Things Can Be Done To Help Ease Migraine Pain

Migraine headaches are common ailments that plague millions of humans each and every year. Those that suffer from chronic migraine attacks could find his or herself struggling with migraine pain twelve to fifteen days out of the month making life difficult and often unproductive. Migraine headaches are considered a neurological disorder due to the way they develop in the brain. Studies have shown that a migraine begins with the expansion of the blood cells in the brain. As the blood cells expand they release a harmful chemical into the brain. The released chemical begins to create a series of symptoms that have been known to leave an individual incapacitated for several days.

Migraines have no known cure therefore migraine victims must get creative with their treatment choices. The most commonly chosen treatment is the use of prescription medications. Medications have been known to help with migraine pain, but they are not always the best treatment option.

One Treatment Option

Triptans are a collection of tryptamine-based drugs. Tryptamine is a monoamine alkaloid that can be found in certain vegetation such as plants, fungi and animals. Triptans are used as a tool to prevent migraines from being successful in completely immobilizing an individual.

Because of triptans unique ability to attach to the serotonin receptors on the blood vessels and the surrounding nerves, they can help reduce and in some cases completely stop migraine headaches from occurring. Doctors will not prescribe triptans for everyone that comes into his or her office complaining that they suffer from migraines. Triptans are typically only prescribed to migraine sufferers that experience moderate to severe migraine pain and even then other forms of migraine treatment will be discussed and ruled out before a doctor will recommend or suggest a triptan.

The Pros & Cons Of A Triptan Based Treatment Plan

If used correctly, Triptans will reduce the amount of pain felt and increase in its effectiveness. Triptans should be administered when the early signs and symptoms of a migraine begin to be felt. Taking one after the pain has settled in will reduce the effectiveness and increase the chances for side effects as well as a migraine relapse.

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
• Dizziness

The role Triptans play in releasing migraine pain is due to the affect triptans have on the restriction of blood vessels or the narrowing of them to prevent them from enlarging and creating migraine pain. Though narrowing is part of their job, it can also have a reverse effect by not only narrowing the arteries in the head but also create a narrowing of the arteries in the heart. This becomes increasingly dangerous for those individuals that have already experienced some form of coronary narrowing. The narrowing caused by the triptans could lead to further narrowing resulting in a heart attack or stroke.

Even if you consider yourself a healthy individual, be aware that if your doctor is considering prescribing triptans to help with your migraine pain he or she might prescribe a full body evaluation first in order to insure that everything is ok physically before he or she gives a green light on using triptans.

Upon Further Thought

Medications such as the use of triptans can be harmful for the body and are often discarded once negative symptoms begin to occur. Starting down the path of medication usage could take valuable time away from finding and implementing a safe and effective migraine treatment that will not bring about adverse side effects such as the one’s mentioned. Finding a natural way to treat migraine headaches is a safer and healthier alternative than prescription medication. Prescription medication can be addictive and have a negative physiological effect on other parts of the body that could ultimately shorten one’s life expectancy. Consider the ancient medicinal practices of the Chinese and even the effect that European medicine has had or is starting to have here in America. Scientists are going back to Mother Nature to gain her wisdom on how to effectively treat migraine sufferers. It is from her healing powers that migraine relief can be found.

Tags: intense pain, medication, migraine attacks, migraine headaches, migraine symptoms, natural migraine treatment, Prescription medication