Migraine

Migraines are a very misunderstood disease.  Often times sufferers are told "it's just a bad headache!", when actually a migraine is the opposite of a headache.  Migraine pain is caused by the cranial blood vessels expanding or vasodilatation.  Headache pain is caused by narrowing of the blood vessels or vasoconstriction. 

About 32 million Americans, most of them women, are affected by migraines.  As of right now, there are no known cures for migraines, only treatment for the symptoms.  Basically migraine pain appears to be caused by changes in level of serotonin in the body.  When serotonin falls then the blood vessels expand causing pain and other problems.  There are many things that can affect the level of serotonin in your body like you blood sugar level, certain food and if you're a woman then it could be hormones such as estrogen.  Migraine disease is actually a recurrent, episodic, genetic, neurological disease.  Migraineurs have a genuine neurological disease.

Not many people know but migraines are not only disabling, they can also be life threatening.  To give an idea on how dangerous they can be, more people died from a migrainous stroke in 2004 than people murdered with handguns.

Not sure if you have migraines?  People who suffer from migraines say that headache pain is very intense and it will get in the way with your everyday activities.  Migraines can be different for everyone.  Some sufferers get a "premonition" before a migraine headache starts.  Premonitions are feelings that can warn you that migraine pain is on its way.  These feelings could include fatigue, cravings for certain food, intense energy and mood swings.  Some symptoms of migraines include very intense throbbing pain on one or both sides of your head.  You may feel sick to your stomach and have changes in your vision.  Some suffers have a stiff and tender neck and scalp.

There are two different types of migraine headaches.  There are classic migraine and common migraines.  The classic migraines start with some type of warning sign.  This sign is called an aura.  Some people see flashing lights or colors.  Some may temporarily lose part of their vision.  Some people experience a burning sensation or a prickly feeling.  Some may get muscle weakness and they may feel depressed or irritable.  The auras may last anywhere between fifteen to thirty minutes.  Most of the time auras and the head pain overlap. 

The common migraine does not start with auras.  Common migraines will start more slowly and build up.  They usually last longer and will really interfere with your daily activities.

Migraines can last from four to seventy-two hours.  Some people only get them a couple times a year and some get the daily experience.  There are two treatments for migraine headaches.  There are treatments that are used to relieve headache pain and the other is for trying to prevent the pain.  Over the counter medicine can help relieve the pain such as Tylenol, Excedrin Migraine, Advil and Aleve.  People with more severe pain may need a prescription to treat the pain and help prevent it from reoccurring.