Quick Read
Most of the people experience the migraine headache. Migraine is a term applied to certain headaches with a vascular quality. Migraine often begins in childhood, adolescence or early adulthood. Migraine is characterized by varying degree of recurrent vascular headache, visual disturbances, sleep disruption and depression.
What are the Causes of Migraine?
Migraine cause isn’t understood, genetics and environmental factors appear to p[lay a role. Migraine may be caused by changes in the brainstem and its interactions with the trigeminal nerve, a major pain pathway. Imbalance in brain chemicals may also cause migraine.
What are the Trigger Factors for Migraine?
Some factors may cause migraine attack. These factors are called as trigger factors.
- Hormonal changes in women
- Foods such as aged cheese, salty foods and processed food
- Drinks such as alcohol especially wine
- Stress
- Changes in wake sleep pattern
- Food additives such as sweeteners, preservatives
- Medication such as oral contraceptives
- Environment changes
- Physical factors such as intense physical exertion
What are the Risk factors for Migraine?
- Family history:-up to 90% of people with migraines have a family history of migraine attacks. If one or both your parents have migraine, then you have a good chance of having migraines too
- Age:-it can begin at any age. Migraine usually begins during the second decade of life and is especially common in professional persons
- Sex:-migraine headaches are reported to affect women more than men. Women are 3 times more likely to have migraines
- Hormonal changes:-hormonal changes are seen in menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause. Migraine may begin at any stage of hormonal change. Generally migraine improve after menopause
What are the Symptoms of Migraine?
Migraine may progress through 4 stages
- Prodromal stage
- Aura
- Headache
- Postdromal stage
Symptoms of Prodromal stage:
A prodromal stage or preheadache stage is noted by some patients, consisting of lethargy and dejection several hours before the headache.
- Constipation
- Depression
- Confusion
- Unilateral Paraesthesia
- Food cravings
- Hyperactivity
- Irritability
- Neck stiffness
- Uncontrollable yawning
Aura:-
Most people experience migraine headaches without aura. Usually begins gradually, buids up over several minutes and then commonly lasts for 20 to 60 minutes
- Usually visual disturbances such as flashes of light
- Sensory, movement and speech disturbances
Headache:-
When untreated, a migraine lasts from 4 to 72 hours, but the frequency with which headaches occur varies from person to person. At the time of headache the pati9ent may appear extremely ill. The face is usually pale, sallow, and sweaty.
- Pain on one side or both sides of your head
- Pain that has a pulsating, throbbing quality
- Sensitivity to light, sounds and sometimes smells
- Nausea and vomiting
- Impaired memory and concentration
- Blurred vision
- Prolonged and painful contraction of head and neck muscles is found in some patients
- Lightheadedness sometimes followed by fainting
Postdrome:-
It occurs after a migraine attack. Some people report feeling, mildly euphoric
What is the Treatment for Migraine?
Doctor consultation in the early stage of migraine is necessary. The treatment of migraine includes a wide variety of drugs ranging from acetylsalicylic acid and codeine to ergotamine, and norepinephrine. The prognosis of disease is good, since the condition is not dangerous and may undergo complete and permanent remission
Natural Tips to reduce migraine headache
While there are a number of other drugs that treat and prevent migraines, there are also a number of natural options to ease the pain.
- Turn off the lights:-migraines often increase sensitive to light and sound. Relax in dark, quiet room, sleep if you can
- Massage painful areas:-apply gentle pressure to your scalp and temples
- Drink a caffeinated beverage:- in small amounts caffeine alone can relieve migraine pain in the early stages
- Don’t skip meals and establish regular sleep hours
- Avoid foods that trigger migraines such as ages cheese, chocolates and alcohol
- Feverfew:-the herb feverfew has been used for centuries as a folk remedy for migraine, arthritis, pain and fever in Europe. Feverfew contains compounds called parthenolides, which appear to help control expansion and contraction of blood vessels in the head
- Butterbur:-butterbur is a shrub like plant that grows in northern Asia, Europe and parts of North America. Extracts made from the herb have been used to treat migraines, stomach cramps, cough, allergies and asthma
- Magnesium:-Mg reduces the severity and frequency of migraine. People with migraine and cluster headaches are often deficient in magnesium. Mg supplements may also help to reduce headache
- Riboflavin:-this B vitamin found naturally in foods like milk, meat, nuts and green veggies. Riboflavin was linked to prevent migraine
- Flax seeds, salmon fish and fish oil supplements may also help to reduce migraine
- Sniff peppermint:-certain smells can trigger the pain but peppermint in particular seems to have pain reducing effect. It may not work for everyone
- Ginger:-ginger can ease migraine related nausea and it may decrease pain
- Simple head rub and whole body massage can help to reduce the migraine
- Meditation:-meditation practice can relieve stress. Stress relief can reduce the migraine attacks
- Drink more water:-plenty of headaches are triggered by dehydration. Patients who will quickly drink a few glasses of water when they feel a migraine coming on, and actually stop it in its tracks
- Acupuncture:-it is time consuming and expensive
- Regular exercises:-regular exercise relaxes you, it releases endorphins.
