Migraine

Migraine affects 13% of the US population; about half of all sufferers report a 50% or more reduction in work or school productivity.  

Migraine usually strikes between the ages of 20-30 years and women are most likely to get them due hormonal reasons.  Most migraine sufferers also have family history of migraine. 

Symptoms

What are the symptoms of migraine?  A migraine without aura is manifested by throbbing or pulsating pain, nausea and vomiting, light and sound sensitivity.  With migraine with aura, the symptoms are associated with visual disturbances like flashing lights, blind spots and wavy lines.  An aura warns of a migraine attack.  It usually begins 30 minutes before the onset of the migraine headache and will only disappear once the actual migraine headaches begin. 

Triggers

Migraine headache is triggered by several factors, these are:

.  Food such as chocolate, caffeine, food additives (nitrate and MSG), alcohol

.  Stress and anxiety

.  Fatigue

.  Hormones

.  Missing meals

.  Change in barometric pressure

.  Change in altitude

.  Excessive noise

.  Sunlight/bright light

.  Medication that causes swelling of blood vessels

Identifying and avoiding personal triggers helps a person take greater control of his or her migraines. 

Migraine sufferers should know when to seek diagnosis to be properly treated.  For accurate diagnosis, you should have a thorough physical and neurological examination.  Seek diagnosis if:

.  You have several attacks that lasts for hours or days per month

.  You experience nausea, vomiting, vision or other sensory problem. 

.  Your migraine headache disrupts your work or school life

Treatment

New and effective treatments are specifically created for migraine.  There are two groups of medications that are used to treat migraine: abortive and preventive

Abortive medication is designed to stop the headache once it has begun.  Depending on your history and physical examination, your doctor may start abortive treatment with over-the-counter medications, analgesics, combination drugs and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications.  

Preventive medication is recommended if you are diagnosed with frequent migraine attacks usually two or more a month and if the severity of headache already disrupts your life.  Preventive medication includes beta blockers, calcium-channel blockers, anti-depressants and anti-convulsants. 

Migraine sufferers may also consider treatment without medications.  Other alternative treatments to drug therapy are:

.  Biofeedback - a sensor is attached to the skin's surface, it measures involuntary body responses such as heart rate, blood flow and temperature.  A therapist will use this information to help you understand and modify your body's responses to stress.  Through practice, you can reduce the intensity and frequency of headaches. 

.  Relaxation techniques 
- Deep breathing - breathing should be from the bottom of the lungs, then controlling the rhythm of breathing and slowly exhaling. 

- Progressive muscle relaxation - involves tensing and relaxing the muscles in a definite sequence or progression.  In this technique, the body learns how to recognize when stress creates tension and how to release it. 

- Physical exercise - aerobic exercise for at least 30 minutes a week, sports activities like, swimming, playing tennis, biking, etc.  can prevent many headaches. 

- Visualization - imagining yourself in a pleasant, relaxed setting can help you divert your mind away from the pain of headache. 

.  Diet Control - it is important to eat regularly scheduled meals, have a healthy and well-balanced diet.  Use vitamin supplements with advice from your doctor.  Avoid possible migraine triggers.  

.  Stress reduction - identify personal specific stress point.  Confront stress by understanding your responses to stress, managing your lifestyle and stressful situations more effectively. 

.  Regular sleep-wake cycles - avoid sleeping too much; try to get up at the same time every morning even on weekends.  

.  Alternative therapies - includes acupuncture, acupressure, yoga and herbal treatment.  

-  Acupuncture - is based on the principle that there are different pain control points along meridians on the body.  To cure the pain is to address these points. 

-  Acupressure - it has the same concept as acupuncture but it can be done by yourself, once the points of headache have been identified, learn how to apply pressure in order to relieve your headache. 

-  Yoga - can produce a sense of relaxation which may also prevent some headaches. 

-  Herbal remedies - some herbs can relieve headache pain.  Seek first the guidance of a healthcare provider because some herbs can be harmful. 

Remember migraine is a treatable!  You just need to pursue the correct diagnosis, seek guidance from a healthcare provider to find a treatment approach that is most effective, identify and then avoid your triggers.