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Posts Tagged ‘migraine symptoms’

Migraine Comorbidity is not a Death Sentence

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

The term sounds scarier than it’s meant to be- migraine comorbidity. Comorbid illnesses are any conditions that occur at the same time. Depression and migraines are comorbid disorders, just like migraines and fibromyalgia. Sometimes, the reasons for migraine comorbidities are clear; other times, they require some scientific inquiry.

The definition of migraine comorbidity

Literally, comorbidity means any diseased condition that comes along with another. Medically speaking, comorbidity is the presence of one (or more) diseases or conditions in addition to a primary disease or condition. Migraine comorbidities are any conditions outside of migraine symptoms that occur frequently with migraine sufferers.

Migraine comorbidity may happen for many reasons:

Shared genetic risk factors may cause you to have neurological illnesses together, such as migraines and epilepsy.
An underlying disorder may be the root cause of two secondary conditions, such as migraines headaches and depression caused by serotonin activity.
Shared environmental risk factors influence migraine comorbidity, such as seizure and headache resulting from head trauma.
One condition may cause the other. Migraine attacks cause nausea and diarrhea, resulting in gastrointestinal disorders.
Lastly, conditions comorbid with migraine disorder may be coincidence.

Are Migraines linked with Epileptic Seizures? It’s Genetics

Why are migraine comorbidities important?

Understanding migraine comorbidities help us to understand migraines- why they happen, and how to treat them. For example, by connecting two seemingly unrelated conditions together, like migraines and epilepsy, scientists discovered that certain drugs for epilepsy (Topamax) could be used to prevent migraines.

On the flip side, comorbid conditions like depression may hinder our understanding of migraines by producing a cyclic relationship. (Does depression cause chronic pain, or does migraine disorder make you depressed?)

Overcoming Social Isolation in Migraine Disorder

Acknowledging migraine comorbidities helps your doctor decide which migraine treatments to prescribe, and which migraine drugs to avoid. Knowing that a migraine patient also suffers from cardiovascular disease is a valuable tool in diagnosing migraine causes.

What are common migraine comorbidities?

The list of ailments that occur with migraines is long- here are some of the most frequent conditions that are comorbid with migraines:

Mental health: depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and bipolar disorder
Neurological: epilepsy, essential tremor, Meniere’s disease
Cardiovascular: stroke, heart attack, congenital heart defects, hypertension, Raynaud’s disease, mitral valve prolapse, and patent foramen ovale
Autoimmune: asthma, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and allergies
Gastrointestinal: IBS, gluten intolerance, celiac disease, chronic vomiting, diarrhea, nausea
Nocturnal: bruxism, sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and insomnia

Please tell us…

Do you have a migraine comorbidity that is not on this list? Are there any conditions mentioned here that you didn’t know correlated with migraines?

We welcome sharing! If you liked this article, let us know by commenting and sharing with your friends!

What good is a migraine diary?

A migraine diary is a valuable patient-doctor tool. If you see a headache specialist or neurologist regularly, then you need to keep him updated on your progress with migraine treatments. Instead of committing it all to memory, take a few minutes each day to write down important details like dosage information, headache severity, and foods you ate that day. Include as much information as possible- what might seem like a trivial detail to you could be an important clue to your doctor in determining your migraine triggers and finding you the right migraine remedy.

Migraine journals help you trace your triggers. There are hundreds of migraine triggers in this world, from food ingredients, to hormonal fluctuations, to the weather. Trying to solve the migraine trigger mystery can be overwhelming and time consuming. The best way to make sense of your migraine symptoms is to take a scientific approach, by logging into your migraine diary every day. In a few months, you will have a day-to-day chronicle of your migraines- how often they strike, how long they last, and how many migraine-free days you had. In time, you and your doctor will be able to piece together this information and gain a better understanding of your migraine brain.

Does stress cause migraine headaches?

Don’t confuse the trigger with the gun. It’s important to note that migraine triggers like stress don’t directly cause headaches; rather, they set the stage for a migraine attack to occur. Stress doesn’t cause migraines any more than it causes heart palpitations or alcoholism. The more migraine triggers you have, the more likely you are to have a migraine attack. And the more stress you have in your life, the more likely you are to suffer from hypertension, depression, and anxiety. In order to keep migraine frequency to a minimum, you must identify all your migraine triggers and eliminate them, whenever possible.

What details should I include in my migraine diary?

A complete migraine diary contains a brief history of your migraines and a daily/monthly checklist.

