| raine headache is a very bad, throbbing or | | | | the flu. If you have regular weekly or monthly |
| pulsating headache that tends to recur. It is often | | | | migraines, you definitely know you have a |
| associated with nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to | | | | migraine. |
| light, sound, and smells. Hands and feet may feel | | | | What Causes Migraine? |
| cold and sweaty and unusual odors may be | | | | The cause of migraine is still widely unknown. |
| intolerable. Migraines may disrupt your sleep and | | | | Some doctors think migraines may be caused by |
| can cause depression. Moving around can make | | | | a chemical or electrical problem in certain parts of |
| the headache feel worse. Attacks tend to | | | | the brain. A key element of a migraine headache |
| become less severe as the migraine sufferer | | | | is blood flow change in the brain. According to this |
| ages. | | | | theory, the nervous system responds to a trigger |
| Migraines afflict about 24 million people in the | | | | such as stress, (see more on triggers below), by |
| United States. They may occur at any age, but | | | | creating spasms in the nerve-rich arteries at the |
| usually begin between the ages of 10 and 40 and | | | | base of the brain. The spasms constrict several |
| diminish after age 50. Some people experience | | | | arteries supplying blood to the brain, including |
| several migraines a month, while others have only | | | | arteries from the scalp and neck. |
| a few migraines throughout their lifetime. | | | | As these arteries constrict, the flow of blood to |
| Approximately 75% of migraine sufferers are | | | | the brain is reduced. At the same time, platelets |
| women. | | | | clump together and release a chemical called |
| Migraine pain is often intensified by routine physical | | | | serotonin. Serotonin acts as a powerful constrictor |
| activity, coughing, straining, or lowering the head. | | | | of arteries further reducing blood and oxygen |
| The headache is often so severe that it | | | | supply to the brain. In reaction to the reduced |
| interferes with daily activity and may awaken the | | | | oxygen supply, certain arteries within the brain |
| person. The attack is debilitating, and migraine | | | | dilate to meet the brain's energy needs. This |
| sufferers are often left feeling tired and weak | | | | dilation spreads, finally affecting neck and scalp |
| once the headache has passed. | | | | arteries. Some doctors believe this dilation causes |
| Types of migraines: | | | | the pain of migraine. |
| There are many forms of migraine headaches. | | | | Another theory is, the headache may result from |
| Migraines are classified according to the | | | | a series of reactions in the central nervous |
| symptoms they produce. The two most common | | | | system caused by changes in the body or in the |
| types are migraine with aura and migraine without | | | | environment. There is often a family history of |
| aura. We will only reference these two types of | | | | the disorder, suggesting that migraine sufferers |
| migraines in this article. | | | | may inherit sensitivity to triggers that produce |
| The aura is the occurrence of neurological | | | | inflammation in the blood vessels and nerves |
| symptoms 10-30 minutes before the classic | | | | around the brain, causing pain. |
| migraine attack. You may see flashing lights, | | | | Triggers: |
| zigzag lines, wavy images, or hallucinations. Some | | | | A trigger is any stimulus that initiates a process or |
| migraine sufferers experience temporary loss of | | | | reaction. Some things are known to trigger a |
| vision. Other symptoms of classic migraine include | | | | migraine or make it worse. If you are a migraine |
| speech difficulty, confusion, weakness of an arm | | | | sufferer, you probably already know what |
| or leg and tingling of face or hands. | | | | stimulus triggers your migraines. |
| Non-visual auras include motor weakness, speech | | | | Common migraine triggers are: |
| or language abnormalities, dizziness, vertigo, and | | | | Alcohol |
| tingling or numbness (parasthesia) of the face, | | | | Environmental factors such as weather, altitude, |
| tongue, or extremities. | | | | time zone changes |
| Migraine with aura: | | | | Caffeine (coffee, chocolate)monosodium |
| The pain of a classic migraine headache (migraine | | | | glutamate (MSG - found in Chinese food)nitrates |
| with aura) is described as an intense throbbing or | | | | (found in processed foods, hot dogs, bacon, etc.) |
| pounding felt in the forehead/temple, ear/jaw or | | | | Glare or flashing lights |
| around the eyes. The pain typically begins in a | | | | Hormonal changes in women (monthly periods, |
| specific area on one side of the head, then | | | | birth control pills, estrogen therapy) |
| spreads and builds in intensity over 1 to 2 hours | | | | Hunger and fasting |
| and then gradually subsides. An attack usually lasts | | | | Problems with sleep - too much, too little or |
| no more than 24 hours but, in some cases, may | | | | interrupted |
| last two or more days. | | | | Medications (over-the-counter and prescription) |
| Migraine without aura: | | | | Smells, fumes and odors (perfume, smoke, pet |
| Migraine without aura is the most common type | | | | odors, cleaning solvents) |
| and may occur on one or both sides (bilateral) of | | | | Stress, time pressure, hassles, major losses, |
| the head. Fatigue, mood changes, mental fuzziness | | | | anger, arguments and conflict. |
| and fluid retention may be experienced the day | | | | Excessive or constant noise |
| before the headache. With this type of migraine | | | | It is almost impossible to avoid many of these |
| headache usually come abdominal pain, diarrhea, | | | | triggers. Life has a way of happening and many |
| nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light | | | | of these triggers are just a part of life. It is |
| (photophobia). | | | | possible to avoid the things we put in our body |
| Both types of migraines can strike as often as | | | | but many of the triggers are going to occur no |
| several times a week or rarely as once every | | | | matter how hard you try to avoid them. Trying |
| few years. People who have migraines on rare | | | | to avoid them could be a trigger itself. So what |
| occasions may confuse them with symptoms of | | | | are you going to do? |