Migraine – Is A Disease A Headache Is Only A Symptom!

Introduction

Migraine is a disease, whereas a headache is merely a symptom. These headaches, with nausea and vomiting, most often begin in childhood and tend to becomes less severe and frequent with age. They can happen at any time of the day, although it often commences in the morning time. Migraine pain is caused by vasodilation in the cranial blood vessels (expansion of the blood vessels), whileas Headache pain is caused by vasoconstriction (narrowing of the blood vessels). The disease characteristics can include: Pain normally on one side of the head with a pulsating or throbbing like quality, Moderate to intense degree of pain affecting routine daily activities, Nausea or vomiting, Sensitivity to light or sound.

Attacks can last from four hours to three days, sometimes even longer and visual disturbances or aura Exertion such as climbing stairs makes headaches even worse. Almost 20% of sufferers experience aura, the warning sign associated with migraine, prior to the headache pain arriving. It is often mis-diagnosed as sinus headaches or tension-type headaches and affects up to fifteen percent of the population. Migraines can induce a lot of serious physical conditions including strokes, aneurysms, permanent loss of vision, severe dental problems, coma and even death. Sufferers undergo not only excruciating pain, but social ostracism, loss of employment, disruption of personal relationships, and prejudices in the workplace. These headaches seem to come about in part by changes in the level of a body chemical named serotonin and they are not the same in all people.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a migraine may include: Mild to severe pain on one or both sides of the head, Pulsating or throbbing pain, Pain made worse with physical activity, Nausea with or without vomiting, Sensitivity to light or noise/sound. About twenty percent of these people experience what’s called an aura previous to the headache pain. Symptoms of an aura encompasses flashes of light, zig zags, or blind spots in your vision or tingling in one arm or leg. With a Classic migraine, a person has these visual symptoms ten to thirty minutes before an attack: sees flashing lights or zigzag lines, has blind spots or loses sight for a short time. With a Common migraine, a person does not develop an aura, but does have the other symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting. Women also have a tendency to report higher levels of pain, longer headache time, and more symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting.

Treatments

Therapy is divided into eliminating particular triggers, management of the specific attack, and long-term prevention. There are two primary ways to treat migraine headaches with drugs: prevent the attacks, or ease the symptoms during the attacks. A lot of people use both types of treatment. Other home treatment methods can help, such as doing relaxation techniques and using ice packs. In your headache diary (you should keep one), make a list of home treatment routines that work for you in different situations.

Alternative medical therapies with medications belonging to the group known as the Phenothiazines have shown useful as non-analgesic options for treating severe headaches. At present, there is no known cure for the disease, only treatments for the signs and symptoms. Furthermore, such treatments are not yet completely effective and sufferers may show a diminished tolerance to a variety of medications, treatments, and pain control regimens. As always, talk with your MD about what sets off your headaches and to help find the best therapy for you.

Conclusion

Migraine is a true neurological ailment and frequently becomes worse in the first trimester of pregnancy, yet many women are headache-free later on in their pregnancy. This disease and epileptic seizure disorders are also interrelated. Those who suffer from these headaches are often dismissed as neurotic complainers who are unable to handle stress. It is the 2nd most common type of headache syndrome in the United States and is most commonly diagnosed in women, with a 3 to 1 female-to-male ratio. They can continue through the thirties and forties.

Migraines afflict twenty eight million Americans, with females suffering more frequently (seventeen percent) than males (six percent). This type of headache is one of the most common problems found in emergency departments and doctors’ offices. Occurrence among females increases sharply up to age forty years and then declines gradually. Headaches tend to run in families, suggesting that genetic traits contribute to a persons susceptibility to the disease.

The National Headache Foundation recommends you talk to your physician about your headaches IF: you have several every month and each lasts for several hours or days, disrupts your home, job, or school life, you have nausea, vomiting, vision, or other sensory problems. Tests will need be run to decide if you have migraine or not. Before your appointment, jot down: how often you have headaches, where the pain is, how long they last, when they occur, such as during your menstrual cycle, other symptoms, such as nausea or blind spots, any family history of the disease. By just conversing with your doctor, you may be able to give enough info to diagnose migraine.

Ricardo Henri is the webmaster of Natural Remedies,Treatments And Cures,a site with extensive informationconcerning caring for your own health without relying on medicines and unneeded surgery. Subscribe to his monthly newsletter @ natural remedies cures