Migraines: Mystic Mayhem

Migraines are disabling headaches that are usually focused on one side of the head and have associated unpleasant symptoms before and during the headache. Many people get an aura, an event that warns one of impending pain, such as visual disturbances, confusion, motion sickness or blind spots. Migraines are usually associated with nausea or vomiting, sometimes both; migraines also tend to be a more focused pulsating pain in a particular part of the head. Migraines may last anywhere from a few hours to several days.

Migraine headaches can feel sharp or dull, and are usually a throbbing, pounding or pulsating sensation, often on one side of the head, and as stated before can last less than a day or as long as several. Symptoms that occur when one is victim to a migraine include light or sound sensitivity, nausea and vomiting, numbness or tingling of the head or another body part, extreme fatigue or weakness, or a feeling of being mentally drained or mildly confused. Some people have more intense muscle or joint weakness and pain. The lingering effects of varied symptoms can take a toll on family and work life.

The cause of migraines is still not perfectly clear, but research has shown that migraines do run in families, and are related to issues with blood vessels in the brain. According to Cleveland Clinic, "a migraine headache is considered a vascular headache because it is associated with changes in the size of the arteries within and outside of the brain." While figuring out why migraines happen is still a mystery, we do know certain triggers can bring on the migraine pain. There are so many of these triggers it takes diligence and patience on the part of the sufferer to learn what causes their symptoms. Some examples of triggers include food, allergies, stress, climate or altitude changes, or noise and odors.

Many resources are available for headache sufferers to help them determine whether what they are experiencing are migraines or another type of headache. There are research groups such as the National Headache Foundation and the Cleveland Clinic, who are coming up with more information about causes, triggers, treatments and prevention every day.

While the reason is unclear, many people who suffer from migraines had parents who also had similar symptoms. Also, women are known to be three times more likely to suffer a migraine than men. Women may encounter migraines more during menses, and pregnant women may be blessed with a temporary reprieve from recurring migraines at certain points during pregnancy probably due to hormonal shifts. Taking hormone replacement therapy or using certain contraception measures may enhance these headaches. Even certain chronic diseases tend to be associated with migraines such as asthma, sleep disorders, hypertension and certain other circulatory disorders.

Diagnosis of a migraine and components is dependent largely on physical exam and history from the victim. One means of assisting findings specific to the sufferer is to keep a headache diary identifying triggers, linking associated symptoms, and outlining the treatment plans that help as well as those that don’t. Sometimes tests like an MRI are run to rule out organic causes, and alleviate anxiety for the person who has recurring symptoms. There is no specific single test that will prove someone has a migraine.

Treatment usually begins with examination and history, determining a type of migraine headache such as with aura, ocular (related to the eye), or basilar artery migraine. Then, gathering data about what makes the headache better or worse, what other symptoms occur, and concurrent emotional-mental status is necessary to be successful with therapy. Treatment is dependent on other determining what therapy was tried without success, or reasons for not yet trying a particular treatment modality, and whether the member is willing to make any lifestyle changes to prevent worsening of symptoms.

Often, a person might need to lay off certain items such as caffeine or processed foods, or taking a sleep disorder test, or undergo, in order to determine best therapy choices individually.

Initially, medications to acute headache symptoms may be necessary, including short acting medications for the pain and anti-nausea medication for vomiting. Then, being faithful to take and see how preventative medications are going, as well as make the necessary lifestyle changes to see what works for the individual and what needs to be tweaked. Most migraine sufferers will relate their horror stories and it seems that the hardest thing is patience in the face of treatment and prevention.

The list of specific migraine disorders, along with treatment plans are actually quite exhaustive, so referring you to these websites below will help with further individualized pursuit of relief. Joining a support group or forum online is often recommended for sufferers, particularly if the treatment options are not working.

Websites for further investigation on migraine care and prevention:
· Cleveland Clinic
· National Institute of Health - Medline
· WebMD
· National Headache Foundation
Hopefully, armed with the right information, a migraine will not migrate into other facets of the victim’s life promoting the highest quality of life possible during these anguishing times.

What a Headache!

Every day, there are millions of people who begin their day struggling with distressing symptoms from either painful headaches or agonizing migraines. The National Headache Foundation says women are three times more likely to suffer from migraines than men. Often, people dismiss headaches as emotional responses to stress or define a migraine as a horrific headache with disturbing side effects like vomiting and light sensitivity. The reality is that headaches and migraines are specific biological disorders that involve complex signs which affect many systems of the body.

A headache is described as a pain located above the eyes, around the head, and sometimes affecting the back of the neck as well. Headaches are caused by a variety of triggers (activities or events that precipitate the onset of head pain). A limited list of triggers includes stress, foods, injury or trauma, dental problems, exposure to unusual altitudes or temperatures, high blood pressure, fever, medication and infections. Headaches do have a multiple list of categories in the medical field, as do migraines, but a headache is limited to usually only a few hours duration with less intensity or involvement of other body systems. Migraines on the other hand, are a whole new breed of “ache.”

Migraines are defined as intermittent attacks of symptoms of a headache, often recurring at intervals in a specific manner, such as one-sided or associated with an aura. An aura happens before one feels the sensation of the headache, like a forecast of the headache to come and usually is a form of visual disturbance like seeing spots or colors or wavy lines in front of your vision. Once the migraine begins other defining characteristics become apparent such as nausea and vomiting, light or sound sensitivity, a pulsating or throbbing quality, worsens with exertion and usually lasts between a few hours to a few days. It often causes the sufferer to not be able to perform typical daily activities either due to the pain, or due to the effects of the associated symptoms. Migraines are disabling to one’s livelihood and often disrupt one’s family life because of their episodic, recurring nature.

The best way to diagnose a headache or migraine is to spend time being evaluated by a provider who has knowledge about these disorders and the most up-to-date available treatment. The victim of a headache or migraine will help facilitate a diagnosis about the type of headache by keeping a diary of the activities before and during symptoms and what things made the headache better or worse along the way. Talking with one’s health provider about relevant information such as family history of headaches, home care that did or didn’t work, or recent stressors that could have triggered the event will aid in a clear diagnosis. An exam of the head and body may be necessary to verify that there are no other medical concerns that might be a factor for the symptoms being experienced. Sometimes lab work or other diagnostic tests will be needed to make sure no other body deficiencies are of concern.

Treatment of a headache or migraine is multifaceted, and often individualized. The treatments can be as simple as resting in a dark room, to as complicated as taking daily preventative medication, and regularly seeking invasive treatments for relief of associated problems like vomiting as well as the source pain. This will require patience and persistence to formulate a plan that works for the headache sufferer consistently to prevent or relieve their symptoms. Focus on knowing as much as possible to prevent and manage your symptoms during a headache or migraine; you will enhance your quality of life and oh, what a relief it will be.