Posts Tagged ‘Migraine’
Monday, July 11th, 2011
Migraine Symptoms, Before and After
Migraine headaches are a source of pain and disability for millions of people around the world. Unlike common tension headaches, migraine disease is a neurological illness that overwhelmingly affects women. Hundreds of headache triggers exist that cause migraines; for this reason, neurologists have a challenge in determining the exact cause of migraine symptoms and which course of medication to prescribe.
Common migraine symptoms include:
- Throbbing head pain
- Nausea, stomach cramping and vomiting
- Visual disturbances, such a flashing lights and blind spots
- Intense sensitivity to lights, scents, and sounds
Migraines occur in four stages
A migraine attack occurs in four stages, according to current scientific research. These are the prodrome phase, the aura, the migraine headache, and the posdrome phase. However, just as migraine headache triggers differ for each patient, the four migraine attack phases don’t necessarily occur in a like manner for all migraineurs. Only about 25-30% of migraine sufferers ever experience aura, a hallucinatory phenomenon that precedes a migraine attack by mere minutes. Many migraine patients never experience the prodrome, aura, or posdrome phases. Occasionally, one may experience only the symptoms of nausea, light sensitivity, and moving spots of light, but none of the head pain; such are Acephalgic Migraines.
• Prodrome Phase: About 80% of migraine sufferers experience an initial prodrome stage, approximately 1-2 days before an attack. Symptoms among migraine patients vary greatly, and many contradict each other. You might feel nauseous and unable to eat, or you might experience strong cravings. Some are high-strung and euphoric, while others might feel depressed and fatigued before a migraine attack. Other typical symptoms are diarrhea, persistent need to urinate, difficulty concentrating, and cold flashes.
• Aura Phase: An aura can occur five to twenty minutes before an attack, giving chronic migraine patients little time to respond. The symptoms of aura mimic stroke, and may last as long as one hour; many migraineurs who are unaccustomed to experiencing aura seek emergency medical care. Symptoms of aura include visual hallucinations, described as moving, streaming, flashing dots of light, which can happen when eyes are either closed or open. Bright, shimmering silhouettes are a common symptom, as is partial blindness in one or both eyes. Other side effects of aura may include partial paralysis, audio and olfactory hallucinations, and temporary loss of speech abilities. Related: Go Ask Alice: Migraine Auras in Wonderland
• Headache Phase: The headache stage what we refer to as the migraine. Consequently, a migraine attack is a headache that includes all four phases. Migraine headaches can last for several days, and characteristically strike only one side of the head, though through the course of an attack the pain may migrate. Migraine head pain is debilitating and further exacerbated by even the slightest movement. Any of the following symptoms may occur during a migraine headache:
- Throbbing, dizzying head pain
- Stomach upset, including nausea, loss of appetite, stomach aches, diarrhea, and vomiting
- Ultra sensitivity to sights, sounds, and smells
- Hot and cold flashes, and perspiring
- Depression, anxiety, and nervousness
- Visual distortions
- Fatigue
- Nasal congestion
• Posdrome Phase: Also referred to as the “migraine hangover,” the posdrome phase is the time spent recuperating after an intense migraine attack. Migraine sufferers may require days to recover and get their strength back. During that time, they may feel fatigued, irritable, disoriented, and emotional.
Related reading:
Perfumes and Migraines: The Good, the Bad, and the Downright Stinky
Blow Off Migraine Pain with 4 Simple Yoga Breathing Exercises!
Top 10 Headache Symptoms that Point to Migraines
Sources:
What Does A Migraine Headache Feels Like? – HealthCentral
What are the stages of a migraine attack? | Migraine.com
Migraine Headache
Migraine Headache Phases and Associated Migraine Symptoms – Health & Wellness – Tree.com
Tags: aura, headache, Migraine, Migraine Headache articles, migraine headache information, migraine headaches, migraine phases, migraine symptoms, ocular migraine symptoms, postdrome, prodrome, stages
Posted in Types of Migraines | No Comments »
Tuesday, July 5th, 2011
Raise Migraine Awareness- It’s up to you! Migraine Awareness Month passed us by, but the race for a migraine cure has only just begun. You can help by influencing social perceptions of migraines, teaching others to separate migraine myths from truths, or raising charity towards migraine research. Tell your story to the local media. Describe how debilitating migraine pain affects your life at home and at work, how you cope, and what improvements you’d like to see in legislations related to migraines.
