Migrane Headaches

What is Migrane?

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More than 28 million Americans three times more women than men suffer from migraine headaches, a type of headache that's often severe. Although any head pain can be miserable, a migraine headache is often disabling. In some cases, these painful headaches are preceded or accompanied by a sensory warning sign (aura), such as flashes of light, blind spots or tingling in your arm or leg. A migraine headache is also often accompanied by other signs and symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine pain can be excruciating and may incapacitate you for hours or even days.

Fortunately, management of migraine headache pain has improved dramatically in the last decade. If you've seen a doctor in the past and had no success, it's time to make another appointment. Although there's still no cure, medications can help reduce the frequency of migraine headaches and stop the pain once it has started. The right medicines combined with self-help remedies and changes in lifestyle may make a tremendous difference for you.

Signs and Symptoms

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Migraine headache pain is often described as throbbing or pulsating pain that is intensified by routine physical activity, coughing, straining, or lowering the head. The headache is often so severe that it interferes with daily activity and may awaken the person. The attack is debilitating, and migraine sufferers are often left feeling tired and weak once the headache has passed.

A migraine headache typically begins in a specific area on one side of the head, then spreads and builds in intensity over 1 to 2 hours and then gradually subsides. It can last up to 24 hours, and in some cases, several days.

There may be accompanying symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light (photophobia), or sensitivity to sound (phonophobia). Hands and feet may feel cold and sweaty and unusual odors may be intolerable.

Diagnosis

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Diagnosis of migraine is based on the history of symptoms, physical examination, and neurological tests. The tests are performed to rule out other neurological and cerebrovascular conditions, including the following:
- Bleeding within the skull (intracranial hemorrhage)
- Blood clot within the membrane that covers the brain (cerebral venous sinus
thrombosis)
- Cerebral stroke (infarct)
- Dilated blood vessel in the brain (cerebral aneurysm)
- Excess cerebrospinal fluid in the brain (hydrocephalus)
- Inflammation of the membranes of the brain or spinal cord (meningitis)
- Low level of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF)
- Nasal sinus blockage
- Postictal headache, which occurs after a stroke or seizure
- Tumor

Treatment

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What treatment is available?
The most common medicines for treating an attack are painkillers such as aspirin or paracetamol.

Some medicines also have an anti-sickness ingredient, or this can be taken separately.

If over-the-counter treatments do not help there are medicines available on prescription, which are specifically for migraine.

These acute treatments, known as triptans, work in a similar way to a naturally occurring brain chemical called serotonin which is in short supply during a migraine attack.

They are available in a range of formulations, such as tablets, injections and a nasal spray.

Preventive treatments, in the form of tablets taken every day, may be given to patients experiencing four or more migraine attacks per month.

However, since these medications seldom completely banish attacks an acute treatment should be close to hand to treat those attacks that still occur.

Compementary alternative medicine

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Nontraditional therapies may be helpful if you have chronic headache pain:

Acupuncture. Among other benefits, acupuncture may be helpful for headache pain. This treatment uses very thin, disposable needles that generally cause little or no pain or discomfort.

Biofeedback. Biofeedback appears to be especially effective in relieving migraine pain. This relaxation technique uses special equipment to teach you how to monitor and control certain physical responses, such as muscle tension.

Massage. Although massage is a wonderful way to reduce stress and relieve tension, its value in treating headaches hasn't been fully determined. For people who have tight, tender muscles in the back of the head, neck and shoulders, massage may help relieve headache pain.

Herbs, vitamins and minerals. There is some evidence that the herbs feverfew (Tanacet, Tenliv) and butterbur (DoloMed, Petadolex, Petadolor) may prevent migraines or reduce their severity. A high dose of riboflavin (vitamin B-2) also may prevent migraines by correcting tiny deficiencies in the brain cells. Oral magnesium sulfate supplements may reduce the frequency of headaches in some people, although studies don't all agree on this issue. In addition, infusions of magnesium sulfate seem to help some people during an acute headache, and they seem to relieve migraine pain in people with magnesium deficiencies. Ask your doctor if these treatments are right for you. Don't use feverfew or butterbur if you're pregnant.

Cervical manipulation. There are no scientifically valid studies that prove that chiropractic or other spine-manipulation treatments are effective in the treatment of migraine.

Yoga for Migrane

Migraine affects more than 28 million Americans, and about 75% are women. Migraine is a vascular headache caused by the inflammation and irritation of the nerve endings resulting from the expansion of the blood vessels of the surface of the brain. It is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, mood changes, sensitivity to light and/or sound, tunnel vision or seeing spots, or dizziness. Pain may be felt on one or both sides of the head, at the back of the neck, around the eyes, on the face, or in the sinuses. The pain can be severe and can debilitate you from four to 72 hours if untreated. The pain is often preceded by a sensory warning sign or an aura such as blind spots or flashes of light.

A tingling in the arm or leg may also serve as warning. There is still no found cure for Migraine, however, medications can reduce the frequency of Migraine attacks and stop the pain.
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Triggers for Migraine attack vary for each individual. Among the factors include stress, certain food, weather changes, light, smells or odors, change in sleeping habits, some medications, and hormonal fluctuations. Scientists also think that imbalances in brain chemicals such as serotonin and magnesium may trigger Migraine attack. Fluctuation in estrogen and progesterone also seem to cause Migraine attack in Women. Most Women Migraine patients report its occurrence before or during their periods and during menopause or pregnancy. Contraceptives and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) may also worsen Migraine headaches.

Caffeinated beverages, alcoholic drinks, nuts, smoked or pickled food, aspartame, monosodium glutamate, and other food are also reported to cause Migraine headaches. Hunger can also trigger Migraine. Migraine may also be caused by some physical factors such as too much or too little sleep, sexual activity, stress or intense physical exertion.

Other causes of Migraine headaches include bright light and sun glare, unusual or unpleasant smell and odor, change in weather, change in altitude level, and change of time zone. Treatment includes pain relievers, stress reduction, exercise, and avoidance of the factors that trigger the attack such as alcohol, oral contraceptive, and smoking.

Stress reducing poses can also help in preventing Migraine. Another point in Yoga Lifestyle which is getting plenty of sleep will also help decreasing your risk factors for Migraine.

Yoga Therapy for Migraine generally focuses on the prevention of the occurrence which includes stress reduction and avoidance of the various causes of the attacks. Yoga can also alleviate the headache pain by providing relief to sensory overload and relaxing your mind.

Prevention

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Whether or not you take preventive medications, you may benefit from lifestyle changes that can help reduce the number and severity of migraines. One or more of these suggestions may be helpful for you:

Avoid triggers. If certain foods seem to have triggered your headaches in the past, eat something else. If certain scents are a problem, try to avoid them. In general, try to establish a daily routine with regular sleep patterns and regular meals.

Exercise regularly. Regular aerobic exercise reduces tension and can help prevent migraines. If your doctor agrees, choose any aerobic exercise you enjoy, including walking, swimming and cycling. Warm up slowly, however, because sudden, intense exercise can cause headaches.

Reduce the effects of estrogen. If you're a woman with migraines and estrogen seems to trigger or make your headaches worse, or if you have a family history of stroke or high blood pressure, you may want to avoid or reduce the amount of medications you take that contain estrogen. These medications include birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy. Talk with your doctor about the best alternatives or dosages for you.

Quit smoking. If you smoke, talk to your doctor about quitting. Smoking can trigger headaches or make headaches worse.