DEFINITION OF A MIGRAINE
Migraines are classified as a type of vascular headache. When the large arteries of the brain enlarge, the nerve fibers that coil around these large blood vessels, release certain chemicals that produce an inflammation, which causes the pain and further enlargement of the blood vessels, thereby increasing the pain. It is one bad headache.
These painful headaches are also considered to be a hereditary medical condition that originates with hyper excitability in the networks of the brain usually triggered by noises, smells or a host of other stimuli.
The attacks usually begin with sensitivity to sound such as loud music, voices yelling, baby screaming, dogs barking, blaring horns, etc. About 33% of people experience an aura starting just before the onset of a migraine and ending when the headache is manifested. The aura appears like squiggly lines, blurred vision, double vision or other ocular signs, and makes the migraine almost predictable in some individuals.
Other symptoms of a migraine are nausea, vomiting, cognitive problems in memory or thinking, sleeplessness (due to the pain) and a tingling or numbness of the hand or side of the face. Most often a very painful throbbing pain in the head that just gets worse with any kind of activity, like walking, is the primary characteristic of a migraine. The pain can be varying from mild to very severe, thus making this neurological disorder incapacitating for countless people. Besides the annoyance of the constant pain, the person’s work or time with the family is hindered, truly making life harder to enjoy. Typically migraines usually only last 24 hours, but when coupled with several other symptoms, they can last for several days. They occur in women more than men.
Some of the basic causes of migraines are stress, loud noises, strange smells, lack of sleep, trauma, weather changes, alcohol, caffeine, anxiety and certain foods. Contact with known triggers; however, don’t always stimulate an occurrence of migraines. This is another reason why migraines are very complicated and misunderstood a lot. Migraines also get misdiagnosed.
There are several other conditions that bring on migraines, thus making it hard to make a correct diagnosis. One day research will provide a solution to this painful problem.
Tags: headaches, migraine attacks, migraine treatment, Migraines, side effects, symptoms, treating migraines, vascular headachce
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