One of the most nagging headaches, Migraine is episodic (occurs anywhere from once or twice a year to 1-4 times a month) in nature. It is associated with accompanying symptoms like vomiting, blurring of vision etc. Some patients may get headaches more frequently, almost daily.
Migraine is a condition which refers to severe headache that is commonly associated with signs like blind spots, nausea and/or vomiting. Migraine headaches are extremely painful and can last for hours or sometimes even for days together. Migraine headaches are often caused by certain genetic as well as environmental factors. Migraine can be prevented to a great extent by exercising and alternative therapies like acupuncture.
Depending on the signs and symptoms, migraines are classified into the Classic Migraine and Common Migraine.
Classic migraines start with an aura. The person may have trouble communicating, feel depressed, irritable and restless. The symptoms may last for 5 to 15 minutes or more. As these symptoms disappear, a throbbing headache begins on one side of the head along with symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and noise.
Common migraines don’t start with an aura and may start more slowly than classic migraines, last longer and interfere more with daily activities. The pain of common migraines may be on only one side of the head. Nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and noise usually accompany the headache.
Though the exact causes of migraines are unknown, blood vessel contractions and other changes in the brain as well as inherited abnormalities in certain areas of the brain have been linked to it. A migraine pain center or generator is situated in the brain. A migraine begins when hyperactive nerve cells send out impulses to the blood vessels. This causes them to constrict, followed by expansion and the release of inflammatory substances like prostaglandins, serotonin etc. that cause the pulsation to be painful.
Migraines can begin at any age, but most develop them around adolescence or in their 20s. It occurs more often in women than men and most migraine sufferers have a family history of the disease.
A migraine attack could be triggered by certain factors like:
A Migraine headache usually starts as a dull ache and gets worse within minutes to hours. Patients usually complain of a throbbing, pounding or pulsating pain which is worse on one side of the head and lasts 6 to 48 hours.
This could be accompanied by –
Diagnosis is usually done by the symptoms and the pattern of headache, family history of migraine and the response to analgesics taken to stop the headache. Neurological tests are done to rule out diseases of the brain or nerves like epilepsy or multiple sclerosis that may also cause headaches and migraines. Patients are usually asked to maintain a headache diary which will help the doctor identify the triggers for the migraine episodes.
There are two approaches to treat migraine namely - Abortive and Preventive.
Abortive therapy: The treatment goal is to stop migraine as soon as a person experiences the pain.
Preventive therapy: The target of this treatment approach is to lessen the severity and frequency of migraine.
Here is detailed information on the common treatment options for migraine.
Here are few natural remedies that are known to be effective in combating the symptoms of migraine.
The key preventive measures you should follow to keep migraine away include
A cool head and warm feet could help redirect blood and lessen migraine.
People with migraine often use anti-inflammatory drugs, which are associated with increased risks of heart problems.
Migraine's association with cardiovascular disease risk can be attributed to the increased use of anti-inflammatory drugs.
Multiple headaches could be a sign of something far more serious like brain tumour or aneurysm.
Chemicals in certain foods may act as a migraine trigger.
Brain freeze could help reduce migraine.
What you eat can directly influence migraine attacks.
Those crushing headaches during that time of the month is only going to make life miserable better take the right precautions.
Probably taking care of your gut health can help you to get control over your migraines
Just inhaling these scents can prevent you from vomiting.
New drug fremanezumab stops the working of a protein that is responsible for causing migraines.
With strong anti-oxidant and anti-carcinogenic properties, tulsi has been found to help stop the progression of breast cancer and oral cancer.
PhotosMigraine-proof your life with these tips.
Migraine-proof your life with these tips.
PhotosFirst things first, migraine can't be "cured" with chai.
The more frequent the migraine attacks, the more severe will be the so-called temporomandibular disorder.
Stress caused by financial hardship can increase the risk of developing migraine in people.
Retinal migraine is a sub-type of migraine that affects the eyes.
PhotosHere are a few things to keep in mind, if you suffer from a migraine headache.
A recent research has shown that dopamine levels fall during the migraine attacks.
This safe and effective treatment for children and teenagers and may give pain relief within minutes, with no complications.
Consuming these foods will also help reduce the frequency of migraine headaches.
PhotosThese natural painkillers can relieve migraine through inhalation.
A new research says that Pennsylvania residents with the highest exposure to active natural gas wells operated by the hydraulic fracturing industry are nearly twice as likely to suffer from a combination of migraine headaches, chronic nasal and sinus symptoms and severe fatigue.
Those crushing headaches during that time of the month is only going to make life miserable better take the right precautions.
Probably taking care of your gut health can help you to get control over your migraines
Just inhaling these scents can prevent you from vomiting.
New drug fremanezumab stops the working of a protein that is responsible for causing migraines.
With strong anti-oxidant and anti-carcinogenic properties, tulsi has been found to help stop the progression of breast cancer and oral cancer.
Migraine-proof your life with these tips.
The more frequent the migraine attacks, the more severe will be the so-called temporomandibular disorder.
Stress caused by financial hardship can increase the risk of developing migraine in people.
Retinal migraine is a sub-type of migraine that affects the eyes.
A recent research has shown that dopamine levels fall during the migraine attacks.
This safe and effective treatment for children and teenagers and may give pain relief within minutes, with no complications.
Consuming these foods will also help reduce the frequency of migraine headaches.
A new research says that Pennsylvania residents with the highest exposure to active natural gas wells operated by the hydraulic fracturing industry are nearly twice as likely to suffer from a combination of migraine headaches, chronic nasal and sinus symptoms and severe fatigue.
Here's why lavender essential oil is a must-have in your medicine cabinet if you are prone to migraine attacks
Women who suffer from migraine headaches have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease in later life, says a study.
Deficiencies in certain vitamins are the likely reason behind the development of migraines in children, teens and young adults, finds a new study.
This is why women should take these bouts of headache seriously
Certain medications and treatments long considered safe to treat pregnant women with migraines may have adverse effects on the babies, suggests new research.
People who regularly experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation and nausea may have a higher prevalence of migraine and tension headaches, shows a study.
The risk for high-frequency headache, or more than 10 days with a headache per month, increased by 60 percent in middle-aged women with a migraine during perimenopause.
One more benefit of medical marijuana revealed!
Pre-existing asthma may be a strong predictor of future chronic migraine attacks in individuals experiencing occasional migraine headaches, according to researchers from the University of Cincinnati (UC) in the US.
...and you can do the same too!
Here's an alternative to medication to help get rid of migraine.
