What is a migraine?

 

 What is a migraine?

  Migraine is a medical condition. Most people who suffer from migraines have headaches that can be quite severe. A migraine headache is usually a severe, throbbing pain on one or sometimes both sides of the head. Most people with migraine headaches feel pain in the temples or behind one eye or ear, although any part of the head can be involved. In addition to pain, migraines can also cause nausea and vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound. Some people may also see spots or flashing lights or have temporary vision loss.

  Migraines can occur at any time of day, although they often start in the morning. The pain may last a few hours or a day or two. Some people get migraines once or twice a week. Other only once or twice a year. Most of the time, migraines are not a threat to your overall health. But migraine attacks can interfere with your daily life.

 

 What is a migraine-think-angle

  We don't know what causes migraines, but some things are more common in people who get them:

  Most often, migraines affect people between the ages of 15 and 55.

  Most people have a family history of migraines or disabling headaches.

  They are more common in women.

  Migraines often become less severe and decrease with age.

 What causes migraine?

The exact cause of

migraine is not fully understood. Most researchers believe that migraines are caused

by abnormal changes in the levels of naturally occurring substances in the

brain. When levels of these substances increase, they can cause inflammation.

This inflammation then causes blood vessels in the brain to swell and press on

nearby nerves, causing pain.

 

Genes have also been linked to migraines.

People who get migraines have abnormal genes that control the function of

certain brain cells.

Experts know that people with migraines react

to different factors and events, called triggers. These triggers can vary from

person to person and do not always cause migraines. A combination of

triggers—not a single thing or event—is more likely to trigger an attack. A

person's response to triggers can also vary from migraine to migraine. Many

women experience migraines due to:

Too much or too

little sleep

 Stopped eating and drinking

 Bright lights, loud noises, or strong smells

 Hormonal changes during menstruation

 Stress and anxiety, or relaxation after stress

 Change of weather

 Wine (often red wine)

 Caffeine (too much or withdrawal)

 Foods that contain nitrates, such as hot dogs

and lunch meats

 Foods that contain MSG (monosodium glutamate),

a flavor enhancer found in fast foods, soups, herbs and spices.

 Foods that contain tyramine, such as cheese, soy products, fava beans, hard sausage, smoked fish, and Chianti wine.

 What is a migraine-think-angle

 

 Different types of migraine 

 There are many forms of migraine. The two most

common forms are migraine with aura and migraine without aura.

 

 Migraine with aura (formerly called classic

migraine).

 With migraine with aura, a person may have these sensory symptoms (the so-called "aura") 10 to 30 minutes before an attack: 

 

 Seeing flashing lights, zigzag lines, or blind

spots

 Numbness or tingling in the face or hands

 Disturbing sense of smell, taste, or touch

Feeling "fuzzy" mentally

 Only one in five people experience migraines.

Women are less prone to this form of migraine than men.

 

 Aura without migraine (formerly called generalized migraine).

  With this form of migraine, a person does not have flashes but has all the other characteristics of an attack. 

 Migraine pain is more common in women than in men 

 Three out of four migraine sufferers are

women. Migraines are most common in women between the ages of 20 and 45. Women

report more painful and long-lasting headaches and more symptoms such as nausea

and vomiting. All these factors make it difficult for a woman to fulfill her

role at work and at home during a migraine attack.

 What should I do when a migraine starts?

 Make a plan to manage your migraines with your

doctor, keeping a list of home remedies that have worked for you in the past

can also help. When symptoms begin:

 

 If you take migraine medication, take it right

away.

 If you don't feel nauseous during a migraine,

drink fluids.

 Lie down and rest in a dark, quiet room, if

practical.

 Some people find the following helpful:

 Cool cloth on the head 

 Rubbing or applying pressure to the area where

you feel the pain.

 Massage or other relaxing exercises.

 

 A few ways to prevent migraines 

 The best way to prevent migraines is to find

out what triggers your attacks and avoid or limit those triggers. Since

migraine headaches are more common during times of stress, finding healthy ways

to reduce and cope with stress can help. Talk to your doctor about starting a

fitness program or taking a class to learn relaxation skills.

 Talk to your doctor if you need to take pain

medication more than twice a week. Doing so may cause the headache to start

again. If your doctor has prescribed medications for you to help prevent

migraines, take them exactly as prescribed. Ask what to do if you miss a dose

and how long you should take the medicine. Talk to your doctor if the

prescribed amount of medication is not helping your headaches.