Everything You Need to Know About Migraine Headaches But Were Afraid To Ask

By Kristi Patrice Carter

Migraine headaches are probably the most painful in nature of all types of headaches.  Every year, more than 28 million Americans suffer from migraines and 3 times more women than men suffer.  The pain of a migraine can be disabling, depending on its severity.  Historically, they were diagnosed as a vascular headache, but more recently a connection has been drawn between migraines and TMJ dysfunction.  Over 90% of patients with migraine symptoms also suffer with the latter disorder.

Migraines have two main types, classic migraines and common migraines.  The classic type is usually accompanied by some form of an aura, like sparkling flashes of light, zigzag lines, slowly spreading blind spots (all within your line of eyesight), tingling sensations in the arms and legs, and sometimes, weakness or language and speech problems.  Someone suffering from a common migraine will not experience any aura but they may have one or more prodromes (sensations of premonition) several hours or a day before the headache actually occurs.  These may include feelings of elation or intense energy, cravings for sweets, thirst, drowsiness, and irritability or depression.

The main cause of migraine headaches is a functional change in the trigeminal nerve system and imbalances in brain chemicals and drops in levels of magnesium.  Several other factors can help to trigger the start.  Hormonal changes, mainly in women, from fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone and medicines like birth control and hormone replacement therapy may worsen the intensity of a headache.  Different foods, like alcohol, chocolate or foods high in MSG, or skipping meals or fasting can also trigger a migraine.  Other causes can be stress, sensory stimuli (bright lights, unusual smells), intense physical exertion, changes in environment (season changes, altitude level, time zone), and medications.

Migraines typically begin in either childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood and then become less frequent and intense as you grow older.  No matter what stage in life you encounter them, the symptoms are the same.  There is moderate to severe pain either on one or both sides of the head and the pain is usually pulsating or throbbing.  The pain tends to worsen with physical activity and can sometimes even hinder normal, daily activities.  Nausea with or without vomiting often occurs, as well as sensitivity to light and sound.  A child suffering from a migraine may experience all the related signs and symptoms, but not the actual headache.  These are known as abdominal migraines.  If left untreated the pain can last from 4 to 72 hours.

Although anyone with a family history of migraines is susceptible to getting one, young females are at higher risk.  Young women are 3 times more like to suffer than males and their risk increases after puberty.  Women also complain of the intensity of their headaches worsening before, during, or after menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause.

Available treatment for migraine headaches on help to relieve or prevent the pain.  No treatment actually stops a migraine from recurring for good.  Pain-relieving medicines are mainly the first line of defense used.  NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are most commonly used, often in the form of your basic over-the-counter pain medicines.  Other pain relievers for the headache pain are triptan and ergots.  Medicine for nausea relief can also be used.  Preventive medicines are more likely to be prescribed by your physician.  They can include cardiovascular drugs like beta-blockers, used to treat hypertension and coronary artery disease, antidepressants, anti-seizure drugs, or other types of NSAIDs.  For children, Cyproheptadine, an antihistamine, is ofter administered.  Some women have claimed that they saw a dramatic lessening in the amount of migraines suffered and their intensity and having Botox injection, although the effects are still scientifically unclear.

Other actions, besides preventive medicine can help prevent migraines, such as avoiding the triggers, exercising regularly, reducing the effects of estrogen and not smoking.