Here are 10 things that you can do to be a migraine activist:
Talk the Talk
Tell it like it is. It’s not a headache, it’s a migraine or a migraine attack, or at the very least, a migraine headache. It might seem like splitting hairs, but it in the end, a few choice changes in wording help to provide clarification. Migraine Sufferer to World: It’s not just a Headache, People!
Spread the word. Be a 24-hour advocate of migraine awareness. Don’t lose an opportunity for politely educating others who aren’t “in the know” about migraine facts. When somebody well-meaningly asks you why you had to miss a whole day of work because of one headache, kindly explain to them in a matter-of-fact manner that migraine attacks are excruciatingly painful, often debilitating, and can last for several hours, regardless of your many efforts to alleviate them. Point out that the medical community recognizes migraines as a neurological disease, unlike common headaches, which result from muscular tension. 6 Migraine Myth-conceptions
Speak words of comfort. If you know somebody who suffers from migraines, or even if you meet somebody on the street who casually alludes to her ongoing struggle with migraines, take a few minutes of your time to offer support, sympathy, and reassurance. Ask her if she is satisfied with her neurologist, and if she isn’t, refer her to yours.
Tell a story. Share your Migraine Moment with the National Headache Foundation.
Walk the Walk
Participate in a local walkathon for migraine research, or help to set up. Miles for Migraines meets October 2011 in San Francisco, California. Keep up to date with all migraine-related sports events on Active.com.
Volunteer to distribute leaflets from your favorite migraine charity group to local pharmacies and hospitals.
Run a fundraiser for your favorite migraine research advocacy group, and alert the media. Host a casino night, a Chinese auction, or get your local Girl Scouts chapter involved. For some more tips, visit Step by Step Fundraising.
Put your money where your mouth is. Donate to the NHF or other worthy advocacy groups raising funds for a cure for migraines.
Here is a list of authentic migraine awareness organizations:
Mind your Migraines
Join a support group. Get advice for managing your migraines, network with other sufferers, and learn about new migraine research and alternative treatments. Face-to-face support groups are available through your healthcare provider. Check Meetup to find out about meetings in your area. Numerous online migraine support groups and discussion forums are also available through Migraine.com, LiveJournal, and various Yahoo Headache Groups.
Stay up to date. Subscribe to migraine blogs and newsletters; find out what others are doing about their migraines, how it affects their lives, and about any new developments in migraine treatments. Here are a few sites to get you started:
Related Reading:
Top 20 Websites for Migraine Headache Patients
Plan a Headache-Free Summer Vacation: Five Travel Tips
Sources:
Migraine Education- Migraine Awareness Week
Get Involved with Migraine Research, Education & Advocacy | Migraine.com
Tags: advice, Blog Carnival- Headache and Migraine Disease, Chronic Babe Newsletter, LiveJournal, Migraine, migraine action, migraine advice, migraine awareness, migraine awareness week, migraine awareness week 2011, migraine help, migraine information, migraine matters, migraine myths, migraine pain, migraine research, migraine support, Migraine.com, Yahoo Headache Groups
Posted in Migraine Treatments | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 28th, 2011
Will Cindy McCain be successful in raising awareness and funds for chronic migraine headache research? We hope so. Cindy McCain, wife of Senator John McCain, is one of millions of women who suffer from migraine headaches. Chronic migraine symptoms include severe head pain, nausea, stomach cramping, visual disturbances, and extreme sensitivity to light, sound, and scents.
“Torture.”
A bottle of spilled perfume served as the Kryptonite to her chronic migraines a year back while Cindy was traveling overseas; the overpowering smell nearly knocked her unconscious. Her migraine radar went into maximum overdrive, causing a migraine attack unlike any she had ever experienced. Head throbbing madly, nausea threatening to consume her entire body, Cindy disembarked and returned home.
