Posts Tagged ‘migraine symptoms’
Wednesday, December 21st, 2011
“I feel a killer of a migraine coming up,” you say offhandedly, but consistent research suggests that if you get frequent migraines with aura, your mortality rate might be higher than non-migraineurs. Find out why migraine headache sufferers are more likely to suffer from stroke or heart attack, and what you can do about it.
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
Deborah Leigh (Migraine Chick), quinn.anya
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 »
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
Image:
stockimages
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 »
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 »
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 »
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
Read more about natural migraine treatments:
Chocolate for Curing Migraines- 10 Astonishing Cocoa Facts
The Painkilling Power of Ginger: Migraines and Beyond
6 Safe Migraine Treatments for Pregnant Moms
Sources:
Supplements and Herbs for Migraine – The Evidence- The Migraine Trust
Migraine headache
Effectiveness of high-dose riboflavin in migraine prophylaxis. A randomized controlled trial- PubMed NCBI
Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) for migraine headaches
Image credits, from top:
aSIMULAtor, : nany mata., AdamKR
Tags: butterbur and migraines, butterbur migraines, coenzyme q10 and migaines, coenzyme q10 migraines, coq10 and migraines, coq10 migraines, Magnesium and Migraines, magnesium migraines, migraine abortive medicines, migraine and coq10, migraine attacks, migraine headaches, migraine relief, migraine symptoms, migraine with aura, Natural Headache Remedies, natural migraine remedies, natural migraine treatments, natural supplements and herbs
Posted in Natural Migraine Treatments | No Comments »
Monday, November 28th, 2011
As if migraine headaches weren’t bad enough…here come headaches and dizziness to spoil your day! Migraine vertigo can be part of your migraine symptoms, or it can signify a comorbid vestibular disorder.
What is Migraine associated vertigo (MAV)?
Migraine attacks include a wide range of symptoms, including extreme dizziness. A significant percentage of migraine sufferers also experience vestibular migraines- migraine headaches that come with symptoms of vertigo.
Go Ask Alice: Migraine Auras in Wonderland
What are the symptoms of migraine associated vertigo?
It is important to use descript terms when explaining vertigo symptoms to your doctor or headache specialist, so that he will be able to differentiate between true vertigo, which is a vestibular disorder, and other conditions common with migraineurs, such as anxiety or Meniere’s disease.
Migraine patients usually describe vertigo symptoms as:
- Severe dizziness
- Rocking or spinning sensations
- Light-headedness
- Wooziness
- Imbalance
- Fatigue
- Feebleness
- Unsteadiness
- Motion sensitivity
- Feeling of ear fullness
- Tinnitus, or ringing inside the ear
- Muted hearing
Ménière’s disease and MAV
There is a high correlation between migraine illness and Meniere’s disease, as stated in this Japanese study on migraine-associated vertigo and Meniere’s disease released by PubMed. The main difference is duration- migraine vertigo symptoms can linger for hours, day, or even years, where vertigo associated with Meniere’s disease generally lasts for 24 hours, and no longer.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common cause of vertigo, and usually the cause of vestibular migraines.
Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
Small strokes, or transient ischemic attacks, are another cause of vertigo that your doctor will be able to diagnose with testing.
Motion sickness
It is worth noting that migraine patients are extremely prone to motion sickness while traveling, which is another common cause of light-headedness, headaches and dizziness.
Fluid leaks in ear
Sometimes, vertigo and tinnitus symptoms indicate leaking fluid in your inner ear.
Anxiety attacks and depression
If you suffer from chronic migraines, then you might also experience feelings of anxiety, nervousness, depression, or panic. Vertigo is one of many symptoms of an anxiety attack, with others being breathlessness, sweating, uncontrolled thoughts, paranoia, and heart palpitations. People who suffer from depression often experience panic disorder as well.
Treatments for migraine headache and dizziness
If headaches and dizziness are chronic, then your neurologist or other headache specialist might prescribe a migraine treatment such as Topamax, antidepressants, or beta-blockers. Alternatively, natural remedies for migraines that help include preventative treatments such as:
- Exercise, including yoga, Tai Chi, and low-impact aerobics
- Migraine prevention by diagnosing migraine triggers
- Stress management, including guided meditation, biofeedback, and deep breathing
- Herbal and nutritional supplements designed for natural migraine relief, such as butterbur, riboflavin, coenzyme Q10 and magnesium for migraines.