The National Headache Foundation advises noting the following in your migraine history:

Earliest age when you first started having migraines
Frequency of your migraines, including times of day, days per week, and duration
Location of pain
Words you would use to describe your head pain
Correlation with menstrual cycle
Any known triggers, like foods, lights, scents, weather changes, temperature, activities, eating habits, sleep schedule, etc.
Symptoms that precede your migraine headaches
Family history of migraines
Any strange symptoms like migraine aura- visual disturbances, partial blindness, olfactory hallucinations
Variations in headache types

A monthly migraine checklist contains specific information, including:

Actual time your migraine started and ended
Pain intensity
Complete symptoms, like nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, etc.
All medications taken that day, in what amounts
Effectiveness of medication
Mood before headache
Level of disability because of migraine
How much sleep you had the night before
Foods you ate before the migraine
Stressful events that occurred that day
Menstrual period
Any extra comments that might be useful later

Where can I download a migraine diary template?

The internet is loaded with excellent resources for migraineurs. If you have an iPod, iPhone, or iPad, then you have your choice of dozens of migraine diary apps on iTunes. Read this- Manage your Migraines from your iPad or iPhone- Five Useful Tips

If you’re more old school, then download this excellent Migraine and Headache Diary Workbook from Help for Headaches.com.

Please tell us…

Have you been successful in tracking down migraine triggers by using a migraine diary? Were you able to find a better treatment for your migraines because of it? If you know anybody else who suffers from migraines, please share this post!

Migraines attack the whole body- not just the head

People who have never experienced a migraine attack mistakenly believe that it’s just like a headache, only stronger. Nothing could be further from the truth! First, daily headaches like tension headaches are caused by stressed, tense muscles. Migraine headaches occur in the brain when your nervous system misinterprets certain migraine triggers as pain messages. Migraine disorder is classified as a neurological disease.

Some of the symptoms of migraines include:

Sharp, severe head pain on one side of that head that lasts for several hours or days
Intense nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea
Migraine aura, consisting of strange visual hallucinations, olfactory hallucinations, temporary partial blindness, temporary partial paralysis, speech irregularities, altered sense of spatial awareness and time, loss of consciousness, and inability to communicate with or comprehend other people.
Hypersensitivity to things like bright lights, loud noises, and strong scents

Overcoming Social Isolation in Migraine Disorder

Suicide risk with migraine disorder

Researchers point to a high correlation of emotional problems in migraine headache sufferers to explain for a higher-than-average suicide rate.

The suicide rate in migraine patients is higher than that in the general population. Out of all migraine sufferers, females who experience migraines with aura (MA) have the highest suicide rate.
People who have the most severe and frequent migraine attacks are more likely to contemplate suicide.
People who get migraines without aura (MwoA) are just as likely to contemplate suicide as those who suffer migraines with aura (MA), but they are less likely to act upon suicide ideation.
There is no significant suicide risk in people who suffer from chronic daily headaches (CDH).

Killer Migraines Might be Fatal after All- Mortality Rates among Migraine Sufferers

Depression is comorbid with migraines

Most chronic migraine sufferers battle with more than the migraine symptoms alone- they also have to contend with major depression and other emotional disorders.

In one study, about 26% of people who suffered from bipolar disorder also experienced frequent migraine attacks.
Migraine with aura patients are more likely to suffer multiple anxiety disorders, recurrent depression, and hypomania, compared with migraineurs who don’t experience aura.
Scientists speculate that various dysfunctions in the brain (like bipolar disorder) produce other brain dysfunctions like depression, seizures, and migraines with aura.

Migraine medications may raise suicide risk

There is some evidence that anticonvulsants meant to treat epilepsy, but also prescribed as a migraine treatment, may contribute to the high suicide rate among migraineurs.

Compared with topiramate (Topamax), the following migraine drugs are associated with high suicidal tendencies:

Gabapentin (Neurontin)- 40% higher than Topamax
Lamotrigine (Lamictal)
Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal)
Tiagabine (Gabitril)

In a study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), nearly 300,000 people who suffer from migraines, chronic pain, bipolar disorder, and epilepsy began taking one of 13 anticonvulsants. None of the participants had any history of suicidal behavior.

After approximately 180 days, 26 patients committed suicide, and 801 attempted suicide.

Gabapentin, which is associated with the highest risk of suicide, is also one of the most frequently prescribed anticonvulsants for migraines (48%), followed by Topiramate (19.4%), Lamotrigine (7.5%), and Valproate (6.2%).

Tip #1: Make your own app- it’s easy!

Here’s a dilemma- you want to keep up with your favorite migraine blogs from the convenience of your iPhone home screen, but…there’s no app for that! If only you could just paste an icon onto your home screen that would take you straight to the pages that you use most. Well, you can, and it’s simple.

Go to your favorite page. For example, let’s make an icon for the Migravent order page.

Click on the arrow at the bottom of the screen.

Now, choose “Add to Home Screen.”

The official title of the home page is Vita Sciences but you can change it to Migravent; just remember to keep it short and easy to identify.

That’s it! Now you have a shiny new custom-designed icon on your home page that you can’t get at the iTunes store. You can use this great trick for any website. Use it for pages that you use often, or just for something that you want quick access to in case of emergency. Pretty nifty, huh?

Tip #2: Set up pill reminders!