Cindy speaks up
Since then, Cindy has pledged to do everything in her power to educate American citizens about migraines as a neurological disorder, and to raise funds for migraine treatment. Currently, Congress favors $13 million towards migraine research, a pitiful sum compared to the $20 billion deficit per year accrued through migraine-related lost wages, disability, and medical bills. Migraine Sufferer to World: It’s not just a Headache, People!
Cindy feels your pain- really.
Migraine symptoms may discriminate by sex (women get more migraines than men by 3 to 1), but when it comes to wealth and status, they’re an equal-opportunity destroyer. Unlike popular belief, migraines are not a poor woman’s disease. Related: 6 Migraine Myth-conceptions
Mrs. McCain describes the following symptoms when speaking to the public about her migraines:
- Excruciating head pain comparable to Traumatic Brain Injuries, the medical term for head trauma received by soldiers in heavy combat.
- Ultra-sensitivity to light. Even a moderate light setting can trigger fierce migraine attacks. “Sunglasses are a migraine sufferer’s best friend,” she says.
- Stress-related weight loss. At 5’7”, Cindy once weighed less than 100 pounds.
- Because of migraine stigma, Cindy avoided migraine diagnosis until the age of 40, fearing others would think she was “neurotic.”
- Sleep deprivation led to debilitating migraines that sent her to the emergency room on more than one occasion.
- Migraine symptoms varied for Cindy. She often experienced migraine auras, tinnitus (ear ringing), nausea, and blindness in her left eye, depending on the migraine headache trigger.
- After suffering a stroke in 2004, Cindy stopped taking preventative migraine medications. She now relies on triptans, a form of abortive migraine treatment.
A cure for migraines or die trying
After addressing a crowd in Philadelphia, Cindy hopes to continue her campaign to Capitol Hill. Her mission: to convince Congress to raise funds allocated towards migraine research. Cindy hopes to appeal to them by bringing to their attention the astounding numbers of migraine sufferers, many of whom suffer in silence.
“I’m missing a large part of my life,” she said. “I want to stay active. I want a cure.”
Sources:
Cindy McCain Breaks Her Silence on Migraine ‘Disability’
Migraines: Silent Wounds of War
Cindy McCain’s Secret Struggle with Migraines
Tags: campaign, capitol hill, chronic migraine symptoms, cindy mccain, congress, disability, doctors, fitness, headache, Headaches, health, health research, health studies, healthy lifestyle, Healthy Living, lifestyle, medical research, medical studies, medicine, Migraine, migraine headache trigger, migraine headaches, migraine stigma, migraine treatment, migraine treatments, research, studies, Traumatic Brain Injuries, triggers, well being
Posted in Migraine News | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011
How to tell if your migraine headaches require emergency attention
Migraine headaches are a neurological disorder that causes sharp, throbbing head pain, in addition to queasiness, vomiting, visual disturbances, and extreme sensitivity to bright lights, strong scents, and loud noises. Migraine pain can be unbearably draining and excruciating. If you’ve ever been in the middle of a migraine attack, then you understand the urgency to find something that will immediately alleviate your agony.
Stay home, or call 911?
Millions of migraine sufferers visit their local hospital emergency rooms every year, hoping for some quick migraine pain relief. Unfortunately, unless your headache symptoms are severe enough to suggest a stroke, you will probably wait many long hours before even seeing a nurse. As far as the ER ranking system goes, you are going to be somewhere very near the bottom of the patient chain.
So, how does one know when to call the doctor, when to call 911, or when to call in sick and just stay home?
Headache warning signs
Below are eight common red flag headache warnings that necessitate a trip to ER, followed by some less urgent migraine conditions that can wait until your visit to the headache doctor.
Call 911 or go to the emergency room if any of these headache symptoms occur:
- A migraine headache that has lasted longer than 72 hours
- Migraine head pain that is more severe than usual
- Headache accompanied by fever, hypertension, sore neck muscles, or a rash.
- Migraine pain that wakes you up out of a deep sleep in the middle of the night
- Severe headache combined with intense stomach upset, such a nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps.
