Posts Tagged ‘cause migraine’

6 Migraine Myth-conceptions

Thursday, June 9th, 2011

“It’s just Stress” and other Fallacies

6 MIGRAINE MYTH-CONCEPTIONS,MIGRAVENT

The truth about Migraines

Migraines are debilitating neurological disorder that interferes with daily life, in and outside of the home. Chronic migraine headaches are one of the leading causes of disability, and account for millions of hospital visits to ER every year. Migraine symptoms, such as pulsating head pain, intense nausea and stomach cramping, acute sensitivity to strong scents, loud noise and bright lighting, make life unbearable for the migraine sufferer.

Still, families, friends and coworkers of migraine patients have difficulty relating, as there are many incorrect stereotypes and misconceptions that surround migraine illness, regardless of the best efforts of migraine awareness groups, such as M.A.G.N.U.M. and the World Headache Alliance, and online migraine support sites such as Migraine.com, Help for Headaches and WebMD- Migraines. (See Top 20 Websites for Migraine Headache Patients.)

Below is a list of 6 oft-repeated myths about migraines:

Migraine Myth #1: Migraines are like any other headaches.

Not true. Clenched muscles, usually in the upper back, shoulders, and neck regions, cause tension headaches. Common stress headache pain can range from mild to moderately severe; over-the-counter pain medications are sufficient treatments for the common headache.

Migraine headaches are a neurological illness. Constricted blood vessels cause migraine headaches, and the pain fluctuates between moderate to debilitating. The triggers that cause migraines are numerous: food, weather, stress, hormones, light, scents and sleep disturbances. Only a neurologist who specializes in migraine therapy can recommend proper treatment. Migraine Pop Quiz: How Well do you Understand your Headaches?

Migraine Myth #2: There’s no real cure for migraines.
Actually, there’s no one cure for migraines. Many factors need consideration when finding an effective migraine treatment; the task can sometimes seem fruitless. Don’t let pessimism keep you from finding migraine headache relief. Seek a qualified neurologist who specializes with migraines, and stay informed by frequently visiting online migraine forums and blogs.  Alternative Migraine Treatments: Thinking outside of the Botox

Migraine Myth #3: Stress only triggers stress headaches, not migraines.

Stress is the leading cause of all headaches, including migraines and tension headaches. So how does one tell the difference between a migraine attack and a stress headache? Migraine pain attacks one side of the head only. Tension headaches are described as a tight band circling the head.

Migraine Myth #4: Migraines are associated with mental illness.

There is a high correlation between migraines, depression and anxiety, but that does not mean that all migraine patients have emotional disorders or need antidepressants. There is currently no proof that mental illness of any kind causes migraines. However, one must take into account the emotional strain chronic migraine sufferers experience.  It is common for migraine patients to go through phases or depression, nervousness or anxiety while learning to cope with their condition.  Stop Your Next Panic Attack in 4 Simple Steps

Migraine Myth #5: Migraine attacks always impair your ability to function.

The symptoms of migraines can range from moderate to severe. At its worst, migraine pain can be excruciating to the point that the only option is to take your medication and wait out the storm in a dark, quiet room. The fact that you are able to withstand head pain while running errands, working at the computer or trying to relax doesn’t contradict the nature of migraines, nor does it mean that you must endure the suffering. Top 10 Headache Symptoms that Point to Migraines

Migraine Myth #6: Migraineurs are usually hypochondriacs.

This is probably the most hurtful notion of all, because it forces the migraine sufferer to bear the burden of proof. Short of carrying around a brain scan imaging report, there’s little one can do prove to a skeptic that your headache symptoms are not imaginary. You can’t see a migraine; the debilitating symptoms are unobservable to all except a qualified neurologist. But the proof is available through multiple medical reports, scientific breakthroughs and social statistics.

Read more about migraine stigma and coping mechanisms:

Migraine Sufferer to World: It’s not just a Headache, People!

