What Do We Mean When We Talk About A Migraine And Just What Are Its Signs And Symptoms?

One of the most frequent migraine symptoms is an intense throbbing pain that is generally situated on just one side of the head close to the temple. Migraines are also frequently accompanied by additional symptoms which include sensitivity to noise and light, nausea and sometimes vomiting.

Migraines are fairly common and affect about one in ten people in America, or more than 28 million Americans. They are also far more often seen in women than in men (about three times as many women suffer from migraine headaches) and can also be found occasionally in children.

Despite the fact that migraine headaches are so common and frequently very painful with an attack lasting anything from a few hours to several days, only about half of all sufferers ever consult their doctor and the remainder elect to suffer in silence.

It had long been thought migraines were the result of a of dilation of the blood vessels in the head but, in spite of the fact that there is no general agreement, medical opinion seems to be moving away from this theory in favor of a genetic basis for this condition. It is now believed that migraines are produced by the interaction of certain brain chemicals such as serotonin with the nerve cells. At present however the truth is that we are really not sure what cause a migraine headache.

In fact there are two forms of the condition, the first of which is referred to as 'classical migraine', which is characterized by an accompanying 'aura'. Here 'aura' is used to refer to visual light effects which are experienced immediately prior to the start of a headache including such things as flashing lights and bright light spots. In a few people a total loss of vision can be experienced for a few minutes before the arrival of the headache.

The second type of migraine headache is a migraine without the 'aura'.

Just as we do not really know what causes a migraine headache, so too we have very little idea about just what gives rise to an attack, although there are several factors which do seem likely to trigger an attack. For example, too much sleep appears to be one factor and so does skipping meals or eating particular foods such as cheese.

Hormones are also thought to influence the onset and severity of attacks and this is evidenced the increased incidence of migraines among women. This in part is thought to be because of the effect of estrogen on the blood vessels and it has been noted in some studies that there is a link between the contraceptive pill (containing estrogen) and migraines.

However, just to confuse matters studies have also demonstrated that simple everyday activities like climbing stairs can trigger an attack, as can exposure to heat or cold, loud noises, flashing lights and sometimes stress.

Fortunately, there are several migraine treatments available, though no one treatment has proved to be really effective in all cases. One thing which we do know though is that over-the-counter medicines are seldom effective and, if you suffer from migraines, you are best advised to ask your doctor for help in finding a solution which works for you.

Related Articles

Resources

Instantebookcovers