April 27th, 2010
As mentioned previously, the best way to manage migraines is to prevent them. Furthermore, it is important to make a list of things that set them off, also referred to as triggers.
In addition to keeping a diary of the things that generated the migraine, it is also important to keep a log of all the treatments you have tried.
Your log should be aimed at answering the following questions:
1. What treatment did you try:
a. Name of medication
b. Prescription or over-the-counter
c. Dosage
d. How often you took it
e. Preventive medicine or taken at migraine onset?
f. Were there any unpleasant side effects?
2. Did you try an alternate method, such as
a. Bathing
b. Massage
c. Chiropractic treatment
d. Acupuncture
3. On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the effectiveness of this method of treatment in either preventing the migraine or treating it?
4. If the medication was meant to treat an existing migraine, how quickly did it relieve the pain?
Keeping an accurate log of the treatments that you have tried and their effectiveness will enable your doctor will to develop a treatment plan suited for your migraines.
Tags: manage migraines, migraine and diary, migraine and prevention, migraine log, migraine treatment
Posted in Migraines | No Comments »
April 22nd, 2010
Proper management of migraines includes migraine prevention. For some people, the easiest way to prevent a migraine is to keep track of things that set it off, commonly referred to as triggers.
Keeping a diary of common triggers can help a person prevent future migraines, according to Dr. E. A. MacGregor. (The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health; http://rsh.sagepub.com; February, 1992).
The triggers consist of various foods and activities that have been known to bring on migraines.
The following is a list of the most common triggers according to Dr. E. A. MacGregor:
- Foods: cheese, chocolate, citrus fruits
- Drinks: alcoholic beverages and caffeinated drinks
- hunger
- lack of sleep
- hormonal changes in women
- neck and back pain
- over-exercising
- environmental disruptions – loud noises, bright lights and strong stenches
- long trips
- general stress
According to Dr. E. A. MacGregor, his patients have claimed that sometimes a specific trigger will cause a migraine to occur, and sometimes this same one will not. Frequently, a multitude of triggers will trigger a migraine in one person, but an individual trigger will not. The “attack threshold” is defined as the point at which a combination of triggers will create a migraine. Obviously, this attack threshold is not the same for everyone.
People who are prone to migraines are advised keep a daily diary. In addition to keeping a log of the individual triggers, he/she should also pay close attention to when the migraine took place and its severity. Doing so may enable a person to manage the migraines without the aid of drugs.
Tags: alcoholic beverages, caffeinated drinks, citrus fruits, daily diary, diary, lack of sleep, migraine diary, migraine management, migraine prevention, migraine trigger, person, Promotion, Society, trigger
Posted in Migraines | No Comments »
April 12th, 2010
There are migraine symptoms that may indicate a more serious medical condition. The following is a list of migraine symptoms that require a visit to a doctor:
One: A very sudden headache that gets progressively worse, and may include nausea, vomiting or dizziness (may be caused by a stroke).
Two: A spontaneous headache that is worse than any other headache (may be caused by an aneurysm).
Three: Terrible headaches that start after age 50.
Four: Headaches that are followed by impaired memory or balance, dizziness, numbness or tingling in extremities (may be caused by a stroke).
Five: Headaches that get worse with coughing or sneezing (may be an infection in the brain).
Six: Headache that sets in following an injury to the head (may be caused by a hemorrhage).
Seven: Headaches that are present simultaneously with a fever (may be caused by spinal meningitis).
Eight: A pulsating pain around the eye that may spread to the ear or neck and is not alleviated by pain medication (may indicate a blood clot).
If you are unsure as to whether or not your headaches are indicative of a dangerous medical issue or just an ordinary migraine, you should see a neurologist to be safe.
Tags: condition, Headaches, migraine and symptoms, migraine symptoms, nausea vomiting, Pain, serious medical condition, sudden headache, Symptoms, tingling in extremities, visit
Posted in Migraines | No Comments »
March 24th, 2010
Millions of people suffering from chronic headaches take medications that lead to rebound headaches. Basically, the pain-relieving medications themselves are capable of triggering subsequent headaches that are worse in duration and severity as a result, also known as “rebound headaches.”
