Cause of Migraines

About migraine

Migraine affects about 15 in every 100 people in the UK and is most common in adults aged between 20 and 50. However, migraines may start in childhood and persist into old age. About eight in 10 people who have migraines have a family history of them.

People who get migraines are completely symptom-free between attacks and have an average of around 13 migraines per year.

Types of migraine

The most common types of migraine are classic migraine (migraine with aura) and common migraine (migraine without aura). Other types of migraine include aura without headache and abdominal migraine.

Symptoms of migraine

You may be able to sense when a migraine attack is about to start. Irritability, lack of concentration, food cravings and tiredness can all alert you that you’re getting a migraine.

Classic migraine

Around one in 10 people have aura with their migraines. Aura symptoms usually last less than an hour and begin before the headache symptoms (which are the same as for common migraine).

Common aura symptoms include visual disturbances (such as flashing/flickering lights, zigzag lines and even temporary blindness), numbness, tingling sensations and slurred speech. Other aura symptoms include a stiff neck, weakness on one side, partial paralysis, confusion or fainting.

Common migraine

A common migraine causes a persistent and severe throbbing or pounding pain, usually on one side of your head (although there may be pressure on both sides). You may also become sensitive to light, sound and movement and you may feel sick, vomit and/or have diarrhoea. An attack usually lasts between four and 72 hours but you may feel tired for several days afterwards.

These symptoms may be caused by problems other than migraines. You should visit your GP for advice.

It’s particularly important that you see your GP if you have any of the following.

• A sudden change in the character of your migraine such as attacks coming more frequently, or treatment not working.
• Your first migraine occurs when you’re over 50.
• Aura symptoms between attacks or which occur on the same side of your body with every attack.
• A fever with the headache.

Complications of migraine

Occasionally, migraines can last for much longer than 72 hours and don’t respond to standard treatment. This type of migraine is known as status migrainosus, and you may need to go to hospital for pain relief and to treat dehydration caused by vomiting.

If you have migraines on more than 15 days per month, this is known as chronic migraine. People with chronic migraine often have to take increasing amounts of medication to control their migraines. In turn, this can lead to further headaches, known as medication-overuse headaches (also called rebound or withdrawal headaches).

Migraine has also been found to be associated with an increased risk of anxiety and panic disorder, depression and stroke (where the blood supply to part of the brain is blocked).

Causes of migraine

It’s thought that migraine symptoms occur when there is a sudden change in the level of a chemical in the brain (a neurotransmitter) called serotonin. This then affects other neurotransmitters and causes changes in the blood vessels in the brain. It’s not yet known exactly what causes the serotonin levels to change.

You may find that your migraines are caused by specific foods or drinks, by exposure to particular noises, smells or lights, or by other identifiable triggers. Steering clear of these triggers can help to prevent migraines from occurring.

Hormonal changes that occur during the menstrual cycle or as a result of taking oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy, pregnancy and menopause can all affect the frequency and severity of migraines in some women.

Migraines are more common in people with depression, and depression is more common in people who have migraines. Researchers are investigating whether treating depression can help relieve migraines and vice versa.

To see this full article go to BUPA / Migraine

Technorati Tags: cause of migraine

Rockville Migraine Headache Cure

  Only a migraine sufferer understands the pain. Regardless of how the migraine starts the end result is the same - excruciating pain that renders you helpless. Walking hurts, breathing hurts. Even thinking hurts. There are any number of painkillers and pills available to help curb the pain. The issue here is that many of these painkillers require repeat prescriptions and involve an ongoing cost. A migraine is a splitting headache that just seems to set in apparently due to no reason at all. The reasons for a migraine are mainly vascular. That means that certain changes in the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain trigger of the pain. Of course, the causes for the changes in the blood vessels may vary from person to person but this is generally how it starts.

What Causing Migraine Headache
Hundreds of thousands of man hours are lost every year because people have to take time off with migraine headache pain. Some people experience several migraines a month, while others have only a few migraines throughout their lifetime. But the fact is, when a migraine sets in, it can be debilitating and very hard to carry on with the routine of everyday life. Work, chores even pleasurable activities seem impossible.