The iTunes app store offers lots of daily reminders that are inexpensive. You can track everything from your menstrual period, to your migraine triggers, to your bills. Sure, you could buy a pill reminder for 99-cents, but why bother? Your iPhone already came with an excellent calendar, and it’s just humming to remind you to take your migraine medications, vitamin supplements, or to order a new bottle of Migravent! You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to program it, either. Here’s how:

Go to your calendar. Click the “+” sign at the top right corner to add an event. (Question: When did remembering to take your migraine treatment become an event? Answer: When you found the one that gets rid of your migraines!)

Okay. Type in all the important details, like the name of the migraine remedy (Migravent), repeat sequence (daily), and the specific times you want to get your reminder. Steve Jobs must have foreseen that chronic pain patients would need to use this, because he cleverly programmed two alerts to remind you to take your meds; one initial reminder, and then another one, in case you missed the first warning because you were busy beating your head against the wall…

And here’s your gentle reminder to take your Migravent!

Tip #3: Find free migraine apps on iTunes!

iHeadache- The name says it all. This clever app helps you keep track of your migraine triggers with their innovative migraine headache diary.

10 Clues your should Include in your Headache Diary Today

The WebMD iPhone app offers valuable up-to-date medical information in the same practical, easily accessed format as viewed on their website. Check on the latest in migraine research, painkillers, and chronic pain symptoms.

20 iPad Apps for Migraine Sufferers

Tip #4: Google Map your nearest pharmacies!

Google Maps is another excellent iPhone tool for people who don’t have the time…or the opportunity to run to their desktop every time they need to locate their nearest pain clinic, ER, or 24-hour pharmacy.

If Walgreens is your pharmacy of choice, then store their address in your contacts file. Google Maps can access any of your contacts from the search bar- Just click on the little blue book icon.

Tip #5: Follow migraine groups on Twitter!

Finally, you don’t like to be in the dark. 24-7, people are talking about things that importantly impact your life; things like Overcoming Social Isolation in Migraine Disorder or 34 Migraine-Inducing, Stomach-Turning Toxic Chemicals in Perfume.

You want to join in on the conversation, and be “in the know,” right? The best way to do that is to follow them on Twitter. This way, if the FDA decides to ban your one and only migraine medication, like butterbur supplements, you can be among the first to Occupy Migraine Research. ;-)

Learn more about migraine headaches, migraine awareness, and more:

Why do Migraines cause Nausea and Vomiting?

Killer Migraines Might be Fatal after All- Mortality Rates among Migraine Sufferers

What are the Signs of Migraine Attack? 30 Migraine Symptoms

Tags: chronic pain, chronic pain management, Migraine apps, migraine medications, migraine remedy, migraine symptoms, migraine symptoms app, migraine treatment, migraine triggers, Migraines, migravent, Vita Sciences Migravent
Posted in Migraine Medication | No Comments »

Migraine Symptoms throughout the Ages- Not a Whole Lot has changed

Wednesday, January 11th, 2012

If you’ve ever fantasized about drilling a hole in your head to get rid of migraine symptoms, know that you are not alone, and that you are not the first. Since prehistoric times, migraine attacks have caused immense agony, driving sufferers to try shocking, and often dangerous, experiments to end the constant nausea, vomiting, and excruciating migraine headaches.

Don’t try this at home

Archeologists believe that the first migraine treatment might have been trepanation, the drilling of holes into the skull to find relief from migraines (and sometimes life itself). Cave paintings and skull remains from 9,000 years ago suggest that early man believed that boring a hole into your head would cure migraine headaches, in addition to epileptic seizures, and mental disorders. So convinced (and desperate) were migraine sufferers to find relief from debilitating headaches and nausea, that trepanation continued to be the migraine treatment of choice until as recently as 17^th century Europe.

Killer Migraines Might be Fatal after All- Mortality Rates among Migraine Sufferers

Other bizarre (and horrifying) treatments for migraines have included brandishing hot irons to the head, bloodletting, inserting of garlic into an incision made in the temple, and witchcraft.

Ancient Greeks were nauseated by migraines

Hippocrates must have suffered migraines with aura back in 400 BC. He vividly described typical migraine attacks, from the first symptoms of aura- strange hallucinations, nausea, and disorientation, to pulsating head pain, and then the relief from vomiting. Ancient Greek physician Galen of Pergamon coined the term “hemicrania” (half-head) to describe the crippling headaches, which was later translated as “migraine.” Like other contemporary philosophers, he deduced that migraine symptoms like vomiting, queasiness, stomach cramps, and lightheadedness confirmed a connection between the stomach and the brain in migraine illness.

Migraine triggers remain the same

In the Middle Ages, scientists and philosophers identified certain migraine triggers as being the source of migraine attacks. Early physicians recognized extreme light sensitivity, migraine food triggers, and hormonal changes that afflict women during pregnancy, menstruation, and menopause as common migraine triggers. Today, scientists confirm over 100 migraine triggers, including food, hormones, weather, air pressure, and lifestyle habits.