- Headaches that result from head trauma, a car accident, or a bad fall
- If you are over the age of40*, and have not been diagnosed with migraines, then any new or uncommon pattern of headaches that could suggest migraines
- Symptoms that indicate neurological damage:
- Visual disturbances, such as blurred vision, flashing orbs of light, blind spots, or hallucination
- Dizziness, loss of balance and sudden weakness
- Numbness or tingling sensations
- Speech difficulties, such as stuttering, slurring and muttering incoherently
- Seizure
- Confusion
- Any other peculiar behavior (Read Strange but True: Migraines can Give You a British Accent)
The following scenarios do not require a trip to ER, but do call for a visit to a neurologist:
- You are having more than three migraines every week
- You are using pain medication every day, or at least four times per week to treat headaches
- Migraine head pain increases in severity, and doesn’t alleviate
- Headache triggers that include physical exertion, coughing or sneezing, and bending over
- Any unusual shift in your typical migraine pattern
- You have not been diagnosed with migraines, but you suspect your chronic headaches are related, and you are under the age of 40*
Also read:
Brain Tumor, Stroke and 8 other Illnesses you probably don’t have
Top 10 Headache Symptoms that Point to Migraines
Sources:
When to Call the Doctor About Your Migraines or Headaches
Migraine: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
Migraine- When to Call A Doctor
Should I Visit the Emergency Room for a Migraine?
Tags: emergency room, ER, headache doctor, headache symptoms, headache warnings, Headaches, health, Migraine, neurologist, Pain
Posted in Migraines | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 21st, 2011
Planning a summer vacation getaway? Even the best laid-out travel arrangements can climax into a huge migraine headache if you’re not careful. Stress, the number one headache trigger, can ruin your chances of enjoying even a short weekend escape. Plan your trip around your chronic migraines, and you will get the most out of your summer vacation.
Below are five helpful guidelines for routing a pleasant, headache-free trip:
Travel Tip Number 1- Prepare for the worst…
Always refill prescriptions for migraine pain medications a week or two before your trip. Don’t make the mistake of putting it off until later; you’ll likely have your mind on other last-minute details, like Googling nearby pharmacies and emergency migraine treatment centers, another precaution worth investing in before your trip. Not only will you be more relaxed, but also should migraines threaten to attack, you’ll have your escape route well planned.
Travel Tip Number 2- Stay grounded
Leave air travel to the non-migraineurs whenever possible, and aim for a vacation spot that is closer to home. Shifting pressure, loud rumbling engine sounds, and scant puffs of recycled air do not make for a migraine-friendly trip. Unless you are undisturbed by the possibility of spending four hours hunched in a narrow, confined area seated in front of a cute toddler with a persistent kicking reflex, then you’re better off choosing a travel destination that allows for alternate modes of transportation. Consider riding the rails; various train tours offer fine dining, comfortable accommodations, and entertainment. Best of all, you can get up, stretch your legs, and get a breath of fresh air whenever you like. Try doing that in economy class.
Travel Tip Number 3- Give your senses a break
 Avoid heavily contaminated areas. This should seem like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised just how wide-ranging the effects of pollution are. Metropolitan getaways like New York are probably not your best option; noxious smog, noisy traffic hubbub, glaring neon signs, and the quick pace of the big city are no match for your chronic migraines. Give yourself a sensory vacation. Seek out vacation spots that have a reputation for clean air, fewer crowds, and a more relaxed vibe. Try camping at one of the many national forests. Not keen on tents? Most campgrounds offer cabin rentals. Other great options include beachside resorts, cruises, and spa retreats.
 Travel Tip Number 4- Stay out of the heat. And the cold.
Extreme temperatures are a migraine sufferer’s worst enemies. Hot, dry weather can lead to severe dehydration, a common migraine trigger. Freezing climates, on the other hand, may result in stiff joints, sinus congestion, and flu symptoms, not to mention dehydration caused by indoor heating. If you do find yourself in extreme weather, remember to drink plenty of water and dress accordingly.
Don’t go trigger-happy
If you’ve been loyally contributing to your headache diary, then you are conscious of the many migraine headache triggers you need to avoid. Enjoy a carefree and laid-back summer vacation, but continue to beware of lurking migraine-inducing stimuli. Don’t be tempted to try exotic, spicy culinary dishes, unless somebody “in the know” can tell you exactly what ingredients are included. Never skip meals. Before your trip, prepare yourself an emergency snack kit. You never know when you might find yourself in a restaurant that has nothing but “off-limit” items on their menu, especially if you’re on a non-gluten diet.
