Overview

Migraine is a neurological syndrome characterized by altered bodily experiences, painful headaches, and nausea. It is a common condition which affects women more frequently than it does men.

The typical migraine headache is one-sided and pulsating, lasting 4 to 72 hours. Accompanying complaints are nausea and vomiting, and a heightened sensitivity to bright lights (photophobia) and noise (hyperacusis). Approximately one third of people who experience migraine get a preceding aura, in which a patient may sense a strange light or unpleasant smell. Patients often describe triggers they feel precipitate an episode of migraine, such as certain foods and beverages (like chocolate or alcohol), stress or menstruation. In some migraine types there are typical features but the headache remains absent, and in children abdominal pain may be a prominent feature.

Although the exact cause of migraine remains unknown, the most widespread theory is that it is a disorder of the serotonergic control system. Genetic factors may also contribute. Studies on twins show that genes have a 60 to 65% influence on the development of migraine. Fluctuating hormone levels show a relation to migraine in several ways: three quarters of adult migraine patients are female while migraine affects approximately equal numbers of boys and girls before puberty,[citation needed] and migraine is known to disappear during pregnancy in a substantial number of sufferers.

The treatment of migraine begins with simple painkillers for headache and anti-emetics for nausea, and avoidance of triggers if present. Specific anti-migraine drugs can be used to treat migraine. If the condition is severe and frequent enough, preventative drugs might be considered.

The word migraine is French in origin and comes from the Greek hemicrania, as does the Old English term megrim. Literally, hemicrania means "half (the) head".

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Headaches and Migraines - A Pain Relieving Guide for Evasion and treatment

If there is one problem that has affected almost every human - it"s a headache. Commonly, a headache is a general name for any pain felt in the brain. This ache usually arises owing to a combination of reasons and therefore, it is essential that one knows about these reasons before looking for a cure. Understanding the basis of a headache or migraine can usually assist one in preventing them till a certain period.

Widely speaking, there are four types of headaches -
1. Myogenic - Muscular headache which arises due to strain and tension in muscles.
2. Vascular - These are caused because of an unbalanced blood stream near the brain. Fever headaches and migraines are two of the regular vascular headaches.
3. Inflammatory - These headaches generally result in an enlargement of the head and are triggered by allergies such as common cold, flu, etc.
4. Traction - Such headaches are rare as they are started when nerve fibres are pulled. Brain tumours, cysts, aneurysms, etc are the regular reasons for traction headaches and surgery is necessary for effective treatment.

Migraines - An extreme type of Headaches

Migraines are a baffling kind of headaches and science reasons out a big number of diverse factors which commonly lead to one. A migraine typically contains other problems such as severe sensitivity to light or noise (or both), unclear vision, nausea and general bodily uneasiness. Though the one particular cause of Migraine headaches is still not clear, the general consensus is that they are triggered by chemical irregularities in the brain. However, there are several other factors too which lead to migraine issues such as -

Dietary, Hormonal or medicinal factors - Uneven dietary patterns, certain citrus foods, cheese and even chocolate have been known to set off migraine problems in delicate people. Certain people have to endure such headaches when they are undergoing hormonal modifications or when some pills respond to their expected bodily functions.
Lifestyle or Environmental factors - Watching too much television, listening to noisy music repeatedly, change of place or weather, etc can also lead to painful migraine issues.

Cure for Headaches and Migraine

There are a number of solutions known these days that can successfully cure all types of headaches (over 200!) and even Migraines. These medicines come in the form of natural practices such as oil presses, acupuncture therapy and various stress-busting exercises or recommended pills that are sold over-the-counter. Medicinal pills work most effectively if the ache is mild and not regular as they grant a fast cure. On the other hand, depending on pills for every day headaches can be dangerous as they can trigger brutal side-effects. In such cases, depending on natural therapy is worthwhile as they help in bringing an encouraging change to one"s routine in the long run. Acupuncture is a recommended cure for common headaches and migraine issues. It is said that some points in the body such as the temple are identified for controlling headaches and migraines. soothing these areas can quickly bring about a cure.
Conclusively, if a headache is deep seated, it is sensible to discuss the problem with one"s private physician.


Autor: john jamey wilson

John Wilson is an expert in the field of headaches and migraines and runs an authoritative website also which discusses all the problems associated with headaches and migraines exhaustively.


Added: September 1, 2009
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/Headaches-and-Migraines~

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