10 Clues your should Include in your Headache Diary Today

Sources:

http://www.netplaces.com/migraines/migraine-basics/migraine-myths-and-misconceptions.htm

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Migraine or Sinus Headache? Make Sure your Headache Doctor Knows the Difference

Monday, May 9th, 2011

Millions of Americans suffer from migraine headaches, but that number could be larger than we think. While data collected from the American Migraine Study II suggests that 28 million people in the US suffer migraine symptoms, another study points to a large number of cases where migraine pain was misdiagnosed as sinus headache symptoms.

MIGRAINE OR SINUS HEADACHE? MAKE SURE YOUR HEADACHE DOCTOR KNOWS THE DIFFERENCE, WWW.MIGRAVENT.COMAbout 18% of all women are diagnosed with migraines; headache pain is described by 80% of all migraineurs as excruciating, to the point where sufferers are unable to perform even simple daily tasks, interfering with their social lives and job performance. More disturbing, experts believe that less than half of all migraine sufferers will ever be diagnosed with chronic migraines, and an even small number- fewer than 20%- will ever receive prescribed migraine medications for headache relief.

Please read: Migraine Headaches Send Millions to the Emergency Rooms

Some researchers have conducted a study to explain the high rate of misdiagnoses surrounding migraine headaches, pointing to a tendency among patients and some doctors to confuse the symptoms of sinus headaches with those of migraines.

The Sinus, Allergy and Migraine Study (SAMS) was conducted to draw a line of contrast between two headache types: migraines and sinus headaches. Says lead authors, the “majority of those with self-diagnosed sinus headaches have migraines or probable migraines.”

Here are the results of that study:

  • Included in this study were 100 individuals who believed themselves to be suffering from sinus headaches.
  • Participants were asked to fill out questionnaires designed to deduct the level of their headache pain and impairment caused by their headache symptoms.
  • Headache sufferers were also asked if they had any other side effects, such as stuffy nose, watery eyes or flushed skin.
  • All in all, 63% of study participants were eventually diagnosed with chronic migraines, after having previously been diagnosed with sinus headaches.
  • Scientists attributed the wrong diagnoses to miscommunication between the patients and the doctors, in addition to a tendency among some patients to “self-diagnose” their headache symptoms.
  • Triggers which caused migraines included changes in the weather and seasons, allergies and altitude changes.

For more info on headache types, read:

7 Headache Categories:Which Type of Headache do you Have?

Women who get Migraines are also Likely to get This

Sources:

FYI Living, PubMed Gov

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Risk Factors for Migraines

Wednesday, 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.

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Biological Migraine Origins

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

An article in Scientific American (August 2008) attempts to explain the causes of migraines.

People who are prone to migraines may think that they are caused by stress, menstruation, sleep deprivation, exercise, etc. But, these same triggers don’t cause migraines in the majority of the population.

It was believed that a decrease in blood flow causes a migraine. New research, however, shows that immediately prior to the onset of a migraine, blood flow is increased by 300 percent.  When the migraine occurs, surprisingly, there is a normal blood flow.  Does this increased blood flow cause the migraine?

Studies of the aura condition which presents itself prior to the onset of migraines has given scientists a better understanding of migraines. Cortical spreading depression creates this aura. Cortical spreading depression is a minefield of nerve cell activity that occurs in the outer layer of the cortex, in the area of the brain that controls vision.   (This would explain the aura.) This is followed by a resting phase of the neurons.

Area of cortex that controls vision:

It is possible that the increase in blood flow prior to a migraine is necessary to provide the neurons with the energy they need to fire off signals.

Nerve cell activity is maintained by the flow of sodium, potassium and calcium ions across the nerve cell membrane. The gatekeepers of these ions are pumps. Basically, the pumps make sure that a nerve cell at rest has a large amount potassium, but low amounts of sodium and calcium.

In a migraine sufferer, the pumps and channels are defective. Scientists have isolated three genetic mutations that are each capable of being responsible for causing migraines.

Even so, genetics alone do not account for migraines. There are studies of identical twins where one twin will suffer from migraines and the other will not.

We are the manufacturers of Migravent, a dietary supplement that contains magnesium. According to PubMed, studies have shown the effectiveness of magnesium in calming the hyperactive nerve cells of migraine sufferers.

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