Migraine Guide

A migraine is a commonly experience form of headache that often occurs with accompanying symptoms.  Nausea, vomiting, and sensitivities to light, sound, and smell are well-known symptoms for a migraine.  Some people experience warning signals, called an aura, before the actual headache begins.

Who?

The National Headache Foundation has estimated that nearly 30 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches.  Women are more prone to a migraine diagnosis than men and nearly one-fourth of all women with migraine headaches suffer roughly one headache a week.  A migraine will impact each person different showing different symptoms and lasting for varied amounts of time.  Each migraine can last from a few hours to three or four days.

What?

Many doctors believe that migraines are initiated by environmental factors known as triggers.  Each person will have their own sensitivities to triggers.  You may find that you are susceptible to more than more trigger.  Here are a few possible triggers:

• Stress – One of the leading triggers for migraine headaches.  Stressful events, chemicals in the brain are release, which may provoke vascular changes that trigger a migraine.  This is known as the “fight or flight” response.  Not dealing with emotions such as worry or excitement can increase muscle tension and cause blood vessels to dilate and actually worsen a present or impending migraine.
• Foods – some chemicals and preservatives found in foods can trigger a migraine.  Common food triggers are aged cheeses, alcohol, and nitrates (found in hot dogs and deli meats) can induce a migraine attack.  Doctors believe that food triggers are responsible for nearly one-fourth of all migraine episodes.
• Caffeine – blood vessels are very sensitive to caffeine and can become irritated when consumed causing a headache.  Excessive consumption or a sudden decrease in caffeine can lead to the onset of a migraine.  Monitor caffeine levels closely.  Strangely enough, caffeine is also found in some headache medications, so it’s important to find the proper balance for your body.
• Weather – changes in the weather including temperature, storm systems, altitude, barometric pressure and strong winds can all trigger migraines.
• Menstrual Cycle – with your monthly cycle, hormone levels fluctuate and can cause headaches to occur.  Stabilizing estrogen levels through use of hormone replacement or birth control pills can help to ease this trigger.
• Skipping meals – this can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar levels, leading to feelings of nausea and heighten risk of headaches.  It is important to eat regular meal and have snacks handy, if needed.

Why?

At this time, there is no known cure for migraine headaches.  Doctors and researchers believe that they are connected to chemical changes in the brain and genetic causes.  If you have an immediate family member with migraines, you are twice as likely to be diagnosed in your lifetime as others without the family history.  A migraine begins with the overactive and sensitive nerve cells send out signals to the blood vessels, causing them to clamp down and then expand.  This causes the release of the chemicals prostaglandins and serotonin which are responsible for the pulsating pain felt during an attack.

How?

There are many different options for managing your migraine pain, medically prescribed, herbal, over-the-counter, and even alternative therapies.  Regardless of the path you prefer, it is best to seek guidance and have discussion with your physician regarding your pain and desired treatment options.  Overtime, you may find that your preferred method may not provide the level of relief that you had hoped for.

If your level of pain is mild, simple over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen may provide all the relief you need, but moderate to severe pain will need stronger pain medication, which only an attending physician can provide.  One of the easiest strategies for easing discomfort is making some lifestyle changes to avoid triggers and keep overall body health good.  Keeping a balanced diet, participating in a consistent workout routine, and maintain sufficient levels of sleep each night are all easy ways to reduce frequency and intensity of impending attacks.  While being treated for migraines, contact your physician should you experience any new or unusual symptoms or attacks grow more severe each time.  Documenting each attack with key information such as dates, timeframe, possible triggers, and accompanying symptoms will help your doctor identify any trends in your episodes.

Tags: headaches, migraine attacks, migraine treatment, Migraines, side effects, symptoms, treating migraines, vascular headachce