to complain of migraines during her monthly menstrual, these headaches are often referred to as menstrual migraines.

Age – one’s age can be a risk factor, if you are between the ages of 15 and 55 you are still in an age group where migraine headaches can be common occurrences. During childhood, migraines are less frequent but not nonexistent. Research has shown that children who suffer from migraines typically will grow out of them as they age, unless other factors are involved.

Family Genetics – a rather large statistic says that those individuals that come from a family history of migraine sufferers will most likely be at risk of suffering from chronic migraines as well.

Medical Concerns – men and women that have a history of medical concerns such as depression, anxiety, stroke, epilepsy and high blood pressure are more susceptible to migraines than people who have not suffered with any of the listed medical concerns.

Treat The Dilemma
Chronic migraine sufferers are looking for a way to prevent a migraine from settling in and making a mess out of their life for seventy two hours. There are several approaches one suffering with intense migraine pain may take in hopes of lessening the duration and intensity level of a migraine. A relief of migraine symptoms can be found by the use of an over the counter medication or through various prescriptions. Keep in mind that no prescription medication can prevent a migraine 100% but there are those prescription medications available that can help reduce the number of migraine attacks experienced as well as lessen the level of pain felt by the migraine sufferer. A few of the medication that a doctor might prescribe to assist with lessening the occurrence of migraines would be:
• Anti-depressants
• Anti-Seizure Medication
• Blood Pressure Medication

Prescription medication should be one of the last treatments tried in helping relieve migraine headaches due to the side effects that are connected with their usage.

A Safer Step
By simply making a few changes to their normal routine, men and women will notice fewer migraine attacks during a single month. Some simple steps to reducing migraine headaches are:
• A set scheduled time for going to bed and waking each morning.
• Having a daily exercise regime – exercise has proven to help improve quality of life for individuals suffering from various conditions from diabetes to migraine headaches. Individuals who are not physically fit are more prone to migraine attacks.
• Avoid skipping meals and long bouts of fasting.
• Avoid stress (if possible) – exercise can help release negative endorphins and research has proven that daily exercise can help improve mood and improve clarity of thought.
• Refrain from overuse of caffeine do not consume more than two caffeinated beverages in a given day.
• Bright and flashing lights are often associated with migraines therefore keep protective eyewear on hand and avoid places with flashing lights.

Tags: aura, cause of migraines, enlarged blood vessels, genetics, Hormonal, menstration, migraine, migraine triggers, stress, Weather