Avoiding Migraine Triggers- Here, There and Everywhere

Migraine stigma today

Famous author and migraine sufferer Joan Didion got it right when she said, “That no one dies of migraine seems, to someone deep into an attack, an ambiguous blessing.”

Migraines strike millions of people today, and experts still disagree on exactly what causes migraines and how to treat them. The most widely held belief today is that migraines are neurological, that inflammatory chemicals in the brain interact with your nerves and blood vessels, triggering a migraine attack. But as any migraineur knows, the ramifications of migraine disorder extend beyond the mere physical pain symptoms. Migraine patients often suffer depression and anxiety, as family members, friends, and employers fail to recognize their symptoms as a disability, and continue to refer to their migraines as “another headache.”

December 1993- woman dies of migraine symptoms

Amanda Livingstone, age 25, went to two different doctors, complaining of severe headache, uncontrolled vomiting, and visual distortions. Both times, doctors diagnosed her with migraine headaches and instructed her to take painkillers. After one week of debilitating headaches, Amanda went into a coma and died of brain hemorrhage. Had doctors ordered a brain scan, she might be alive today.

October 2011- woman dies of migraine symptoms

In Malaga, Spain, prosecutors are investigating the death of a 30-year-old woman who had been receiving treatments for migraines and hypertension for the past year. On October 13, after numerous visits to the hospital and referrals to migraine specialists, she died of brain hemorrhage. Had doctors ordered a brain scan, she might also be alive today.

Studies confirm high mortality rate among migraine sufferers

According to numerous scientific studies, there is a high correlation between migraine with aura and increased risk for stroke and heart disease.

University of Iceland study, 2010

The following study on migraine with aura included over 18,000 men and women from Reykjavik, Iceland, and followed them for a 40-year period.

Scientists categorized headache symptoms into three groups- migraine with aura, migraine without aura, and non-migraine headaches.
By the end of the study, over 10,000 participants had died.
Out of the 10,000 fatalities, approximately 4,000 resulted from cardiovascular illness.
Compared with non-headache sufferers, patients of migraine with aura have a higher mortality rate, and are more likely to die of heart attack or stroke, say researchers.
Sufferers of migraines without aura and non-migraine headaches are no more likely to die of stroke or heart disease than individuals who don’t get chronic headaches at all.
Scientists concluded that migraine auras are the most common risk factor among headache sufferers.

Harvard University study, 2011

This more recent study on migraines and mortality determined that people who suffer migraines with aura have a higher mortality risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and coronary heart disease (CHD). The same researcher, Dr. Tobias Kurth, also determined in his study on Migraine and stroke that women who suffer active migraine with aura are twice as likely to suffer hemorrhagic stroke as women who get migraine headaches without the prodrome phase that includes aura.

What are the symptoms of stroke and heart attack?

If you suffer from chronic migraine headaches, then health experts recommend you familiarize yourself with the symptoms of stroke and heart attack, so that you may recognize the beginning stages head-on and seek emergency care immediately.

To determine if somebody is suffering from a stroke, think FAST:

Face: Ask the person in question to smile- is one side of the face looks droopier than the other side, that person might be having a stroke. Numbness may occur on one side of the body in the face, arms, and legs.
Arms: Ask her to hold up both arms, and note if one arm drifts downward. Loss of coordination, dizziness, and difficulty walking are symptoms of stroke.
Speech: Is his speech garbled, nonsensical, or incomprehensible? Stroke victims may have difficulty understanding what people are saying and communicating with them. (Note- speech difficulties are also a symptom of migraine aura.)
Time: Take note of the time when first symptoms occurred, and call 911 emergency services right away. An FDA-approved medication may prevent long-term damage, but only if a doctor is available to administer it during the first three hours of symptoms.

Prevent Suffering a Stroke- Follow these 5 Simple Rules

Heart attack symptoms:

Chest pain that may also spread to the rest of the upper body, including face, shoulders, back, and arms
Stomach pain that mimics heartburn
Shortness of breath
Anxiety
Dizziness
Sweating
Nausea and vomiting

If you suspect you might be suffering a heart attack, but don’t have all of the symptoms described, call 911 anyways. Not all heart attack sufferers experience all the symptoms at the same level of severity.

Prevention

The best way to prevent suffering heart disease or stroke is by lowering your risks. If you smoke, then quit. Exercise regularly, even for just 30 minutes each day, and at a comfortable pace. If you’re significantly overweight, then try to control your weight by following a sensible diet. Keep checking your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. If you suffer from depression or anxiety, then seek treatment; not only will you feel better, but the decreased stress will also lower your mortality rate.