Read more about migraine symptoms:
Natural Migraine Remedies Surge with Prescription Drug Deaths
30 Natural Herbs for Headache Relief, plus Chinese Remedy
Why do Migraines cause Nausea and Vomiting?
Sources:
Does migraine-associated vertigo share a common pathophysiology with Meniere’s disease? Study with vestibular-evoked myogenic potential- PubMed- NCBI
Epidemiology of vertigo, migraine and vestibular migraine
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo- Mayo Clinic
Ménière’s Disease [NIDCD Health Information]
Image credits, from top:
Mykl Roventine, AlicePopkorn, Renee Silverman
Tags: Headaches and dizziness, Magnesium for migraines, Meniere’s disease, migraine attacks, migraine headaches, migraine prevention, migraine symptoms, migraine treatment, migraine triggers, Migraine vertigo, Natural migraine relief, Natural remedies for migraines, Vertigo symptoms, vestibular migraines
Posted in Migraine Headache Symptoms | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011
More people are turning to natural migraine remedies to treat their migraine symptoms than ever before, and it’s easy to see why. As accidental prescription drug deaths explode all over the US, an increasing amount of chronic pain sufferers are seeking a safer alternative to narcotic prescription painkillers.
 
Prescription drugs kill more people than traffic accidents
Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) came out with a startling news report- a dramatic rise in deaths from prescription drug overdoses in the past two decades. Since 1990, prescription medication mortalities have tripled. In their report released this month, the CDC states that consumption of prescription painkillers such as those used to treat migraine headaches has reached epidemic proportions, accounting for three out of four fatal prescription drug overdoses.”
“Overdose deaths involving opioid pain relievers (OPR), also known as opioid analgesics, have increased and now exceed deaths involving heroin and cocaine combined.” -CDC
An ABC news report recently stated, “Drugs now kill more people than motor vehicle accidents in the U.S.”
Are Doctors Overprescribing Painkillers for Migraines? Fox News Report
Natural migraine remedies becoming mainstream
Though not part of “conventional medicine,” natural remedies for chronic headaches have nevertheless increased in popularity this past decade. A 2004 report conducted by the CDC found that 62% of all adults use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to treat their health problems, with natural products like herbal medicine and nutritional supplements accounting for 19% of the preferred alternative treatment. Other popular natural remedies include change in diet, meditation and yoga, chiropractic care, and massage.
- Another CDC study on natural remedies found that 14% of all fibromyalgia patients use magnesium supplements to treat their pain symptoms, and that 61.5% of patients who used natural herbal remedies orally experienced profound relief.
- The CDC also notes that natural remedies such as herbal supplements and vitamins are the second most popular form of pharmacotherapy treatments among sufferers of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Examples of popular remedies are coenzyme Q10, magnesium, and vitamin B12.
Read more about natural migraine remedies:
Sources:
Image credits, from top:
Tags: chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic headaches, chronic pain, coenzyme q10, complementary and alternative medicine, fibromyalgia, fibromyalgia magnesium, herbal medicine, herbal supplements, migraine headaches, migraine symptoms, natural herbal remedies, natural migraine remedies, natural remedies for chronic pain, nutritional supplements, Painkillers, Prescription Drug Deaths, prescription painkillers
Posted in Migraine Treatments | No Comments »
Thursday, November 17th, 2011
If you suffer from frequent headaches, then you need to see a doctor for migraines right away- You might have migraine headaches, or another form of chronic headaches. Knowing which kind of doctor to see for migraines depends on your migraine headache symptoms, and specific needs for migraine treatment.
What kind of Doctor should I see for Migraines?
Part I: Primary Care Physicians
Most chronic headache sufferers begin migraine headache treatment by visiting their primary care physician, or family doctor. This is because they have established a patient history with them, and because they feel comfortable visiting a doctor whose advice they already trust. If your primary care doctor is unable to treat you for migraine headaches, then he will refer you to a specialist.
