Migraine

 

Introduction

Some types of headaches may happen only once in a while, whereas others can happen as often as every day. Most headaches produce a dull pain around the front, top, and sides of your head.

But a migraine is worse than a regular headache. Migraines usually occur about one to four times a month. The pain is often throbbing and on one or both sides of the head.

A person with migraines often feel dizzy or sick to their stomachs. During the headache, some people are sensitive to light, noise, or smells, and want to sleep. When they wake up, they usually feel better. Most migraines last from a half to six hours but some can last a day or two.

Migraines are not contagious, which means you cannot catch them from someone who has them.

 

Causes

A migraine begins when, for some reason, blood vessels in the brain narrow temporarily. When that happens, the amount of blood and oxygen flowing to the brain drops.

That causes other blood vessels to dilate or expand. When those blood vessels expand, they become inflamed, throb, and cause a pounding pain. Because it involves changes in blood vessels, a migraine is a vascular headache.

Some scientists believe that people who get migraines have inherited a tendency for their nervous systems to react differently to changes in their bodies or their environment. Certain things may trigger a reaction in the person's nervous system and start a migraine attack.

 

Common Triggers Involved:

• stress
• menstruation
• skipping meals
• too much caffeine
• certain foods such as, cheese, pizza, chocolate, ice cream, fatty or fried food, lunch meats, hot dogs, yogurt, or anything with Mono Sodium Glutamate.
• too much or too little sleep
• weather changes
• travel

No one is really sure why people get migraines. Scientists think migraines are genetic, which means that certain genes passed on from parents make a kid more likely to get them.

 

Occurence Of A Migraine

Migraines begin differently. Some people just do not feel right. Light or sound may bother them or make them feel worse, and they may even get sick to their stomachs and throw up. Before or during a migraine headache, some people may have muscle weakness, lose their sense of coordination, stumble, or even have trouble talking.

About one in five children gets an aura, a kind of warning that a migraine is on the way. The most common auras include blurred vision and/or seeing spots, colored balls, jagged lines, or bright lights, or smelling a certain odor. An aura usually starts about ten to thirty minutes before the start of a migraine headache, although auras can happen the night before the headache starts. An aura usually lasts about twenty minutes.

 

Treatments

Getting a bad migraine once in a while may be annoying. You should see your doctor if the following happens:

• last a long time
• seem to be getting worse
• happen more often
• cause problems with balance
• interfere your activities

Your doctor will want to know about those problems and can try to help. Your doctor also may want you to keep a headache diary. By keeping track of your headaches, you may be able to figure out what triggers them. Answer all the questions in the diary each time you have a headache. The information will help your doctor figure out the best treatment.

 

Medicines

• pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen
• medicines that reduce nausea and vomiting
• sedatives, which can help you to go to sleep and get rid of the headache
• medicines to prevent migraines or make them less severe

Some doctors may also try to teach you biofeedback. This technique helps you learn to relax and use your brain to gain control over certain body functions. If a migraine begins slowly, many people can use biofeedback to remain calm and stop the attack.

 

Prevention

The good news is that many people outgrow migraines. In the meantime, follow your doctor's instructions and take your medicine as instructed. Make sure you have the medicine on hand in case a migraine starts.

Also try to stay away from your migraine triggers. If certain foods like chocolate or cheese or caffeinated drinks trigger your migraines, it's a good idea to avoid them. Also, take breaks from activities that seem to trigger your migraines, such as using the computer for a long time or listening to loud music.

Fight stress by making a plan so you do not feel freaked out by all the stuff you need to get done. Regular exercise can also reduce stress and make you feel better. The more you understand migraines, the better prepared you can be to fight them.

 

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