Two million Americans will suffer from rebound headaches, according to Dr. Seymour Diamond from the National Headache Foundation
Dr. Diamond points out that caffeine, found in Excedrin Migraine, acts as a vasoconstrictor. This means that it constricts blood vessels to relieve headache pain. However, when the caffeine wears off, the pain comes back stronger than it was originally.
People generally view over-the-counter pain relievers as harmless, and use them more often. But, the usage of a pain reliever at least three times a day can cause the rebound effect.
Some of the culprits, ironically, are prescription medications that are also capable of reproducing the rebound effect. These include Esgic and Fioricet; Cefergot and Ergomar; Zomig and Imitrex. Other non-prescription medications that may also trigger the rebound effect include ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and aspirin.
Why do these drugs lead to intensified headaches? It’s because taking these drugs too often decreases serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter in the brain that controls a person’s mood. When serotonin is decreased, it generates an increase of even more painful headaches, and creates the possibility of migraines.
Those suffering from rebound headaches should speak to their doctors to find out what specifically is causing them.
Tags: rebound headaches, rebound headaches and acetaminophen, rebound headaches and aspirin, rebound headaches and caffeine, rebound headaches and ibuprofen, rebound headaches and imitrex, rebound headaches and migraines
Posted in Migraines | No Comments »
March 18th, 2010
Research has shown that butterbur is an effective remedy for migraines. This supplement prevents migraines as well as prescription drugs, but without the side effects.
The common butterbur (Petasites hybridus) is a perennial plant that is found in Europe and northern Asia. Its pale pink flowers blossom in early spring. The source for the migraine remedy is the extract of the butterbur root.
Traditional medications recommended by doctors for migraines entail the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including aspiring and ibuprofen. Prescription drugs, such as Imitrex, are often required. Prescription medications often induce nausea, muscle weakness, dizziness and drowsiness. The worst part is that these drugs don’t prevent the migraine from recurring the following day.
Some doctors prescribe medications that prevent migraines, but these have their own side effects as well. The antidepressant Amitriptyline, for example, causes weight gain.
In comparison, the extract of the butterbur root is prevents migraines with no side effects. Butterbur is a natural anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxant dietary supplement. The effective components of butterbur are isopetasin, oxopetasin and petasin. These active ingredients of butterbur prevent migraines by triggering the smooth muscle lining of the cerebral blood vessel walls to relax. Furthermore, the petasins of butterbur are anti-inflammatory agents.
Clinical studies have shown that a dosage of 50-75 mg of butterbur twice a day over four months effectively prevents migraines. Therefore, it is advisable that any homeopathic remedy for migraines should contain this valuable ingredient.
Tags: butterbur root, migraine butterbur, migraine remedy
Posted in Migraines | No Comments »
March 15th, 2010
A new migraine cure has been discovered by Richard B. Lipton and colleagues at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. It was specifically developed for migraine sufferers who experience an aura (sensation of lights) immediately prior to the onset of the migraine.
Researchers have found that the aura is caused by a wave of electrical activity in the brain, followed by a stage known as cortical spreading depression. It is during this stage that the pain sets in.
The migraine cure is a hand-held magnetic device that emits a magnetic pulse to the cranium in order to prevent the onset of the migraine.
This study involved 201 patients. Some were given the real magnetic device, and some were given a sham device.
Four out of ten people using the real magnetic device experienced relief from their migraines, which is not a high percentage, especially when you consider that two out of ten people using the sham device claimed to have relief of migraine pain. The other problem is that not every person suffering from migraines experiences the aura beforehand.
The good news is that there were no side effects from the device, in contrast to many migraine medications which do cause side effects.
In conclusion, further research needs to be done to see if this device would help more migraine sufferers when combined with medications.
This study was published in The Lancet Neurology (April, 2010).
Tags: cortical spreading depression, migraine and aura, migraine cure
Posted in Migraines | No Comments »
March 9th, 2010
Migraines and riboflavin deficiency are linked with each other, as stated by Dr. Tonia M. Sabo, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology at the University of Colorado.
