Migraines are very common these
days. The migraine is common; suffer a headache at some time in their lives
which may be classified as migraines. Classically the condition starts with
disturbances of vision caused by a constriction of blood vessels supplying oxygen
to the eye. These may include seeing
bright lights zig-zag lines, auras or haloes around bright objects or vision
may be burred or even double. Less commonly, tingling or sensations of numbness
may be experienced in the hands and feet. This stage usually lasts for about 20
minutes. A migraine usually lasts from four to 72 hours if untreated. The
frequency with which headaches occur varies from person to person.
The headache, unbearably oppressive
in nature, often starts on one side of the head and in up to 90 percent of the
cases, is also accompanied by feelings of nausea, if not by actually vomiting.
Migraine seems to run in families about 50% of sufferers can trace and
hereditary factor usually arrives before the age of 40 and afflicts three times
as many as men. While the cause is not yet established the most likely theory
is that it is caused by a blood disorder causing the vessels to spasm and
dilate attacks have been fairly convulsively linked to a number of factors. Migraines
may progress through four stages: prodrome, aura, headache and post-drome,
though you may not experience all stages.
Principal among these are stress
anxiety and tension are common precursors of migraine attacks menstruation and
foods containing nitrite, glutamate and other yet unidentified chemicals. Recent
studies suggest that migraine sufferers maybe unable to metabolize proteins
present in certain foods. Higher levels of these proteins still circulating in
the bloodstream are then thought to act as stimulus of trigger for the attack.
In one study on 500 migraine sufferers the following foods were most
consistently implicated.
1.
Chocolate
2.
Cheese and dairy products
3.
Citrus Fruits
4.
Alcoholic Drinks
5.
Fatty fried foods and vegetables
6.
Tea or Coffee
7.
Meat, Especially pork
8.
Seafood
Moreover, other contributing
factors may include a change in routine, physical or mental fatigue too little
or too much sleep travel, a change in climate or temperature, high winds,
bright glaring sunlight, noise, sleeping tablets, oral contraceptives, hunger,
head injury, high blood pressure, toothache and other pains in the head or
neck. Because migraine is triggered by so many different things and because
each sufferer will have particular sensitivities to some, but not all of these
trigger factors the best preventative course lies in working out which one you
are sensitive to and talking steps to avoid them. An estimates show that 6 to
18 percent of the adult population suffers from recurring migraines (about 6
percent of men and up to 18 percent of women.
Keep a diary or note in your mobile
for a period of at least three months and record your attacks of migraine together
with any associated factors. Hence as the stage of the menstrual cycle, foods
eaten meals missed and particular stresses. You can also help yourself by recognizing
the warning signals that precede an attack and taking appropriate action. Along
with or in place of visual disturbances you may experience dizziness, numbness,
nausea, increased sensitivity to noise or light, unusual energy or hungery,
yawning, trembling, changes in mood and outlook, unusual parlor or an increase
in frequency of passing water. When these occur, do not solider on. Use any of
the relaxation methods i.e. lie down in a darkened room and try to sleep.
If you feel very sick, anti-emetic
drugs, which your doctor can prescribe for you can help. Take soluble aspiring
or paracetamol for the pain and if attacks are severe, consult your doctor. Stronger
analgesics may then be given or occasionally, drugs to reduce the dilation of
the blood vessels and thus to prevent or at least minimize, the headache. But
some of these such as ergotamine do have slid effects over frequent doses leading
to incessant headaches for example and are therefore rarely prescribed. Moreover,
medicines may also support in to alleviate their severity once they have
started as well as supplements, coloured lenses in glasses or contact lenses
and alternative therapies.
