What Are Migraine Headaches?

Migraine headaches are an occurrence which takes place that can completely wreck and reak havoc on the lives of the individuals who suffer from them as well as the family and friends around the person who suffers from migraine headaches. While there is nothing “normal” about the occurrence of migraine headaches, there are some common occurrences in regards to warning signs, triggers, symptoms, and of course the most important treatment of migraine headaches that can be learned by those who perhaps aren’t as familiar with them.

What are the Warning Signs of Migraine Headaches?
The warning signs that take place before the occurrence of migraine headaches are a very important aspect of migraine headaches. Because every individual will experience different warning signs that might point towards the oncoming occurrence of migraine headaches, and if these symptoms are recognized then the hope is that the migraine headaches can be stopped before they go into full attack mode. Each sufferer of migraine headaches will have their own set of warning signs that they must learn to recognize, however the most common warning signs that occur before the attack of migraine headaches occurs are as follows:

• Increased Levels of Fatigue (especially presenting in signs of extreme sleepiness or drowsiness)
• Increased Levels of Depression
• Increased Food Cravings (especially for items high in sugar or salt)
• Occurrence of Obsessive Yawning
• Occurrence of Mood Changes (especially those that are sudden changes, or changes showing increased irritability)

Understanding how each of these warning signs may present in those who experience migraine headaches is important, especially for those who are prone to experiencing migraine headaches or for those who have loved ones who suffer from migraine headaches. Research has shown that nearly 40% of those who suffer from migraine headaches will have preemptive warning signs before the full attack takes place. Watching out for these warnings signs and recognizing when they are occurring and then correctly responding to correct the issues can help to ward off the migraine headaches before they attack in full force.

What Trigger’s Migraine Headaches?
What are the Symptoms of Migraine Headaches?
If the stage of the warning signs of migraine headaches has passed by then the next step to understanding migraine headaches is being able to identify the symptoms that occur when migraine headaches do occur in order to help provide better relief to those symptoms. Of course, just as with the warning signs, the symptoms can vary among those who suffer from migraine headaches. However, the most common symptoms of migraine headaches are as follows:

• Intense Head Pain – this includes pain in the head that feels like throbbing or pounding sensations and the pain is generally located on one side of the head, usually towards the forehead. Other characteristics of the pain that occurs with migraine headaches is that the pain can also generate in the back of the head, above one eye, and often times is unilateral in nature (meaning that the pain only occurs on one side of the head).
• Additional Symptoms – in addition to the intense head pain the additional symptoms are what often are characteristic of migraine headaches. These symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, lightheadedness, paleness, and diarrhea, coldness in the hands and/or feet, as well as extreme sensitivity to light, sounds, or even smells.

How Can Migraine Headaches be Treated?
The good news about migraine headaches is that they can be treated! Finding relief for those that suffer from migraine headaches (or finding relief for the loves ones who people care about that do suffer from migraine headaches) is an extremely important task. Just as with the warning signs and symptoms of migraine headaches the treatment plan for migraine headaches should also be individualized so that personal relief and treatment can be achieved. Options for treating migraine headaches are as follows:

• Traditional Treatment Options – Prescription Medications – such as Beta Blockers, Antidepressants, Anticonvulsants, Analgesics, as well as Prophylactic medications can be used to treat migraine headaches. However, while they can provide some relief this relief often comes at the price of negative side effects or habit forming medications.
• Alternative Treatment Options – If a person is searching to find a treatment option that would provide relief of symptoms from migraine headaches without the use of prescription medications then there are other alternative options which can provide the same, if not better, relief of migraine headaches. Those options include:

1. Massage Therapy
2. Supplemental Therapy
3. Chiropractic Care
4. Acupuncture
5. Biofeedback

Tags: constipation, Depression, emotional stress, Fatigue, migraine triggers, strange food cravings, triggers