Even if your family doctor has not received training in migraine illness, he does have a basic set of principles to refer to in diagnosing your condition. These 12 principles for migraine management in primary care are as follows:
- Most headaches are benign, and can be treated by any competent physician.
- By supplying a questionnaire, you can determine to what extent chronic headaches have affected the patient’s quality of life (daily activities, work, etc.). This information is crucial for diagnosing illness and prescribing treatment.
- A physician-patient bond is necessary for providing migraine management.
- Migraine management should be specific to the patient, and tailored to meet his/her needs. Patient should be able to manage migraine treatments self-sufficiently.
 Physicians should routinely check up on their patient by reviewing a migraine diary in which the patient records migraine triggers, headache symptoms, foods eaten, and other relevant everyday headache information.
- Schedule re-evaluation check-ups, with special attention given to frequency of migraine drug use, and relative success in providing migraine headache relief.
- Migraine treatment should be adapted continuously to meet the changing needs of the migraine headache patient.
- Urge patients to use prescribed acute migraine medications responsibly, as indicated.
- Prescribe a pain reliever or other rescue treatment as a backup for when standard migraine treatments fail.
- For patients who don’t respond well to migraine medications, or who suffer more than four migraine attacks in one month, prescribe preventative migraine medications, in addition to suggesting certain lifestyle changes that are conducive to better migraine management.
- When prescribing preventative migraine treatments, take into account any comorbid conditions the patient might have.
- Develop a healthy professional relationship with your patient based on trust, mutual agreement, and consideration for the patient’s lifestyle.
When is it time to switch headache doctors?
If you feel that your primary care physician is not meeting your needs, then it might be time to shop around for a doctor that specializes in the field of migraine headaches.
Parts II and III discuss headaches specialists and neurologists.
Read more about migraine treatment:
How to make your own Emergency Migraine Attack Survival Pack
Top 20 Simple Lifestyle Modifications to Prevent Migraines
Improve your Memory while taking Topamax for Migraines
20 Best Blog Sites for Migraine Information and Inspiration
Top 20 Websites for Migraine Headache Patients
35 Things you should never tell a Chronic Migraine Sufferer
Sources:
Which Doctors Provide Migraine Treatment?
Establishing principles for migraine management in primary care- PubMed NCBI
Image credits, from top:
Ambro, cohdra, photostock, scottchan
Tags: chronic headaches, constant headaches, Frequent headaches, headache relief, Headaches, Headaches everyday, Migraine, migraine headache treatment, migraine headaches, migraine medications, migraine relief, migraine symptoms, migraine treatment, Primary care physicians, what kind of doctor to see for migraines
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Monday, November 7th, 2011
Migraines cause throbbing headaches, in addition to nausea and vomiting. Some assume that cyclical vomiting and nausea is caused by migraine headaches, but that is not the case. Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) that occurs with abdominal migraines is a separate condition that shares comorbidity with migraine symptoms.
Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS)
Cyclic vomiting syndrome is a condition that involves repetitive vomiting and nausea over a long period. A person suffering from cyclic vomiting will experience spells of extreme queasiness, stomach cramps, heaving, and vomiting that alternate with “breaks” without symptoms. This can go on for hours, or days. Physicians used to believe that CVS was strictly a pediatric disease, but current research indicates that CVS can strike people of all age groups.
 Migraines with CVS
Researchers are unsure as to why CVS occurs with migraine attacks, but they acknowledge that a high percentage of migraine sufferers experience nausea, stomach upset, and vomiting that is typical of cyclic vomiting syndrome. Abdominal migraines cause throbbing head pain, in addition to stomach aches, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. Migraine triggers such as stress and anxiety are also common triggers of CVS.
Abdominal migraines- who gets them?
Although CVS can strike anybody, abdominal migraines in children is most common. Adolescent migraine patients usually complain of stomachaches in place of headaches, sometimes causing cyclical vomiting and/or migraine with aura. As they get older, their abdominal migraine symptoms switch to typical classic migraine symptoms- sharp head pain, neck pain, sensitivity to light, smells, and sounds, and migraines with or without aura. (Read What are Abdominal Migraines?)
