Migraines? – Migraines and treatments
A migraine is a form of vascular headache. Migraines are usually intense and throbbing headaches, often involving one side of the head, although they can affect the entire head. They can cause significant pain for hours or even days.
Mmigraines are caused by a combination of vasodilatation (enlargement of blood vessels) and the release of chemicals from nerve fibers that coil around the blood vessels. During a migraine attack, the temporal artery enlarges. (The temporal artery is an artery that lies on the outside of the skull just under the skin of the temple.) Enlargement of the temporal artery stretches the nerves that coil around the artery and causes the nerves to release chemicals. The chemicals cause inflammation, pain, and further enlargement of the artery. The increasing enlargement of the artery magnifies the pain.
A recent survey reported that men and women experience headaches quite differently. Women tend to develop migraines more frequently than men, probably due to varying estrogen levels around menstruation. There are a host of reasons why this is true, none of which are scientifically proven at this point.
Risk Factors
Several factors make you more prone to having migraines. These include:
Having a family history: Many people with migraines have a family history of migraine. If one or both of your parents have migraines, there’s a good chance you will too.
Being younger than 40: Half the people who suffer from migraines started getting them before they were 20 and migraines are most common in people who are between 30 and 39 years old.
Being female: Women are three times as likely to have migraines as men are. Headaches tend to affect boys more than girls during childhood, but by the time of puberty, more girls are affected.
Experiencing hormonal changes: If you’re a woman with migraines, you may find that your headaches begin just before or shortly after onset of menstruation. They may also change during pregnancy or menopause. Some women report that their migraines got worse during the first trimester of a pregnancy. Though for many, the migraines improved during later stages in the pregnancy.
Warning Signs
An estimated 40%-60% of migraine attacks are preceded by some sort of visual disturbance known as an aura. These stmptoms can occur days or minutes before the pain of a migraine starts. They can include one or more of the following:
- Zigzag lines
- Flashing lights
- Visual hallucinations
- Temporary blind spots
- Light sensitivity
- Blurred vision
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Chills
- Increased urination
- Increased sweating
- Swelling of the face
- Tingling in your arms or legs
Symptoms
When untreated, a migraine typically lasts from four to 72 hours, but the frequency with which headaches occur varies from person to person. You may have migraines several times a month or much less frequently. Symptoms can be so severe that the person becomes completely incapacitated. These can include:
- Intense & throbbing headaches
- Pain that worsens with physical activity
- Eye pain
- Extreme sensitivity to light and sound
Treatment
Choosing a strategy to manage your migraines depends on the frequency and severity of your headaches, the degree of disability your headaches cause, and your other medical conditions. Although there’s no cure, medications can help reduce the frequency and severity of migraines. If treatment hasn’t worked for you in the past, it’s worth talking to your doctor about trying a different migraine medication. The right medicines combined with self-help remedies and lifestyle changes may make a tremendous difference.
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