Like this? Read more:
6 Migraine Myth-conceptions
Migraine Pop Quiz: How Well do you Understand your Headaches?
20 iPad Apps for Migraine Sufferers
Sources:
Planning a Vacation for Migraine Sufferers | Better Innovations Blog
Travel Tips for Migraine Sufferers
Tags: chronic illness, headache, headache triggers, health, Migraine, summer vacation, travel, wellness
Posted in Migraines | No Comments »
Thursday, June 9th, 2011
“It’s just Stress” and other Fallacies- 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
Tags: cause migraine, chronic migraine headaches, chronic migraines, headache relief, headache triggers, Migraine, migraine causes, migraine drugs, migraine headache symptoms, migraine medications, migraine news, migraine pain, migraine pain relief, migraine symptoms, migraine treatments, Migraines, prevent migraines
Posted in Migraines | 2 Comments »
Thursday, June 2nd, 2011
U.S. News Best Hospitals for Neurology
Out of 1,200 hospitals that were reviewed for excellence in treating chronic migraines, the US News has narrowed their list down to the 10 highest ranking hospitals in the fields of neurology and neurosurgery.
1) John Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland (410) 955–5000: In addition to placing #1 for migraine treatment and prevention, John Hopkins Hospital also made the national #1 Honor Roll for treatment in ENT, Rheumatology and for gynecology.
2) Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota (507) 284–2511: World-famous Mayo Clinic ranked #1 for diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology, and kidney disorders; they also have a strong online presence in providing current information about migraine headache symptoms and common headache triggers.
3) Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts (617) 726–2000: Massachusetts General Hospital ranked #1 center in Boston for treating migraines, and #1 in the USA for their psychiatry department.
4) New York-Presbyterian University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell, New York (212) 746–5454: In addition to neurology, NY-Pres also ranked #4 in psychiatry and kidney disorders.
5) University of California, San Francisco Medical Center, San Francisco, California (415) 476–1000: The UCLA teaching hospital was voted the #1 hospital for treating migraine pain in all of San Francisco.
6) Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio (216) 444–2200: Cleveland Clinic ranked best hospital in Cleveland for providing migraine headache relief, and #1 US hospital for treating heart disease and conducting heart surgeries.
7) Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, California,(310) 825–9111: The UCLA Medical Center was voted the best clinic in Los Angeles for treating chronic migraines, and #2 in the USA for excellence in Geriatrics.
8) St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona (602) 406–3000: This prestigious hospital was also voted the third best neurological center in Phoenix, Arizona.
9) NYU Langone Medical Center, New York (212) 263–7300: The NYU Langone Medical Center made the national Honor Roll for excellence in 14 fields of medicine, including neurology and neurosurgery. Additionally, they placed #2 for best hospital in New York for migraine headache patients.
10) Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Saint Louis, Missouri (314) 747–3000: The Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University made the Honor Roll as #1 best migraine treatment center in Saint Louis, Missouri.
Tags: Barnes-Jewish Hospital, best hospitals, best hospitals migraines, best hospitals neurology, chronic migraines, Cleveland Clinic, headache relief, headache triggers, Headaches, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, mayo clinic, Migraine, migraine and aura, migraine causes, migraine drugs, migraine headache symptoms, migraine headaches, migraine news, migraine pain, migraine pain relief, migraine remedy, migraine treatment, migraine treatments, Migraines, migrane, New York-Presbyterian University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell, NYU Langone Medical Center, Pain, prevent migraines, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, San Francisco Medical Center, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Symptoms, University of California, US News, US News hospitals, women and migraines
Posted in Migraine Treatments | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, May 31st, 2011
Do you keep a migraine journal? If not, you should. The amount of seemingly unrelated headache triggers that cause migraine headache attacks sometimes seems endless. The only way to prevent migraines is to nab your culprit by thinking like a detective. Jotting down notes in a headache diary is the most efficient, scientific method for tracking down your headache triggers and terminating them for good.