Read more about migraine symptoms:

When Migraine Aura with Aphasia leaves you Lost for Words

Avoiding Migraine Triggers- Here, There and Everywhere

Wear a Medical Emergency ID- Save your Breath and your Sanity

Sources:

Migraine and mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis- PubMed- NCBI

Migraine with aura and risk of cardiovascular and all cause mortality in men and women: prospective cohort study- PubMed- NCBI

Migraine and stroke: a complex association with clinical implications- PubMed- NCBI

Woman died after migraine diagnosis

Probe into death of woman diagnosed with migraine

Migraine With Aura Linked to Increased Mortality From Stroke and Heart Disease

National Stroke Association: Stroke Symptoms

Heart attack symptoms: Know what’s a medical emergency

Image credits, from top:

OrdinaryExtraordinary, Deborah Leigh (Migraine Chick), quinn.anya, 19melissa68, Micah Taylor, ANDI2..

Tags: chronic headaches, Migraine, migraine headache, migraine heart attack, migraine mortality, migraine stroke, migraine symptoms, migraine with aura, Migraines hypertension, migraines with aura, Prodome
Posted in Migraine Headache Symptoms | No Comments »

When Migraine Aura with Aphasia leaves you Lost for Words

Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

Complex migraine with aura, like the basilar migraine, causes stroke-like symptoms that literally take your words away- aphasia is one of several disturbing symptoms of migraine aura. Learn all about aphasic migraine causes and treatments.

A migraine attack is not just a headache

Millions of people suffer debilitating migraine headaches, but few non-migraineurs understand that the throbbing headache, as disabling as it is, is one of many migraine symptoms. When migraine attacks strike, they often cause stomach-clenching nausea, uncontrolled vomiting, diarrhea, sharp sensitivity to lights, sounds, and scents, fatigue, and irritability. So debilitating is migraine illness that many long-time chronic migraine sufferers have difficulty keeping a job, performing daily chores, and making appointments. Depression and anxiety are common comorbidities of migraine illness.

Why do Migraines cause Nausea and Vomiting?

Migraine aura- an assault on the senses

Migraines are split into two general categories- migraines with aura (MA), and migraines without aura. An aura happens in the prodrome phase of a migraine attack- the minutes leading up to a migraine. Auras serve as a warning to the patient of the impending migraine, and usually occur about fifteen minutes before the migraine strikes. Migraine auras can cause visual hallucinations, usually described as bright flickering lights, glowing crescent-shaped forms, and rainbow zigzag images. Other migraine aura symptoms are vertigo (dizziness), olfactory hallucinations (imagined burnt scents), temporary partial paralysis, and aphasia.

Go Ask Alice: Migraine Auras in Wonderland

Aphasia- what is it?

Aphasia is defined as a communication disorder that impairs one’s ability to process language, both in written and spoken words. People with aphasia have trouble putting words together to speak or write, understanding what others are saying, and comprehending what they read. When they try to speak, words come out garbled and unintelligible. This does not mean they are unintelligent- aphasia usually results from damage to the left hemisphere of the brain. Many stroke victims suffer aphasia causing partial or complete loss of speech.

Strange but True: Migraines can Give You a British Accent

Aphasic migraines

Migraines that cause aura with aphasia are usually complex basilar migraines caused by a disorder of a major artery at the brainstem or base of the brain. TV reporter Serene Branson suffered a complex migraine (also called a complicated migraine) with aura on the air while covering the Grammys. Spectators believed her to be having a stroke, so common are the symptoms of migraine aura aphasia. Other names for basilar migraines are:

Basilar artery migraines
Basilar migraine headache
Basilar-type migraine
Bickerstaff syndrome
Brainstem migraine
Vertebro-basilar migraine

Complex Migraine Behind CBS Reporter’s On-Air Health Scare

Symptoms of complex migraine often include pounding headache, blurred vision, temporary partial blindness, temporary partial paralysis on one side, loss of muscular strength, difficulty walking in a straight line, and garbled speech.

Aphasia treatments

If you suffer any of the symptoms of aphasia- difficulty talking clearly or understanding what others are saying- contact emergency services immediately so that a stroke may be ruled out. If migraines are the cause of aphasia, then a headache specialist might prescribe preventative or abortive migraine treatments to reduce the frequency of migraine attacks. Additionally, natural remedies for migraines may reduce frequency and severity of migraine attacks by at least 50%. Some excellent sources of natural migraine relief include coenzyme Q10, butterbur, riboflavin (vitamin B2), and magnesium.

Read more about migraine with aura:

Migraine Headaches and Dizziness- Stop the Ride, I want to get off!

