Treatments And Symptoms Of A Migraine

Get help when you need it and don’t put it off until tomorrow. Migraines, like many other incurable conditions, have the distinct ability to incapacitate the victim for several days causing them to miss out on various family events and work-related appointments. The migraine accomplishes this through the symptoms that the migraine exudes like depression, gastro issues, vision problems and of course, uncontrollable head pain. Now even though the migraine episodes are not curable, the symptoms can be quelled through the use of migraine treatment options. And you don’t have to be restricted to just one treatment option; many migraine sufferer have a treatment plan that could include supplements and massage therapy or prescription meds with acupuncture. As you can see, there are a number of treatment options available to the migraine victim so make sure you consult with your primary care physician to determine which treatment or treatments would be the best for you.

How Migraines Start

Migraine headaches develop in the brain; a migraine is formed when a migraine trigger is encountered. Once a trigger has been encountered, the body begins to react chemically. The blood vessels in the brain begin to expand and cause a throbbing/pounding sensation to occur. This throbbing / pounding sensation continues until the blood vessels reach their full expansion or migraine relief is implemented. A damaging chemical is released into the brain sometime throughout the blood vessel expansion. This chemical begins to attack the brains arteries, thus releasing a whole slew of miserable migraine symptoms like nausea, vomiting constipation, blurred vision and cognitive difficulties. Plus, there could be nerve damage as well which usually surfaces in the form of CSD or Cortical Spreading Depression. But either way, the pain and symptoms will not cease until the blood vessels return back to their original size and viscosity.

Things That Intensify The Migraine Condition

Some people think that if you remove the trigger sites that the migraine will go away. This is done via surgery. 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.
• 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.

A Migraine Stage To Fear

Stage two hits not long before the actual headache settles in, this phase is called migraine aura and begins to show up twenty to sixty minutes before the intense migraine headache symptoms begin. Symptoms that come with the migraine aura stage typically affect vision and produce the following symptoms:

• Flashing Lights
• Blank Spots
• Zigzag lines
• Vertigo
• Black spots in eyes
• Temporary Blindness

CSD or Cortical Spreading Depression is also a key symptom and is even suspected to be a key contributor to the start of a migraine to begin with. It starts at the back of the head and travels slowly to the front causing the nerves to be depressed in their response to impulses. It is important that friends, family and employers are notified during this stage that over the next few days you may be somewhat out of sorts as you cope with your migraine headache. Finding a dark quiet place to rest is important during this stage so that the migraine attack does not intensify.

Chiro Adjustments And Massage Therapy

Chiropractic care or spinal manipulation therapy has been a proven method in 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 ward 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. Also massage therapy can be a very useful migraine treatment, especially if the headaches and migraines are triggered by stress or tension. A massage therapist is trained in working the muscles around the head, neck, shoulders, and back in order to increase blood flow in those areas and help relieve muscle tension.

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