Riboflavin levels were taken of 17 children ages 5 to 18 who were suffering from migraines. The Erythrocyte Glutathione Reductase (EGR) test was used to measure riboflavin levels. Participants were classified as deficient if their EGR was below 90% of the suggested range, and were classified as low if their EGR was below 80% of this.
All pediatric migraine subjects in the study were assumed to have sufficient nutritional stores. Even so, 47% of these children were found to be deficient in riboflavin, and an additional 11% of the participants were found to be low in riboflavin.
As a result of this study, Dr. Sabo believes that the problem may lie in the metabolism of certain nutrients, which places these children at risk for migraines. Riboflavin is essential for proper metabolism, and therefore a lack of this vitamin seems to lead to migraines.
It was concluded from this study that increasing the intake of riboflavin may be an alternative remedy for those suffering from migraines.
Tags: low riboflavin, migaines and riboflavin, migraine remedy, pediatric migraines, riboflavin deficiency, Tonia M. Sabo
Posted in Migraines | No Comments »
March 3rd, 2010
The primary risk factor of migraines is genetics. Researchers have found that 70% to 80% of people with this condition have a family history of migraines.
Migraines affect more women than men. Nearly 75% of people afflicted are women. There seems to be some correlation between female hormones and migraines. Examples of such hormones are estrogen and progesterone. Throughout a woman’s cycle, levels of these hormones increase and decrease, and cause migraines in those who are migraine-prone.
About 5 – 10% of children suffer from migraines. In contrast to adults, boys and girls suffer equally, but are less likely to have migraines when they reach adulthood. Some girls experience migraines more frequently after puberty, but puberty is not the cause of migraines.
The majority of people suffering from migraines are between 15 and 55 years of age.
There are medical conditions that have a tendency to be present in people with migraines. These include depression, epilepsy, anxiety, high blood presser and stroke. They do not cause migraines nor do they increase the likelihood of a person developing a migraine. Yet, these problems may accompany migraines.
Tags: cause migraine, cause migraines, cause migrane, causes migraines, migran, risk factors for migraines, risk factors of migraines
Posted in Migraines | No Comments »
February 24th, 2010
Some migraines can be indicative of a more serious medical condition. Here is a list of symptoms that would necessitate a visit to a doctor:
- A very sudden headache that gets progressively worse, and may include nausea, vomiting or dizziness (may be caused by a stroke).
- A spontaneous headache that is worse than any other headache (may be caused by an aneurysm).
- Terrible headaches that start after age 50.
- Headaches that are followed by impaired memory or balance, dizziness, numbness or tingling in extremities (may be caused by a stroke).
- Headaches that get worse with coughing or sneezing (may be an infection in the brain).
- Headache that sets in following an injury to the head (may be caused by a hemorrhage).
- Headaches that are present simultaneously with a fever (may be caused by spinal meningitis).
- A pulsating pain around the eye that may spread to the ear or neck and is not alleviated by pain medication (may indicate a blood clot).
Those who suffer from migraines may benefit from Migravent, a dietary supplement made specifically for migraines.
Tags: condition, headache, Headaches, list, Migraine, Migraines, migrane, migranes, nausea vomiting, Pain, pain medication, serious medical condition, sudden headache, tingling in extremities, visit
Posted in Migraines | No Comments »
February 15th, 2010
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine conducted a study of migraine sufferers (Neurology; February 2010). Questionnaires were given to over 6,000 people with migraines and over 5,000 people without. The results indicated a strong correlation between migraines and cardiovascular risk.
Richard B. Lipton and his colleagues found that those who suffered from aura (visual hallucinations) and migraines were three times as likely to experience heart attacks as those without migraines. Furthermore, migraine sufferers were more likely to have diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, all of which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
One of the implications of this study is that doctors need to be aware of a migraine sufferer’s potential health risks, not only quality of life issues.
Tags: Migraine, migraine and aura, Migraine and cardiovascular disease, migraine and cholesterol, migraine and diabetes, migrane, migranes, Migranes and heart attack
Posted in Migraines | No Comments »
|