Migraine Aura Video Simulations: You Tube’s Top 10

Migraine Aura and Hot Flashes- Treat that Hot Head ASAP

What’s that Smell? Migraine Sensitivity and Olfactory Auras

Sources:

Basilar Artery Migraines: Causes, Symptoms, Tests, and Treatments

Aphasia

Aphasia symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment on MedicineNet.com

Aphasia and Migraine- In the Fringes

Migraine Chapter, Migraine With Aura, B.Todd Troost

Tags: Aphasia, Aphasia migraine, Aphasic, Aphasic aura, Aphasic migraine, Basilar migraine, chronic migraines, complex migraine, Complicated migraine, Migraine, Migraine aura aphasia, migraine headache, migraine headache relief, migraine headache treatment, migraine headaches, migraine relief, migraine remedies, migraine symptoms, migraine treatment, Migraines, Natural migraine relief, Natural remedies for migraines, what is a migraine, What is aphasia
Posted in Types of Migraines | No Comments »

Migraine Headache Frequently Asked Questions- the Top Ten List

Tuesday, December 13th, 2011

If millions of people suffer from migraine headaches, then why is migraine awareness so low? Below are answers to popular migraine questions, including the difference between tension headaches and migraines, what is a migraine with aura, and how to treat migraine symptoms without painkillers.

1. What’s the difference between tension headaches and migraines?

Tension headaches are caused by muscular strain, and while they can be painful, they are rarely disabling. Migraine headaches happen when the blood vessels in the head constrict and dilate, causing throbbing pain on one side of the head. Migraine headaches are excruciating- severe migraine attacks may require days of recuperation.

Unlike tension headaches, migraine attacks may cause other symptoms such as nausea, uncontrolled vomiting, sensitivity to lights, sounds, and scents, faintness, and visual or olfactory hallucinations.

2. What is a migraine with aura?

There are many types of migraines, but most divide into two categories- migraines that occur following an “aura,” and migraines that do not, an aura being a fifteen-minute warning before the onset of a migraine attack. Auras consist of visual disturbances like bright, flashing lights, blind spots, and distorted spatial awareness, in addition to phantom burning smells and stroke-like symptoms like garbled speech, partial paralysis, and loss of consciousness.

Migraine Pop Quiz: How Well do you Understand your Headaches?

3. What kind of migraine am I having?

Depending on your symptoms and the location of head pain, you may be experiencing any one of a number of migraine headaches types.

If you experience pain behind one eye that spreads to the rest of your head, causing temporary loss of vision in that eye, you may be having a retinal migraine.
If you experience sharp pain behind one eye in addition to numbness, droopiness, and blurred vision, you may be having an ophthalmoplegic migraine.
If you experience dizziness and pain in the back of the head, you may be having a basilar artery migraine.
If you experience severe migraine symptoms that don’t go away on their own, you may be having a rare type of migraine called a status migrainosus.
If you experience muscular weakness and partial paralysis, you may be having a hemiplegic migraine.

Basilar Migraines: Do You Have These Symptoms?

4. What is the difference between cluster headaches and migraines?

Cluster headaches are not in the same category as migraines, but they are equally (in not more) painful. Cluster headaches occur in “cluster periods,” or cycles, which may last for weeks or months. Cluster headaches begin with burning pain on one side of the head, in the temple region, and quickly spread towards the eye area. Other symptoms are sudden nasal discharge and eye droopiness.

5. At what age is it possible to start having migraines?

People can have migraines at any age- As many as 20% of all migraine patients say they experienced their first migraine before the age of ten, and 50% started having migraines before their 20th birthday.

While childhood headaches are very common, most are not migraine headaches; only about 5% of children experience migraines before the age of 15. The majority of childhood headaches include tension headaches from stress, or sinus headaches from viruses, infections, or cold symptoms.

6. Why do some people get migraines, while others do not?

Migraine sufferers number in the millions, and most of them are women. Some people get migraines every now and then, some are plagued with weekly- or daily- migraines, and then there are many people who are lucky enough never to experience the excruciating misery that is a migraine attack.

What makes up the sliding scale of migraine severity? In a word, triggers. Migraine triggers are factors that increase your likeliness of having a migraine. Some people have only a few migraine triggers, such as foods that give them headaches. To prevent migraines, all they need to do is refrain from eating certain foods, like chocolate or soy sauce.

For many others, migraine triggers are either a complete mystery, decipherable only by an adept headache specialist, or something completely unavoidable, like the weather…or hormones. As a rule of thumb, the more migraine triggers you have, the more likely you are to suffer ongoing migraine attacks. The key is to abolish migraine triggers whenever possible, and learn how to cope with the ones that won’t go away.

Manage Migraines in 10 Steps- Put the Ho-Ho back in your Holidays

7. Why do I get migraines very late in the night or early in the morning?

If you wake up first thing in the morning to an astonishingly painful headache, then you could be suffering from hypnic headaches, which last about one hour and often occur because of a bad dream or “night terror.” Similarly, exploding head syndrome, also called “hypnic jerks,” are night terrors that wake you up in the middle of the night, creating the sensation of falling, weird gunshot sounds, involuntary twitches, and brief auras.