Many migraine sufferers have turned to natural treatments once the cause has been determined. If stress is the culprit, you may find meditation or self-hypnosis an invaluable aid in relieving tension. If you suffer on a monthly basis because of menstruation or hormone instability, herbal supplements formulated specifically for PMS symptoms will be beneficial.

Migraine Headache Rockville - Symptom
How many times have you wondered if the throbbing pain you feel around your head is from a migraine headache?A lot of people suffer from such painful headaches. This is due to changes in the brain and the blood vessels surrounding it. Migraine headaches usually last from 4 hours to 72 hours and some people experienced it daily while some others have it only once a year. It affects approximately 15% of the population and for every one man who suffers from these throbbing headaches, there are three women sufferers.

Migraine Headache Cures
If you suffer from migraine there is nothing more comforting than finding a migraine headache cure to end your woes. Migraine prevents you from properly engaging with your regula 1000 r activities due to the nagging pain in your head. However, just as any sickness has a treatment, migraine headache can be alleviated using some of the methods below. There are generally two types of migraine headache cures: natural and medicinal. Natural cures are usually pursued when the migraine are still manifesting its symptoms. You do not have to worry about suffering from debilitating side-effects, which are associated with medicinal drugs, when using natural cures because they do not involve the intake of drugs.

The disadvantage in pursuing natural migraine headache cures is that cures can be limited and hit and miss. Natural cures can be highly effective at preventing a migraine, but once the migraine starts, natural cures may not adequately treat symptoms. This is where medicinal cures come to the fore. Migraine headache are believed to occur because of narrowing of the blood vessels, which leads to a lack of blood flow in the vessels of your brain.

By: jacobson

Technorati Tags: headaches, Rockville migraine

Various Forms Of Headache Treatment

Those that suffer from headaches in Portland are always on the look out for the best types of headache treatment. The more severe types of headaches can be very dehabilitating and will require pain relief. There are also some forms of headaches that cannot be cured, as the cause may be currently unknown. When suffering from a headache, headache treatment can only treat your pain symptoms as other types of treatment will be needed to deal with what is causing your headache.

Learn how I learnt to get rid of them with The Migraine Solution

Treating Current Painful Headaches

Over the counter pain medication is one of the best types of pain treatment available today. These types of medication are generally taken once you feel headache pain. Chronic headache sufferers can take headache medication daily in order to prevent headaches. This does not treat the cause of the headaches but can be a great preventive measure.

If you take headache treatment before you have a headache you need to be careful, as this can be dangerous. It is possible to become addicted to headache medication. Therefore when taking medication regularly you should begin with small doses and take breaks from taking medication, so go a few days without it. If you want to use this type of treatment you should speak with your doctor before starting.

Acetaminophen, aspirin and ibuprofen are some of the best over the counter medication available to treat your headache. However, this type of medication does not work for all and you may need a higher dose to effectively treat your headache, which can only be prescribed by a doctor.

Preventive Measures for Headaches

Medication is great for those that suffer from chronic headaches but you also need to try to determine how you can prevent getting a headache. Chiropractic treatment is a great proactive preventive treatment. A chiropractor can make adjustments that may be able to stop you from developing headaches. If you don’t get relief from taking headache medication then you may want to try visiting a chiropractor.

Another holistic treatment that has been successful is acupuncture. Acupuncture uses needles that apply pressure to specific nerves. This can deactivate and activate specific nerves that can effectively treat pain associated with headaches.

If you frequently suffer form headaches then you should try to avoid all things that trigger your headac 1000 hes. Situations, food, and smells can also trigger headaches and the best way to treat a headache is to avoid getting one. Relaxation is important to relieve stress, which can trigger tension headaches. There are many life style changes you can make to eliminate your headaches.

Headaches can be issues when trying to go about your daily routine and the type of treatment you use is important. If you are unhappy taking medication or do not like the side effects associated with medication then you should try other headache treatment techniques.

By: Cindy Heller

Technorati Tags: Portland Headache