Migraine

A migraine is a very painful type of headache. People who get migraines often describe the pain as pulsing or throbbing in one area of the head. During migraines, people are very sensitive to light and sound. They may also become nauseated and vomit.

Migraine is three times more common in women than in men. Some people can tell when they are about to have a migraine because they see flashing lights or zigzag lines or they temporarily lose their vision.

Many things can trigger a migraine. These include

Anxiety
Stress
Lack of food or sleep
Exposure to light
Hormonal changes (in women)

Doctors used to believe migraines were linked to the opening and narrowing of blood vessels in the head. Now they believe the cause is related to genes that control the activity of some brain cells. Medicines can help prevent migraine attacks or help relieve symptoms of attacks when they happen. For many people, treatments to relieve stress can also help.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Migraine on Wikipedia

'''Migraine''' is a form of headache, usually very intense and disabling. It is a neurologic diseases disease of neuronal origin. The word "migraine" comes from the Greek language construction ''hemikranion'' (pain affecting one side of the head) [http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=migraine&r=67].

Symptoms

Migraine is characterized by attacks of moderate or severe pain and must include one of the following: pain on only one side of the head (anatomy), nausea, vomiting, photophobia and phonophobia, or pain worst with movement. The symptoms and their timing vary considerably among migraine sufferers, and to a lesser extent from one migraine attack to the next. Migraine had been thought to be caused by vasodilation in the head and neck, however newer research suggests the cause of the pain itself is from activation of the trigeminal nerve. The trigger of the migraine may be overactivity of nerve cells in certain areas of the brain (for example, the raphe nucleus). Dilation of the blood vessels is now known to be caused from chemicals released from nerve terminals and inflammatory cells. '''Classical migraine''' or '''migraine with aura''' is preceded by a group of specific symptoms called aura, most commonly experienced as a visual disturbance. '''Common migraine''' or '''migraine without aura''', in contrast, lacks this specific warning. Many migraine patients will experience a prodrome, a vague sensation that things are just not right that may precede the headache by several hours. Some experience aura without migraine, a condition formerly called amigrainous migraine and usually called acephalic migraine. Although sometimes comparable in severity, the symptoms of migraine differ from those of cluster headache. The most common aura preceding a migraine attack is a multicolored zig-zag pattern which grows from a small dot until it covers a large part of the left or right ... [ Read More ]

External Resources

Run With the Wolves.com - Eclectic collection of love poetry, humor, migraine headache information, and babyboomer nostalgia.

Migraines and More Conquered - Advertises HET Inversion method for conquering migraines or other ailments without drugs or medicines.

The Myofascial Syndrome Its Causes and Treatment - Dr. Brodie-Brockwell. Book explains that dental problems may cause migraines.

Life Beyond Headaches - Resolving the root cause of chronic recurrent headaches and migraines by a Natural Health Specialist. Includes chapter samples.

No More Headaches, No More Migraines - An easy-to-follow program to avoid the pain of migraine headaches, based on recent clinical research at Loma Linda University.

A Guided Tour of Hell - Migraine sufferers speak about their illness and its affect on their lives. Kristine Hatak.

The Light Therapy Center - Light therapy devices and equipment for use in treating migraines, seasonal affective disorder, pre-menstrual syndrome, and pain management. Includes expected benefits for various conditions.

Noromaa Solutions - Sound and visual stimulation for relaxation and meditation, self-hypnosis, and alleviation of headaches and migraines.

Therapeutic Aromas - Non-topical oils to treat migraines, stop snoring, lose weight and other conditions using fragrance.

Woobeys - Therapeutic herbal pillows to help with sore muscles, migraines, and stress.

Migraine

Migraine on Wikipedia

Symptoms

External Resources

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