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