A Guide To Migraine Headache

Migraine headache is caused by combination of vasodilatation , and is a form vascular headache. It is also caused due to release of chemicals from nerve fibers coiling around blood vessels. When a person suffers migraine attack, there is an enlargement of temporary artery, stretching the nerves coiling around the artery, and causing the nerves to release the chemicals. This release of chemicals causes pain, inflammation, and further artery enlargement, magnifying the pain.

Sympathetic nervous system is the part of the nervous system controlling primitive responses to pain and stress. During migraine attack, this sympathetic system is activated, causing vomiting, nausea and diarrhea. The medication taken for migraine headache is ineffective as the sympathetic activity delays emptying of stomach in small intestines, and hence medication is not able to reach the intestine.

Symptoms Of Migraine Headache

Migraine is a chronic condition causing recurrent attacks, and are usually accompanied by headaches. Migraine headaches are throbbing, intense and pounding, usually on one temple. Sometimes, the pain is in the forehead, back of the head or around the eyes. The pain can be bilateral or unilateral, and in case of unilateral, the side typically changes from the previous attack. Daily activities such as walking upstairs make the migraine headache worse. Migraine headache symptoms include cold hands, cold feet, nausea, facial pallor, diarrhea, and sensitivity to sound and light. Migraine sufferers like to lie in a dark, quiet place during the attack that lasts between 4-72 hours.

Treatment Of Migraine Headache

Migraine usually begins in the childhood or early adulthood, and can be treated with the help of medications. There are however non-medication therapies such as preventive and symptomatic therapies. Using biofeedback, relaxation techniques and ice can be helpful to stop the attack, however, sleep is the best remedy for migraine headache. Preventing migraine headache requires some lifestyle change to be made by the patients such as avoiding certain food especially those containing sulphites or those high in tyramine, and avoid smoking. Healthy lifestyle with well-balanced diet, sufficient sleep, adequate water intake and regular exercise can be helpful in preventing the migraine headache.

Over-the-counter medications are effective in treating the occasional mild migraine that does not interfere with the daily activities. These OTC medications are effective and safe for short-term relief, but must be used as per the instructions on the labels.

Triptans, Ergots and Midrin are used to treat more severe migraine headache, however these medications are potentially addictive, and are only used for patients who don’t respond well to the OTCs.

Certain lifestyle changes required to treat the migraine headache include sleeping and waking up at the same time each day, exercising regularly, not skipping meals, avoiding prolonged fasting, limiting stress through relaxation techniques, limiting consumption of caffeine, avoiding bright lights, wearing sunglasses when going out, and identifying and avoiding the triggers causing migraine headache.