Types of
Migraines?
Most people have heard
of migraine headaches, but most don't realize that there are
actually several different kinds. An abdominal migraine
affects not just the head but the abdomen, and usually occurs
in children. A basilar migraine is one that affects the
person in the back of the neck and / or brain. Hemiplegic migraines
are extremely rare and can cause some motor paralysis. Some
patients who have migraine attacks experience themin the early
morning, usually around 4:00 A.M. It often will waken the sufferer.
Ocular migraines are ones which bring most of the visual and
other sensory symptoms without the headaches. And ophthalmoplegic
migraines cause pain surrounding the eyeball which could last
anywhere from days to months. Read
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What
Are Signs & Symptoms of a Migraine Headache?
Although nobody is
sure exactly what causes migraine, we do know what leads to
the pain, and we know most of the symptoms associated with
them. These symptoms can include extreme pain in the
temple or forehead area of the head, usually on one side,
nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, and auras
that cause the sufferer to see unusual flickers of light or
dark spots and to hear strange sounds and smell strange smells.
Those are the most common symptoms. Other, less-common
ones include irritability, sleepiness, depression, fatigue,
euphoria, yawning, and an intense craving for either salty
or sweet foods. Taking notice of the symptoms can help
you lessen the severity of a migraine attack. Read
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How
is a Migraine Headache Diagnosed?
A doctor makes a diagnosis of migraine headaches entirely on what the patient describes
to him. Only after a detailed examination and
taking the patient's medical history, and then asking him
some simple questions about his symptoms, can the doctor determine
this. If you go to a doctor with a possible migraine
condition, the doctor will ask you how often your headaches
occur, the location of the pain, how long it's been hurting,
and whether there are other symptoms coming prior to, during,
or following the headache. He'll want to know if you
experience any nausea or vomiting and if you see any flickers
of light or have a sensitivity to light or sound. The
presence of multiple symptoms may indicate migraine headaches. Read
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How
are Migraines Treated?
A variety of medications
have been designed especially for treating migraines, while
other drugs that are primarily for some other purpose have
been found to also help the migraine sufferer. There
are some medications that prevent the migraine attack, while
others help to alleviate the symptoms after they have started.
The most commonly prescribed pain-relieving medications
include triptans, ergots, anti-nausea medications and NAISDs
(Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Common preventative
medications include cardiovascular drugs, antidepressants,
anti-seizure drugs, and Cyproheptadine. Treatment also often
involves rest in a dark room, and learning which triggers
cause the attack in the individual. Read
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How
are migraine headaches prevented?
Preventing migraine attacks /
headaches usually involves all those habits you've heard you
should adopt: regular exercise, eating lots of fruits and
vegetables, and staying away from cigarettes and too much
alcohol. Mastering good posture also helps. Plus,
most doctors suggest that the migraine sufferer learn what
their particular migraine triggers are. A trigger is
something such as a food, sight, sound or smell that brings
on an attack. When a person learns what sets off the
migraine attacks most often, they are better able to try to
stay away from those things. . . or at least, when they are
exposed to the triggers, they'll know they need to take steps
to lessen the severity of the migraine headache. Read
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What
are migraine triggers?
Most people experience migraine
headaches after a certain trigger (or triggers) sets them
off. These triggers differ from person to person. Some
common ones include hormonal changes (in women), such as fluctuations
in their estrogen level; foods (Common culprits include aged
cheeses, alcohol, especially red wine and beer, chocolate,
aspartame, marinated foods, pickled foods, fermented foods,
and too much caffeine); stress at work, home or school; sensory
stimuli such as bright lights, sun glare or unusual smells;
changes in the person's sleep-wake patterns (Either getting
too much or missing too much sleep); environmental changes
(such as weather changes). Identifying these triggers
is needed to prevent attacks.
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