Mar

Migraine Headaches

Exactly What Are Migraines?

Many people suffer from migraine headaches but just what are migraine headaches and why do we get them?

In excess of twenty-nine million Americans suffer from migraine headaches and that represents just about 10 percent of the population. Migraine headaches afflict women about 3 times more often than men and they are not restricted to adults with a considerable number of children experiencing them as well. A migraine attack lasts anything from a few hours to three or four days and with longer attacks victims generally experience secondary effects for longer periods. In spite of the fact that migraine headaches are so common close to 50% of all victims do not bother to see a doctor about the condition.

One frequent symptom of a a migraine headache is an acute and throbbing pain on one side of the head which is usually localized close to the temple. This pain is also often accompanied by various other symptoms like nausea and vomiting and sensitivity to noise and light.

The precise causes of migraine headaches are not known and, despite the fact that for a long time it was suspected they were the result of a dilation of the blood vessels, Current research now favors alternative explanations. In addition, though there is no sound consensus of opinion, many researchers consider that the condition is a genetic disorder that affects how certain brain chemicals like serotonin act upon the nerve cells.

The complexity in unraveling the mystery of migraine headaches is amplified by the simple fact that migraines come in two different forms.

The first type is called ‘classical migraine’ and is connected with something which professionals call an ‘aura’. This has nothing to do with spiritual fields surrounding the body but refers to the symptoms sufferers experience just before the arrival of a headache. For these migraine victims it is normal to have visual hallucinations like bright spots and flashing lights or even to experience loss of vision immediately before the arrival of a headache.

When these visual symptoms are absent victims suffer from the second class of headaches.

Attempting to pinpoint precisely what causes migraines is anything but easy although data collected over the years might point to the eventual answer. For example, individuals who do not get enough sleep can be at higher risk, as are individuals who have too much sleep which has been linked to a higher incidence. Migraine attacks are also generally linked to eating certain foods such as cheese and to missing meals.

Many researchers also think that some hormonal factors have a bearing on the start and severity of attacks and one piece of evidence to support this is the far higher incidence of migraine headaches among women than men. Indeed, one particular study reported an incidence of 17% in men against only 6% in men. Furthermore, studies have revealed a link between the contraceptive pill and migraines and it is known that Estrogen, which is a major ingredient in birth control pills, has an effect upon blood vessels.

However the list of trigger factors does not end here and simple everyday activities like walking up a flight of stairs or more intensive physical exertion can trigger an attack, as can stress, extremes of cold and heat and flashing lights and loud noises. It has also been noted that migraine headaches occur more often when there is a combination of these triggers present.

Luckily, there are a number of medical treatments available, though none has been shown to be tremendously effective in all cases, and completing a diary of when attacks occur will often help you to identify lifestyle changes which might help in curing migraines. Where lifestyle changes on their own do not do the trick then there are a number of medicines that your doctor can prescribe to help.

TheMigraineHeadacheCenter.com provides migrane headache information including details of migraine treatments

By Donald Saunders Published: 4/24/2008