8. How can I ease my headaches and migraines without painkillers?

If you’re trying to wean off prescription painkillers, then you’re in luck. Many healthy alternative therapies and lifestyle changes have helped migraine sufferers reduce their migraine symptoms naturally, effectively, and safely. Here are a few:

Restrictive diet- by following a diet geared towards eliminating food triggers, you can easily prevent a significant amount of migraine attacks from occurring. Some have found unexpected relief by switching to a gluten-free diet. By using a migraine diary, you can determine which foods to avoid, in addition to keeping track of your eating habits and any other migraine influences.
Light exercise- if physical exertion is not a migraine trigger, then you may benefit from a wide variety of exercises that also incorporate meditation and gentle stretches for total peace of mind. Experiment with various types of yoga, tai chi, water aerobics, Pilates, or an indoor Wii program.
Alternative therapies include acupuncture, acupressure, reflexology, biofeedback, aromatherapy, oxygen therapy, and chiropractic care.
Herbal remedies for migraines are also effective for healing migraine symptoms.

9. What are some natural remedies for migraines?

Numerous double-blind clinical studies have proven that natural remedies are effective at both reducing migraine severity and reducing the frequency of migraine symptoms by at least 50%. The most effective natural remedies include herbs and dietary supplements, starting with butterbur supplements, magnesium, coenzyme Q10, and riboflavin (B2). Other good healing herbs, roots, and flowers include chamomile, ginger, feverfew, peppermint, and rosemary.

Natural Supplements and Herbs for migraines

10. When should I go to the doctor about my migraines?

Typical migraines are not harmful or life threatening, but it’s important to familiarize yourself with certain headache symptoms that may indicate a need for immediate emergency care.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, please call 911 immediately:

“Thunderclap” headaches, explosive head pain that appears and vanishes quickly, could indicate stroke.
Any kind of new and unusual headache pattern, particularly if accompanied by fatigue, dizziness, or nausea, requires immediate attention.
A headache that builds up slowly over weeks could signify a brain tumor.
Any sudden, excruciating headache that follows physical exercise requires immediate attention.
Headache accompanied by stiff neck pain should be looked at right away.
Symptoms including long-lasting headache, fever, and vision problems require immediate attention.

Read more about migraine headache symptoms:

To ER or not to ER? 8 Migraine Signals that call for Emergency Care

How long will my Migraine Headache Last? A Migraine Symptom Chart

Migraines and other Types of Headaches- How many are there? Part 1

Migraines and other Types of Headaches- How many are there? Part 2

Migraines and other Types of Headaches- How many are there? Part 3

Sources:

Could Your Headache Be a Migraine? – Learn the difference between the two on MedicineNet.com

Headaches in Children and Adolescents on MedicineNet.com

Migraine Headache- Care Guide

Image credits, from top:

Stuart Miles, nuttakit, Arvind Balaraman, Master isolated images, Suat Eman, Danilo Rizzuti

Tags: Basilar artery migraine, Childhood headaches, cluster headaches and migraines, Hemiplegic migraine, Herbal remedies for migraines, migraine attacks, Migraine headache types, migraine headaches, migraine symptoms, migraine triggers, Natural remedies for migraines, Ophthalmoplegic migraine, Retinal migraine, Status migrainosus, tension headaches and migraines, what is migraine aura
Posted in Types of Migraines | No Comments »

Why Migraines are like Rude Uncles

Monday, December 12th, 2011

It occurred to me that migraines are as much a part of your life as certain family members that always manage to give you a headache without even trying. There’s one in every family. No use pretending they don’t exist. They’re as real as the migraine headache that is sure to attack next time the weather changes.

Like the arrival of a rude uncle, whenever migraines attack you put on a brave face. “Sure, come on in,” you say, cracking into a grin. All the time thinking, How long will you stay this time…? He spins around, and demands a hug. You grudgingly agree, and the whiff of his musky aftershave triggers a migraine the size of Texas.

You must come more often…

You make a show of not being disturbed by the first migraine symptoms- dull throbbing pain on one side of your head, stiff neck, while your uncle slaps you hard on the back and hollers an off-colored joke in your ear, waiting for your reaction. “Good one, uncle!” You think you might vomit.

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

It seems that you’re the only one who suffers migraines. Nobody else seems bothered by the uninvited guest. Nobody notices the agony that you hope is etched onto your face. You try to excuse yourself, nonchalantly, smiling weakly and saying that you feel the beginnings of a severe migraine attack. “Can we get together another day?” you ask, thinking perhaps sometime next century… But your uncle bellows, “What’s the matter-got a headache? You don’t look sick!”

Is it just me…?

The migraine lingers, and so does your uncle. As he sinks deeper into your couch cushions, flicking on the television, your migraine headache also seems to have taken up permanent residency in your brain. The throbbing intensifies, flashes of light cause blinding pain behind your eyes, and the sound of laughter nearby echoes painfully inside your head. Your stomach sinks with nausea. No, he’s not going anywhere anytime soon. And neither is your migraine.

You can do this.