11 Headache Triggers you Never Thought Of
Here are the 7 most important clues you should log into your migraine relief diary:
1) Time and date: No detective worth his salt would forget to take down the exact time and date of the attack.
2) Severity of head pain: On a scale of one to ten, how bad was your discomfort?
3) Duration of migraine symptoms: Did your headache last for 30 minutes, 2 hours or 2 days?
4) Possible associations: This is where you really need to put on your thinking cap. Possible links are weather, strong scents, oversleeping, not sleeping enough, bright lights and long hours in front of the TV. Migraines Caused by Eye Strain? Tinted Glasses can Help
5) Nausea: Did you experience feelings of nausea, stomach cramps or the need to vomit? These are important clues, because they could signal migraines with aura, which have been linked with strokes.
6) Medications: Which kind of pain medications did you use? What drugs did you take after? If you take serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) antidepressants, then you should avoid certain pain relievers, like Advil, aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Read more: New Study Warns against Taking these Painkillers with Antidepressants
7) Diet: Food triggers are the most talked-about causes of migraines. A lot of ex-headache sufferers claim to have found migraine relief by sticking to a gluten-free diet. The most common foods which are notorious for producing migraine headaches are aged delicacies (wine, cheese, dried salami), nightshade vegetables (tomatoes, eggplant, peppers), caffeinated beverages, sugarless sodas, preservatives (MSG) and dairy products. 10 Golden Food Rules for Chronic Pain Sufferers
8) Exercise: Did you get any light exercise today? One of the most difficult challenges facing migraineurs is to get out of the darkened bedroom, get some sunshine and go out for a quick walk. Easier said than done, but even small doses of aerobic exercise contribute to your well being. Relieve Your Headaches With Yoga: Try These Moves!
9) Menstrual cycle: Menstrual migraines are nothing new, but sometimes it takes looking through your headache journal to put two and two together. Go back to your log entries from three months earlier. Do you see a connection? Other hormonal fluctuations which should be noted are pregnancy, menopause and perimenopause.
10) Stress level: Stress is the number one contributor to headaches, accounting for 80% of all chronic head pain. Anxiety, nervousness and depression cause the ”fight-or-flight” reaction, muscle soreness, high blood pressure and low community, all of which create head pain, stomach upset and nausea.
Migraine Sufferer to World: It’s not just a Headache, People!
Also read:
Top 20 Websites for Migraine Headache Patients
Migraine Pop Quiz: How Well do you Understand your Headaches?
20 iPad Apps for Migraine Sufferers
Sources:
http://www.health.com/health/condition-article/0,,20327088,00.html
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/perimenopause/DS00554
http://www.livestrong.com/article/67007-list-antidepressents/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-steroidal_anti-inflammatory_drug
Tags: chronic migraines, head pain, headache, headache diary, headache triggers, Migraine, migraine and food, migraine causes, migraine cures, migraine headache, migraine journal, migraine relief, migraine remedies, migraine symptoms, migraines with aura, prevent migraines, symptoms of migraine
Posted in Migraine Prevention | 2 Comments »
Thursday, May 26th, 2011
Kay Russel, 49, is from Gloucestershire, England, but you would swear she was from Southern France. Kay had a severe migraine attack last year that left her with a neurological speech impediment known as foreign accent syndrome (FAS). Even though she has lived in England all her life, and has only visited France a few times, her new accent betrays her nationality, and she finds herself being treated by strangers, telephone customer service people and job interviewers as a foreigner.
Kay has been a chronic migraine sufferer for 20 years. In January of 2010 she had a debilitating migraine attack, the aftereffects of which left her with slurred speech for two weeks. When she finally regained her ability to speak clearly again, she found herself speaking in a distinctly French accent, although others have mentioned that she sounded Russian, Hungarian or possibly from Transylvania.
Like other FAS sufferers, Kay now suffers from deep depression, stating that she no longer feels like herself, and that she feels out of place in her own home town in Southwest England. A former sales executive, Kay has quit her job and is looking for new employment. Watching an old video of herself before the life-changing migraine attack, she comments, “When I see that, I see the person I used to be. It’s not my voice I miss. I would love to have my own voice back, but it goes way, way, way beyond my voice.”
