| There are people who can tell when they | | | | either be visual or non visual. Visual |
| are about to have migraine. These people | | | | migraines, also called scintillating |
| usually see bright shimmering lights | | | | scotomas, are described as bright |
| around objects, zigzag lines or wavy | | | | flashing lights or glares at the edges |
| images. Others experience hallucinations | | | | of the field of vision. |
| or temporary loss of vision. | | | | Non-visual auras include motor weakness, |
| What is Migraine? | | | | speech or language difficulties, |
| Migraine is a condition described as a | | | | vertigo, dizziness, and the tingling |
| very painful type of headache, with a | | | | sensation or numbness of the face, |
| throbbing and pulsating pain intensified | | | | tongue, or extremeties. |
| by routine physical activities, | | | | Migraine without aura is the most common |
| coughing, straining, or lowering of the | | | | type and may occur on one (unilateral) |
| head. The debilitating pain is so severe | | | | or both sides (bilateral) of the head. |
| that it interferes with daily | | | | Fatigue or mood changes may occur the |
| activities. Oftentimes, migraine | | | | day prior to the headache. |
| sufferers end up feeling weak and | | | | Abdominal migraine is most prevalent in |
| fatigued once the headache is gone. | | | | children with a family history of |
| People with migraine headaches start | | | | migraine. Symptoms include abdominal |
| experiencing pain in a specific area on | | | | pain without a gastro-intestinal cause |
| one side of the head. Later on, the pain | | | | (may last up to 72 hours), nausea, |
| spreads and builds in intensity for one | | | | vomiting, and flushing or paleness. |
| to two hours, and then gradually | | | | Children who have abdominal migraine |
| subsides. However, migraine headache can | | | | often develop typical migraine as they |
| last up to 24 hours long, and in some | | | | grow older. |
| cases, even for several days. | | | | Basilar artery migraine is the |
| Migraine is generally more common in | | | | disruption of the basilar artery in the |
| women than in men and may occur at any | | | | brainstem characterized by intense |
| age between 10 to 40, then diminishes at | | | | headache, vertigo, double vision, |
| the age of 50. | | | | slurred speech, and poor muscle |
| Causes of Migraine | | | | coordination. This is prevalent among |
| T here is no known causes of migraine, a | | | | the youth. |
| condition which may result from a series | | | | Carotidynia, also known as lower-half |
| of reactions in the central nervous | | | | headache or facial migraine, is |
| system due to changes in the body or in | | | | described as deep, dull aching and |
| the environment. Oftentimes, a family | | | | sometimes piercing pain in the jaw or |
| history of the disorder suggets that | | | | neck where there is tenderness and |
| migraine sufferers may inherit | | | | swelling over the carotid artery in the |
| sensitivity to trigger that impair the | | | | neck. This is most common in older |
| blood vessels and nerves in the brain, | | | | people and may occur several times |
| thereby causing pain. | | | | weekly and last a few minutes to hours. |
| Triggers | | | | Headache-free migraine is having the |
| Any stimulus that produces a reaction is | | | | presence of aura without the headache. |
| called a Trigger. Many things can | | | | This is common to patients with a |
| trigger a migraine attack such as: | | | | history of migraine with aura. |
| alcohol (eg. red wine)caffeine (coffee, | | | | Ophthalmoplegic migraine is |
| chocolate)monosodium glutamate ( MSG | | | | characterized by a headache that is |
| usually found in asian foods)nitrates | | | | first felt in the eye area and is |
| (processed foods, hotdogs)environmental | | | | accompanied by vomiting. As the headache |
| factors (weather, altitude, time zone | | | | intensifies, the eyelid droops (ptosis) |
| changes)exposure to light (brightness, | | | | and the nerves responsible for the eye |
| glare)hormonal changes (in | | | | movement become paralyzed. |
| women)hungerlack of | | | | Status migraine is a rare type that |
| sleepanxietystressmedications | | | | involves excruciating pain that can last |
| (over-the-counter and | | | | even longer than 72 hours. The patient |
| prescription)perfumes | | | | may require hospitalization. |
| Signs and Symtoms of Migraine | | | | Migraine Remedies |
| During migraine attacks, people tend to | | | | There are several over-the-counter and |
| be very sensitive to light (photophobia) | | | | prescription medicines that can help |
| and sound (phonophobia). There may also | | | | prevent migraine attacks or aid in |
| be signs of nausea and vomiting. Other | | | | relieving symptoms of attacks when they |
| symptoms may include cold and sweaty | | | | happen. For most people, treatments to |
| hands and/or feet, as well as | | | | relieve stress prove to be equally |
| intolerance of unusual odors. | | | | helpful as migraine remedies. Always |
| Types of Migraine | | | | remember to consult your physicians for |
| Migraine with aura is a neurological | | | | proper diagnosis of your condition |
| phenomenon (aura) experienced 10 to 30 | | | | before taking any medication. |
| minutes prior to the headache. Auras may | | | | |