Surgery, Triptans And Gastrointestinal Problems All From Migraines

For those that suffer from the debilitating disease called migraines you would be in luck today as we are going to discuss the symptoms and treatments for such an illness. Now first off, migraines are not a disease that can be cure by antibiotic or a large dose of penicillin. Migraines are actually a condition that one can live with and suffer from for the rest of their natural life. Migraines are known for the symptom that they inflict onto their victims and these symptoms can vary depending on the person who is suffering at the time. Some people get the emotional symptoms of depression or anxiety while other have more physiological issues such as neck / back tension or gastrointestinal upsets. Most every migraine sufferer though will experience the intense and unrelenting head pain which leave the patient without a way to cope. Yet through all of this, there is hope and it is found through the consistent use of a migraine treatment option. Migraine treatment options do not cure the condition but they do quell the symptoms so the migraine victim can live a somewhat normal life.

One Way To Treat

Getting a massage is a great way to help minimize the stress of a migraine attack in a preventative way of course; because once the migraine has begun its symptoms, there is really very little that can be done to minimize the onslaught. A professional therapist will not give you a deep-tissue massage as this would only irritate your situation further. They will focus on the sub-occipital muscle group which runs from the top of the spine to the bottom. Since neck stress and back tension are big triggers of migraine headaches, therapeutic massages are great in preventative means.

Could Surgery Really Be The Answer?

There is reason to believe that by the removing of muscles or nerves in certain areas that are considered trigger sites could be helpful in relieving migraines. Trigger sites are said to exist where sensory nerves are stimulated by a certain muscle, due to the stimulation caused by the muscle a series of painful symptoms begin to develop thus creating a migraine. Migraine surgery such as this one is not often considered as a migraine headache treatment plan unless no other form of migraine treatment is providing the needed relief to improve quality of life. Now, surgery may not be for everyone and so for those who don’t like the idea of a doctor poking around in your head, here are some migraine trigger which you can try to avoid:

• Hormones – For women who experience migraines once a month around the time of their menstrual may be aware of menstrual migraines and how they can affect functionality. Some women during their monthly cycle lose estrogen and the loss of estrogen sets off a chemical imbalance and the result is a migraine.
• Sleep – One’s sleep habits have much to do with migraines, whether it be: sleep deprivation, too much sleep or broken up sleep they are all connected to headaches. Studies have shown that when sleep habits are improved migraine headaches are less current and have shorter duration.
• Fasting – Caution should always be had when headache prone individuals take to fasting. A lack of nutrients to the body can reduce blood sugar levels setting off a series of stress-related hormones.
• Foods – Certain foods can set the stage for a migraine to appear allowing the venue for a four act production that gets worse and worse until someone takes pity and closes the curtain. Refraining from alcohol, caffeinated beverages, chocolate and even aged cheese can help reduce the chances of a migraine reappearing in hopes of receiving a standing ovation. Fish and other seafood have even been described as migraine triggering foods as they tend to resonate in the nostrils.

The Triptan Effect

New prescription medication called triptans is now available on the market and is geared toward relieving migraine pressure. Triptans have two important abilities: they are able to constrict blood vessels and they create an upset in the process which leads into a migraine by disturbing the sequence of chemicals that inflict pain or irritation to the nerves. Triptans have been useful in the treatment of migraine pain, however there are a few risks involved that those considering treating their migraines with triptans ought to be aware of. The most common side effects associated with triptans are but not limited to: drowsiness, facial reddening, fatigue, tightening in the chest, tightening in the throat and also dizziness.

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