The phone rings. You try to have a normal conversation, but your uncle-migraine screams in the background, making it impossible to concentrate. You grow irritable, and you hardly recognize your own voice as you cut the phone call short and hang up. You will have to apologize later for your rudeness, but now is not the time to dwell on that. Uncle Migraine wants to talk about migraine remedies…

Natural Supplements and Herbs for migraines

You didn’t just say that.

“You know,” he says, “you should really smile more. That’s why you’re so unhappy- you don’t smile enough.”

“When are you going to have another child? That’s the best cure for migraines- pregnancy.” (This, from your uncle.)

“If you lost weight, your headaches would go away.”

“Did I ever tell you that I used to get migraines, too? I stopped eating tomatoes, and that did it for me. You don’t eat tomatoes, do you?”

“It could be a brain tumor, you know. Or meningitis. Better get that checked out.”

35 Things you should never tell a Chronic Migraine Sufferer

Migraine, migraine, go away, come again…never.

At long last, your migraine makes the first signs of diminishing, slowly relaxing its death grip on your skull, while your uncle stretches and excuses himself to the bathroom. A few minutes later, he reappears, makes a few more jabbing comments, and saunters haltingly to the door. You will him to leave, silently sending him thought rays, Please, please, please…

Not without another hug! This time, bone crushing, the thick musk smothers you again. You can barely breathe. Migraines go away, but their aftereffects linger like the trail of bad cologne.

Time to recuperate.

Turn off the lights, close the blinds, lie down on your bed, and most importantly, unplug the phone. (You wouldn’t put it past uncle to call you right now from his smartphone, thwarting your chances of recovery.) Empty your mind, close your eyes, put the whole experience behind you, and suffer quietly as your headache slowly ebbs away. You are back.

Until we meet again, uncle…but not if I see you first.

Read more about migraines:

The Four Phases of Migraine Headache Attacks

Helping Others Understand Migraines- 8 Communication Tips

Image credits: Michal Marcol, Ambro

Tags: migraine attack, migraine headaches, migraine remedies, migraine symptoms, migraine triggers, Migraines, pain behind eyes
Posted in Migraine Triggers | No Comments »

Natural Supplements and Herbs for migraines

Thursday, December 1st, 2011

Millions of individuals suffer from migraine headaches; it’s no wonder that more people are turning to natural supplements and herbs for migraine treatment. Natural headache remedies provide headache sufferers with migraine relief without the dangerous side effects of narcotic painkillers.

Some of the most popular natural migraine remedies include magnesium, vitamin b2, butterbur, coenzyme Q10.

Magnesium

Magnesium occurs naturally in many nuts, leafy green vegetables, spices, and seeds.

Scientists have found a high correlation between migraine illness, particular menstrual migraines, and magnesium deficiency. In one study, migraine sufferers who took migraine supplements experienced about 40% fewer instances of migraine attacks, compared with just 15% fewer instances among the placebo group. Magnesium supplements are often prescribed to women who suffer from migraine headaches during their period.

Beat Migraines with these 5 Magnesium-Rich Foods

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)

Coenzyme Q10 is a powerful antioxidant that helps your body produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), an energy source that aids in muscular strength and protein production. CoQ10 occurs naturally in meat and fish, but a much stronger dose in the form of a supplement is required for migraine treatment.

Scientific studies on the effect of coenzyme Q10 on migraine symptoms found a greater than 50% reduction in migraine frequency among 61.3% of participants who suffered from migraine with aura. Among the placebo group, only 14% experienced fewer migraines.

CoQ10 supplements are a safe, effective migraine treatment for children who suffer from migraines.

Butterbur

Butterbur is a natural herb that has been used for centuries to treat chronic pain, fever, and muscular spasms. Butterbur supplements have gained popularity in recent years as a safe, gentle treatment for migraine headaches and asthma. Scientists believe that butterbur prevents swelling, controls blood pressure, and aids in calcium absorption. Not all butterbur supplements are safe, though- some contain cancerous chemicals called Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids (PA’s). Before taking butterbur, determine that your supplements are PA-free.

30 Natural Herbs for Headache Relief, plus Chinese Remedy

Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)

Riboflavin is a B vitamin that occurs in protein products like meat, eggs, and milk, in addition to nuts, beans, and dark green leafy vegetables. Riboflavin is a safe, low cost alternative to migraine abortive medicines. Studies found a 50% decrease in migraine frequency and severity among migraine patients who take 400 mg. of riboflavin supplements per day. Among the placebo group, only 15% experienced a reduction in migraine attacks.

Migraine Nausea and Vomiting- 10 Natural Home Remedies

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Tip #5: Follow migraine groups on Twitter!

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Aphasia treatments

You must come more often…

Is it just me…?

You can do this.

You didn’t just say that.

Migraine, migraine, go away, come again…never.

Time to recuperate.

Magnesium

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)

Butterbur

Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)

Read more about natural migraine treatments:

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