It is estimated that approximately 12 million people experience migraines on an almost daily basis. It is also estimated that the majority of those sufferers are women. As sufferers know, migraines aren’t just everyday old headaches, they are an extremely debilitating neurological issue. Migraines include a variety of symptoms generally accompanied by an intense throbbing pain on one side of the head (in few cases both sides are affected).
Some common symptoms of migraines include, nausea, vomiting, aura (“A sensation, as of lights or a current of warm or cold air, preceding an attack of migraine or epilepsy,” as defined by dictionary.com), sensitivity to light, smells, or sound, and numbness or tingling of the extremities or face. Migraines can also cause one or both eyes to lose vision on a temporary basis. However, if you experience permanent vision loss be sure to contact your doctor or go to an emergency room, as this can be a sign of stroke.
The exact cause of migraines is unknown, but research shows that they are related to the contractions of blood vessels in the brain. It has also been suggested that migraines may be hereditary. Migraines are often triggered by some kind of external issue. Doctors have been known to recommend that migraine sufferers keep a diary listing what foods they ate, their sleeping patterns, weather changes, and levels of stress on the day they experienced the migraine. This can help narrow down factors of what is contributing to the onset of a migraine. Some of the foods that are known to trigger migraines include chocolate, cheese, bananas, citrus fruits, and foods with Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) such as, soy sauce, pre-packaged soups and stews, as well as many Chinese and Mexican take out dishes.
It is estimated that you have approximately 20 minutes after the onset of a migraine to administer some sort of abortive medication for treatment before the migraine becomes full blown and debilitating. Chronic (re-occurring) migraines often require a medication taken daily for prevention. Migraine sufferers who have migraines less frequently (a few times a month) generally will not be prescribed an ongoing preventative treatment, but instead an abortive medication therapy used only at the onset of a migraine. Often times chronic migraine sufferers will be prescribed both a preventative medication and an abortive medication. Click here for a list of the abortive and preventative medications out there and how they work courtesy of WebMD.
Many people who are migraine sufferers do not realize that migraines are considered a medical illness and require treatment. Often times migraine sufferers end up being seen in the emergency room for the intense pain when they have not actively been seeking treatment. These emergency room visits can end up being rather costly compared to the cost of prescription medications. While over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol, Excedrin, Aspirin, and Ibuprofen can be somewhat helpful for migraines, they are not recommended for chronic use. It is recommended that if you have been experiencing migraines that you schedule an appointment with a hospital’s neurologist or with you family doctor who is able to refer you to a specialist if necessary.
source: The Migraine Foundation
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