Explanation about migraine headaches and their possible treatment - Strategies for Staying Healthy. Also refer to symptoms, nausea, vomiting, antidepressants, blood pressure medications, therapy, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions
Migraine Headaches
by Ron Kurtus (revised 18 February 2001)
Of all the headaches that people may get, the migraine headache is the worse. Not only is it more painful than other types of headaches, but it also is more difficult to diagnose and to treat.
Questions you may have include:
- What are the symptoms of a migraine headache?
- What is the cause of a migraine?
- What is the treatment?
This lesson will try to answer those questions about migraines. There is a mini-quiz near the end of the lesson. Health Disclaimer
Symptoms of a migraine
Although a headache can be painful and annoying, a migraine headache can interfere with all of your activities. Symptoms include a long-lasting, intense pain that can almost disable a person.
One indication that a headache is a migraine is severe, throbbing pain, often on one side of the head. Sometimes there is sensitivity to noise and light, and nausea and vomiting may occur. Some migraine sufferers have pre-headache warning signs-called auras. These may include strange smells, arm or leg numbness, or flashing lights or blind spots in their vision.
Not only is it difficult to tell for sure that a headache is a migraine, there are no lab tests to detect migraines. Accurately describing symptoms to a doctor is the only way to get a diagnosis and treatment.
Cause of migraines is unclear
The cause of migraines is unclear, but such factors as lack of sleep or eating certain foods can bring them on.
A headache diary--where the person records the frequency, duration, and intensity of the headaches--can help pinpoint migraine triggers. The person should jot down the symptoms and log what he or she ate, drank, and did just before the headaches came on. A doctor can help determine any migraine triggers to help the patient avoid them.
New drugs may help
Doctors have found that small doses of antidepressants or blood pressure medications can help prevent migraines. Also, drugs called triptans--including sumatriptan and naratriptan--seem to ease the symptoms. Advances in therapy are helping many people turn away from the pain so that they can live normal lives again.
Your physician can analyze your symptoms and prescribe the best course of action to take to help alleviate the problem of migraine headaches.
Summary
Migraines are intense headaches that last for a long time. It is not sure what causes them, but there seem to be factors such as certain food and lack of sleep that can trigger a migraine. A physician can prescribe some medications that may give relief.
Try to cope with pain instead of dwelling on it
Resources
The following are resources on this subject.
Websites
National Headache Foundation - Resources for headache sufferers, along with information on treatment options and support groups.
JAMA Migraine Information Center - Journal of the American Medical Association site has information on headache research, migraine causes, diagnosis, and treatment.
American Council for Headache Education - Current headache news, information, and discussion forums. You can set up your own online headache diary to help your doctor diagnose your condition.
Migraine Awareness Group - The National Migraine Association offers tips for living with migraines, a discussion of treatments, and a section that debunks common migraine myths.
Books
American College of Physicians Home Medical Guide: Migraine and Other Headaches edited by David R. Goldmann, M.D., and David A. Horowitz, M.D., Dorling Kindersley Publishing, 2000, $6.95. A primer on various types of headaches, this book describes causes, symptoms, and remedies.
Top-rated
books on Migraine Headaches
Top-rated
books on General Health
Mini-quiz to check your understanding
If you got all three correct, you are on your way to becoming a Champion in being Healthy. If you had problems, you had better look over the material again.
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Migraine Headaches