All about Migraine

Migraine is a condition of the brain characterized by headaches, nausea and changed bodily perceptions. It more frequently happens in women than in men. The word migraine is from a Greek term "hemicrania" meaning half skull and the Old English word "megrim" which means severe headache.

A typical headache caused by this condition is pulsating and unilateral. It lasts from 4 up to 72 hours. The symptoms include, vomiting, nausea, sensitivity to light or photophobia and sensitivity to noise otherwise known as hyperacusis. According to studies, about a third of the people suffering from migraine headache identify and aura which is olfactory and visual that announces the headache.

Causes of Migraine

Initial treatments are analgesics and anti-emetics. Analgesics are for the headache while anti-emetics are for avoiding triggering conditions and nausea. Its primary cause is still unknown. An accepted theory however is a malfunction of the "serotonergic control system" for PET scans verified the aura that corresponds with the transmission of the cortical depression. This results to increased level of blood flow, which is over 300 percent greater than that of the baseline.

There are migraine variants that start off in the brainstem featuring cellular transport dysfunction of potassium and calcium ions. Some others are genetically predisposed. Studies show that twins have a 65 percent chance of genetic influence leading with increasing susceptibility to migraine headache.

Irregular hormone levels could also lead to migraine. Thus we see many women feeling low, heavy, and dizzy just before their period. Pregnant women are also susceptible to severe headaches.

Preventive Treatments for Migraine

Preventive treatment is also known as prophylactic. It may or may not be a significant component of managing migraines. The method involves taking nutritional supplements and certain drugs.

A patient might have to alter his lifestyle to prevent foods or any activity that leads to migraines. The main goal is to significantly reduce the pain, duration and frequency of occurrence.

Migraine Medication

Below is a list of drug class prescriptions effective in curing this condition.

Beta Blockers
This drug class includes atenolol and propranolol. The Cochrane Collaboration held a meta-analysis of 9 crossover studies or controlled trials amounting to 668 patients. They found out that propranolol has a relative risk of treatment response.

Anti-Convulsants
This includes topiramate and valporic acid. Again, the Cochrane Collaboration did a meta-analysis of 10 crossover studies or controlled trials amounting to 1341 patients. They found out that anti-convulsants are twice as likely to experience greater decrease in frequency with anti-convulsants as compared to Beta Blockers and Placebo. Nevertheless, there were some concerns about gabapentin marketing.

Anti-Depressants
A type of anti-depressant is TCA or tricyclic antidepressants. Examples are amitriptyline along with SSRI or "selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors" like fluoxetine. According to Cochrane Collaboration"s meta-analysis, SSRI is not much effective like placebo.

Another study revealed that SSRI is beneficial or effective on patients suffering with tension headache and migraine. Nonetheless, there was not a separate report among the effect of SSRI on patients with only migraine issues.

A wide variety of pharmacological drugs are evaluated so as to know their efficacy in decreasing the severity or frequency of migraine attacks. Evaluated drugs include calcium antagonists, beta-blockers, neurostabilizers, NSAIDs or "nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, SSRIs and tricyclic antidepressants as well as other particular drug therapies.

Autor: Nayan Choure

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Added: October 29, 2009
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/All-about-Migraine/6048~