Migraines: What Are They?

What is a migraine headache really? People are always complaining about migraine headaches but what are they really? Migraine headaches are in truth a chronic neurological disorder. 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.

Millions of Americans struggle with head pain and often misdiagnose themselves. Head pain can mean a variety of different things, but migraine attacks have specialized symptoms unique only to them. Knowing what the symptoms are can help the migraine patient prepare a treatment at the start of the migraine symptoms. Knowing what the preemptive warning signs are what will quickly alert the individual so that he or she can act fast and stop the migraine from reaching the debilitating stage.

Preemptive Warning Signs

The warning sides that tell if a migraine is on the verge of breaking through may be overlooked or explained away, however if these warning signs are noted and charted migraines can be stopped before they get started.

• Sleepiness is often explained away by      an overactive brain, bed discomfort and a million other reasons but      drowsiness is a sign that a migraine might be in the near future.
• Sudden irritability or changes in      mood. Irritability can often be chalked away as not having had a good      night’s rest, be cautious of overlooking unexplained irritability.
• Fatigue
• Bouts of depression
• Obsessive yawning
• Cravings for foods high in sugar of      lathered in salt

Symptoms such as the ones mentioned might go unnoticed by most, but those that suffer with frequent migraine headaches should take note of the warnings signs, chart them and prepare for the onset of a migraine headache.

Migraine’s Other Symptoms

Symptoms of a migraine headache can vary from moderate to intense and can affect people differently, however, listed below are the more common symptoms associated with and described by migraine headache sufferers.

• An intense throbbing, pounding feeling      typically located on one side of the forehead
  • Pain can also generate in the back of       the head
  • Pain can formulate right above one       eye
• The pain is often described as      unilateral meaning the pain is typically felt or experienced on one side      of the head.
  • Reports have shown that about one       third of most migraine headaches are described as being felt on both       sides of the head also referred to as bilateral.
  • The pain felt from the migraine on       one side of the head can alternate to the other side of the head during       the next migraine attack. If you frequent migraine attacks on the same       side of the head please speak with your doctor immediately this could       imply something more serious is occurring.
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Paleness
• Coldness in the hands and feet
• Sensitivity to light and sound

Migraine headaches are often spurred by daily activities that though seem small and insignificant can actually increase the onset of a migraine such as walking upstairs for example. Migraine headaches often start revealing signs several hours and even days before attacking in full force. A shocking 40% of most migraines have preemptive signs before striking an individual helpless.

How Relief Can Be Found

Migraine relief can be found in a variety of ways the first being through the use of prescription medications such as triptans and ergots. Medications such as these can cause long term damage both mentally and physically. Choosing a natural migraine treatment is a safe alternative to prescription medications. Migraine sufferers have several natural treatment options to choose from but we only have time to look at a few.

Biofeedback

This therapy would definitely fall under the “alternative” category, but before discrediting biofeedback, know that it is a legitimate management for pain and has shown great results for long term relief in migraine treatment.

Chiropractic

Chiropractic care or spinal manipulation therapy has been a proven method for persons seeking an alternative migraine treatment. Studies have shown that in the case of tension and migraine headaches, manipulative therapy can be as effective as preventative medications in helping to keep off the onset of migraines. Once a migraine has begun, chiropractic therapy can also greatly reduce the painful symptoms if care is given in a timely manner.

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