Anti- nausea drugs for migraines
Some migraine medications are effective at treating all migraine symptoms at once, including nausea and vomiting. However, prescribed migraine remedies don’t always work as efficiently as they should. If cyclical vomiting is keeping you from digesting your migraine medications, then your headache doctor might prescribe anti-nausea drugs to soothe your stomach and put an end to vomiting.
Note that many of the following anti-nausea drugs come with side effects such as dizziness and fatigue:
- Phenergan
- Thorazine
- Compazine
- Tigan
- Reglan
Natural alternatives to migraine drugs
If long-term use of prescribed migraine medications has not provided any long-term headache relief, then it might be time to try some natural migraine remedies that do not cause side effects such as “brain fog,” chronic fatigue, memory loss, or tinnitus. For nausea, many followers of naturopathic medicine recommend ginger, peppermint, or chamomile teas. Also, supplementing with magnesium and butterbur has resulted in 95% reduction of migraine symptoms for many people who have suffered with chronic migraines for years.
Read more about migraine treatments:
Migraine Nausea and Vomiting- 10 Natural Home Remedies
The Painkilling Power of Ginger: Migraines and Beyond
7 Healing Headache Relief Treatments for Children
Sources:
Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome – National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
Nausea Drugs for Migraines and Headaches
Migraine- Health- Patient UK
Comorbidity of headache and gastrointestinal complaints. The Head-HUNT Study- PubMed NCBI
Image credits, from top:
QuinnDombrowski, Spencer E Holtaway, suzyq212, Chris Morriss
Tags: Abdominal migraine, Classic migraine, Common migraine, headache, Headaches, Migraine, migraine attacks, migraine headache, migraine nausea, migraine symptoms, migraine with aura, Migraine without aura, Migraines and diarrhea, Migraines in children, Nausea drugs migraines, nausea vomiting, Stomach migraines
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Friday, November 4th, 2011
Migraine headaches are not just about throbbing head pain; sufferers of migraine have strong sensitivity to smells, resulting in olfactory aura- an indicator of an approaching migraine attack. Migraine odors usually include unpleasant imagined smells such as burnt food, cigarette smoke, or rotten garbage.
What causes migraine headaches?
Millions of people suffer from migraine symptoms, such as severe headaches, nausea, and dizziness, but nobody has come up with a universal migraine cure. However, by determining migraine triggers and experimenting with various migraine remedies many- if not all- migraine suffers are able to find a measure of relief from their debilitating migraine symptoms.
What is a migraine aura?
A migraine aura appears during the migraine prodrome stage- generally, just a few minutes before the migraine attack strikes. Alice in Wonderland Syndrome is one example of a migraine aura that includes distorted body image, auditory hallucinations, loss of spatial awareness, and temporary jumbled, confused speech patterns. Typical migraine auras are bright lights and voids, such as blue-green zigzagging lines, eclipses, and blind spots.
Olfactory hallucinations
Sometimes, migraine patients report smelling weird, unusual odors before a migraine attack- odors that don’t actually exists, save for them. Thes olfactory auras are called parosmia. The majority of migraine patients describe imagined smells as putrid, smoky odors. Common descriptions are:
- burning wood
- toxic-smelling aromas
- sewer-like stenches
- smoke
- decomposed garbage.
Read more about migraine illness:
Night Terrors, Migraines, and Insomnia- 7 Nightmare Headaches
Perfumes and Migraines: The Good, the Bad, and the Downright Stinky
Sources:
Imagined smells can precede migraines
Olfactory hallucinations in primary headache disorders: Case series and literature review
Olfactory aura symptoms- Migraine Aura Foundation
Migraine Symptoms: Olfactory Hallucinations
Image credits, from top:
andertoons, John Kasawa, Grant Cochrane
Tags: Imagined smells, migraine attacks, migraine causes, migraine cure, migraine headaches, Migraine odors, Migraine prodrome, migraine remedies, migraine sensitivity to smell, Migraine sensitivity to smells, migraine smells, migraine symptoms, migraine triggers, Olfactory aura, Olfactory Hallucinations
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