Cause of Migraines

Prevent A Migraine Headache

Michigan is the eighth most populous state in the United States. Many people there suffer from migraine headache – what should they do about it?.

A migraine headache is a form of vascular headache. Migraine headache is caused by a combination of vasodilatation (enlargement of blood vessels) and the release of chemicals from nerve fibers that coil around the blood vessels. Migraine headaches typically last from 4-72 hours. They may occur as often as several times a week to only once a year. People who have migraines are called migraineurs. Migraine headaches affect about 15% of the population. Three times as many women as men have migraines. Over 80% of migraineurs have family members who have migraines. Migraines are classified according to the symptoms they produce.

The two almost popular types are migraine with atmosphere and migraine without atmosphere. Migraines almost usually are establish in women, with a 3:1 female-to-male ratio. In childhood, however, migraines are more popular in boys than in girls. Migraine with atmosphere is characterized by a neurological phenomenon (atmosphere) that is experienced 10 to 30 minutes before the worry. Most auras are visual and are described as sunny shimmering lights around objects or at the edges of the area of imagination (called scintillating scotomas) or zigzag lines, curly images, or hallucinations. Others see short-lived imagination departure.

Common migraine accounts for 80% f migraines. There is no "atmosphere" before a popular migraine. Migraine without atmosphere is the almost rife character and may happen on one or both sides (multilateral) of the chief. Tiredness or climate changes may be experienced the day before the worry. Nausea, vomiting, and sensibility to illuminate (photophobia) frequently follow migraine without atmosphere. A kind of drugs have been specifically designed to handle migraines. Medications used to fight migraines slip into two comprehensive categories. Pain-relieving medications too known as intense or unsuccessful handling.

These drugs are designed to halt symptoms that have already begun. Preventive medications types of drugs are taken regularly, frequently on a regular ground, to fall the hardship or frequency of migraines. Try to avert foods or new things that appear to induce migraines for you. Get lot of slumber and drink lot of fluids. Try to loosen and cut the strain in your living. Most migraineurs can handle mild-to-moderate attacks at house. Using a cold compress to the region of pain. If sure foods appear to get triggered your headaches in the past, consume something else. If sure scents are a trouble, attempt to avert them.

By: Juliet Cohen

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Juliet Cohen writes articles for Health Problems. She also writes articles for Stye and Sunburn Treatment.

Technorati Tags: Ann Arbor migraine treatment, Michigan migraine treatment, migraine headache treatment, prevent migraine

Cluster Headaches – What You Should Know

Cluster headache is a severe, debilitating pain that attacks one cluster of the head, usually above an eyelid or at the temple. The pain is usually characterized as being repeatedly stabbed in the eye with an ice pick. When the pain attacks, one may notice the drooping of the lids from the affected eye as well as nasal congestion on the affected side.

The pain of a cluster headache is no joke. It tends to be so sever that some people say that it is nothing compared to things like childbirth or migraines. At the height of a cluster headache attack, even morphine does very little to assuage the pain. This piece of information is from the few individuals who have actually been correctly diagnosed with cluster headache.

Usually, severe headaches are just thought to be migraines but unfortunately remain understood and untreated. It is very important to correctly diagnose cluster headache because it is extremely painful and debilitating and it has a tendency to attack for a few minutes to a few hours.

The difficulty in realizing that it is cluster headache instead of migraine is that sometimes, people who suffer from cluster headache also experience the usual nausea and sensitivity to light that migraine sufferers experience. You can tell that it is cluster headache though from the fact that its attacks follow a pattern.
There is such a thing as chronic and episodal cluster headache. Actually, one who suffers from cluster headache can experience switches from chronic to episodal attacks and vice versa. The chronic attacks can easily be noticed because the cluster headache attacks at the same time everyday for several weeks and even months.

Episodal cluster headache attacks are episodes that happen also at the same time everyday for a few days or weeks and goes into long remission states. While the suffering from cluster headaches is benign, there have been reported cases of actual suicides from the extreme pain.

This is why it is quite important that if you feel that you or a loved one may be suffering from attacks of cluster headaches, do get yourselves diagnosed properly and receive treatment. Consult with your doctor and find out some of the triggers of a cluster headache and avoid them.

Also, at the onset of a cluster headache, one can actually get treatment that can abate the attack. For instance it has been reported that inhalation of pure oxygen at the onset of an attack will abate the assault of cluster headache.

By: Low Jeremy -

Technorati Tags: cluster headache, Migraine, migraine symptoms

Migraine Relief

If you want to know more about migraines and migraine relief, here is some interesting information.

Before we start discussing ways in which to relieve a migraine, lets get a brief introduction to migraines.

An Introduction to Migraines

Had a throbbing pain in your head and neck that only affects one half at a time? This isn’t just any headache, this is a migraine attack. A migraine attack can plague anyone, from someone who is 10 to someone who is 90. During a migraine attack the blood vessels in the brain start dilating and drawing together. The changes that are occurring in the blood vessels is what is causing the pain. Not many people understand what a migraine is, and not many people have taken the trouble to get themselves properly diagnosed. Some people wonder if migraines are hereditary, the answer to this is not a definitive one. There are chances that migraines are hereditary but it hasn’t been proved. Interestingly, migraines plague 20% of the women population and only 6% of the men. Most people, who are prone to migraines, will get an attack before they hit 40! Most often, migraines are triggered off by certain conditions, and by foods like chocolates and cheese.

There are certain typical features that can help you identify whether or not that headache is a migraine or not. Features of a migraine are:

• Headaches lasting from 4 hours to 72 hours.
• Pain on one side of the head and neck.
• Normal activity increases the intensity of the migraine.
• Vomiting and nausea.
• Sensitivity to light and noise.

Migraine Relief

There are some ways to relieve the pain caused by migraines; here are some alternative solutions to medication:

• Grab a coke or coffee or anything with caffeine in it. caffeine helps to constrict the blood vessels in the brain. Also drink lots of water along with it, because dehydration can worsen a migraine attack.
• If possible take a shower or a bath with warm water and press a cold compress to your head at the same time. Also steer clear of light and sound. Give yourself or get a face massage to improve blood circulation.
• Soak your feet in warm water to increase blood circulation and prevent nausea.
• Try herb therapy. Feverfew is a herb that helps relieve you from a migraine. You can use it fresh or take it in capsule form or as a tea additive.
• Go gaga with ginger. Using ginger as a part of your diet will prevent migraines. In case you get a migraine attack, make tea with ginger in it. ginger is a great anti-inflammatory food and pain reliever.
• Peppermint is another option. Using peppermint either internally or externally will help. You can make peppermint tea or use peppermint essential oil mixed with a lotion and massage your head. This is a great way to get instant relief from a migraine.
• If you feel a migraine attack coming on, avoid all foods that can worsen the situation. Foods such as wheat, chocolate, and cheese. Also avoid alcohol and smoking.
• If none of these work for you then take your migraine medication to get relief from migraines.

By Khushnuma Irani
Published: 1/9/2008

Technorati Tags: migraine headache, migraine relief, symptoms of migraine