MIGRAINES AND YOU

Everybody knows what a headache is like. But not everyone experiences a migraine headache. Millions of people all over the world suffer migraines and it really doesn’t matter how old you are either. The youngest on record was 18 months old. Elderly people are also subject to them while the majority of the people between the ages of 15 to 55 are most susceptible. Of course if you have a family history showing a reoccurrence of these headaches then your chances of having them are pretty favorable. More women than men have these headaches and that’s probably because of the hormonal changes that occur starting at puberty and running through menstruation, pregnancy and finally and hopefully ending with the onset of menopause. It’s really hard on women because of the emotional factor involved. Women are naturally more tense and anxious about things and sometimes that could trigger a migraine.

WHAT ARE MIGRAINES?
The headache itself is characterized by a throbbing or pulsating pain either in the back of the head or on one of the sides. It feels like your head wants to explode and it intensifies with loud noises such as the loud drumming beat in music, screaming, hammering or explosive sounds like gunfire or car backfires. Bright lights or light flickering through the leaves on trees and even strobe lights have been known to trigger a migraine attack. Once the migraine starts other symptoms begin such as nausea or perhaps vomiting coupled with visionary disturbances (aura), tingling and numbness of the hands and sometimes cognitive problems in thinking. If the migraine gets any worse the person having it will try to seek out a quiet dark place in which to endure it until it passes which could be anywhere from 4 to 72 hours depending on the type of migraine.
Treatments for migraines start with relieving the pain. This could be prescribed pain relievers or over the counter types such as Advil. It is advisable to seek out a doctor for anything that would be taken orally. Other methods of treatment include keeping a journal of places visited, foods eaten and activities engaged in. By writing down data when you have a migraine, helps identify what triggers them on and would help you avoid the next one or cut down on the frequency of them.

Migraines are not something to be taken lightly as they are sometimes tied in with other disorders. Some people are a higher risk for migraines. As mentioned earlier, women have a higher risk but then so do people with a family history, being under 40 years old and people who are taking birth control pills or undergoing hormonal replacement therapy.

Beside the known triggers of migraines such as bright lights and loud sounds, other causes may be strong and pungent odors, tension, anxiety and trauma to the head. The exact cause of migraines is not known and there are rafts of speculative ideas that might work for one person and might not in another.

For example: chocolate, beverages with caffeine, aged cheeses, processed meats that contain nitrates, nuts, foods with monosodium glutamate (MSG), certain fruits and dairy products and pickled foods. Some people have reactions to aspartame and other artificial sweeteners too.
Sleeping disorders like not staying asleep or being able to sleep can produce fatigue and may induce a migraine to develop simply by being exhausted and, believe it or not, too much sleep can also bring one on.

Smoking has always been linked with migraines along with secondhand smoke and should be avoided at all times along with the idea of skipping meals, which is not a healthy practice and may initiate a migraine because of the fluctuations in the blood sugar affecting blood flow changes in the brain.

SOME TREATMENT SUGGESTIONS
Treatments vary and what might work for you may not work for another. Trial and error is a good way to find out the best way to get relief other than taking medication prescribed to you from a reputable doctor.

If you want to try the natural methods of treatment I suggest acupuncture. In the last 20 years acupuncture has been tested for treating migraines and show relief for some people coupled with lifestyle changes and mild exercise program.
Chiropractic, homeopathic, massage and physical therapy are also proven beneficial for the relief of migraines. Joining a support group or just consulting your doctor may also enlighten you to other ways to cope with migraines or learn about changes needed in one’s life to minimize the frequency. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you have a good and understanding physician. I can’t tell you how much you would benefit from that.

Tags: blurred vision, dizziness, head pain, lightheadedness, migraine symptoms, nausea, vomiting