Migraine Headaches

Migraine headaches

        Migraine headaches are a form of vascular headaches. The cause is vasodilatation, which means an enlargement of the blood vessels that can result in the release of chemicals from the nerve fibers that wraps around the large arteries of the brain. These chemicals are causing inflammation, pain and an enlargement of the artery. This enlargement of the arteries increases the pain. Migraine headaches activate the sympathetic nervous system in the body. The symphatetic nervous system is a part of the nervous system which is controlling the primitive answers to stress and pain.

       Studies have shown that 28 million people in the United States of America, suffer from migraine headaches. Women are suffering more frequently than men.

Migraine headaches symptoms

       The migraine headaches are usually very intense, throbbing and pounding pain that involves one temple. Often the pain is located at the forehead, around the eye or at the back of the head. The pain usually occurs on one side of the head. However, the pain can also be bilateral, on both parts of the head. The unilateral headaches usually change from one side to another at different attacks. If the unilateral headache occurs only on one side of the head you should consider a doctor. The doctor may diagnose this as a secondary headache, as one caused by a brain tumor.

       The migraine headaches are usually aggravated by the every day activities. Other symptoms of the migraine headaches are: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, facial pallor, cold hands, cold feet and sensitivity at light and at sound. The persons who suffer of this kind of disease usually prefer to stay in a quiet and dark room. The migraine attack can lasts between 4 and 72 hours. Before a migraine attack you can experience some symptoms that can lasts from hours to days such as: sleepiness, fatigue, irritability, depression, yawning. The patients usually notice when they have these symptoms that a migraine attack is about to happen.

Migraine headaches prevention

       For preventing the migraine you should avoid the factors that are causing the headaches and prevent the headaches with treatment. The factors that can cause a migraine headache may be environmental and physiological. The factors that are causing this affection include: stress, sleep disorders, hormones, bright lights, fasting, smoking, drinking alcohol, chocolate, nitrites, caffeine. At some women the menstruation is a factor that can cause migraine also.

       Exposing yourself to one of these factors does not always leads to a migraine or avoiding these factors does not guarantee completely the prevention of headaches. There is no cure for migraine headaches. However, there are numerous methods that can help you improve your life if you suffer from this affection. The choice of these methods should be taken into account the persons aspects of each migraine such as: triggering factors, inflammation of the nerve, blood vessel changes and also pain.

Types of migraine headaches

       Migraine headaches are accompanied by neurological dysfunction. Here are some types:

• Vertebrobasilar migraines are characterized by dysfunction of the brainstem. The vertebrobasilar symptoms include: fainting, vertigo, dizziness, double vision.
• Hemiplegic migraines include symptoms like paralysis or weakness of one side of the body, stroke.

       Retinal or ocular migraines, which are characterized by repeated instances of blind spots or blindness on one side that can last more than an hour. The irreversible loss of vision can also be a complication of this rare type of migraine.