Migraine with Aura Causes Heart Disease in Women
Kay is one of only 60 people around the world who have suffered from foreign accent syndrome, which is caused by stroke, migraine attacks and brain damage. There is no cure for FAS, but symptoms can disappear in weeks, months or years.
Other people who currently struggle with FAS are Sarah Colwill, a fellow Brit, and Karen Butler, from Oregon.
- Like Kay, Sarah Colwill also experienced neurological damage following a migraine attack, which left her with FAS; speaking with a Chinese accent, even her own family doesn’t recognize her voice on their answering machines. Friends often hang up on her when she calls, thinking she is a prank caller. Sarah was born in Germany, but moved to Plymouth, England as a small child. ’I have never been to China. I just want my own voice back but I don’t know if I ever will. I moved to Plymouth when I was 18 months old so I’ve always spoken like a local.”
Migraine Headaches Send Millions to the Emergency Rooms
- Karen Butler, a 56-year-old lifelong Oregonian, went in for dental surgery one day and woke up with a foreign accent that has been described as Irish, Scottish, South African with a bit of Northern England and Australian mixed in. But unlike Kay and Sarah from England, Karen has a much more positive outlook on the whole experience, even going as far as to say that it’s cured her of her social anxiety, joking that when people ask her, “Oh, you have such a lovely accent- where did you get it?” she replies that she got it from her dentist. “With a sense of humor, you can face anything,” she said.
Migraine Pain, Portrayed through Art and Poetry
- Other incidents of foreign accent syndrome include another U.K. resident who began speaking in a Jamaican dialect following a stroke, and a Michigan woman who mysteriously started speaking in a thick Cockney brogue, having had no medical trauma.
Read more about migraines and stroke:
4 Headaches that Require Emergency Intervention
Women who get Migraines are also Likely to get This
Sources:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1311835/Gran-Kay-Russell-goes-bed-migraine-wakes-French-accent.html
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MindMoodNews/foreign-accent-syndrome-oregon-woman-wakes-surgery-accent/story?id=13518030
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11280005
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/15/kay-russell-english-woman_n_718122.html
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/21/sarah-colwill-british-wom_n_545040.html
Tags: after migraine, brain stroke, british accent, chinese accent migraine, foreign accent syndrome, french accent migraine, Migraine, migraine headaches, migraine symptoms
Posted in Migraine News | No Comments »
Monday, March 21st, 2011
Many migraine medications help fight headache pain by controlling how certain nerve cells communicate in the brain. Some medications also work by affecting the dilation of blood vessels in the brain. Frova specifically prevents migraines by dilating these blood vessels, which some health experts believe can reduce the frequency of migraine attacks.
Let’s look at why Frova is prescribed and if this drug is right for you.
Frova: How it Works
 Frova is known as an anti-vasodilator, a medical term used to describe a drug that prevents the dilation, or enlargement, of the blood vessels. Scientists believe that during a migraine attack, certain vessels in the brain can shrink, which causes the other blood vessels to compensate by enlarging, causing the release of pain-promoting chemicals. Frova works by preventing the brain from overcompensating for the shrinkage of certain blood vessels, helping reduce the frequency of migraine attacks.
By taking this migraine medication everyday people can see drastic reductions in their headache attacks, though it won’t eliminate them. There currently isn’t a cure for migraines.
How Frova Can Help
Frova is very versatile–it can treat both migraine and migraine with aura in most adults. But there are certain restrictions, due to its effects on the blood vessels. People who are already battling high blood pressure, possible blood clots, or other serious heart conditions may not be able to take this migraine medication safely because it prevents the vessels from dilating. If you have a blood clot, this effect could increase your risk for blockages in the arteries or vessels. In people with high blood pressure, it can make it harder to control this condition.
There is also an increased risk for serious cardiovascular complications because of its effects on the blood vessels. In some instances, the use of this substance–and similar substances–has resulted in brain hemorrhages and stroke. People who are already at an increased risk for these adverse effects are advised to avoid use of this drug.
Frova can also affect fetal development, making this drug unsafe for pregnant women. Women who are breastfeeding should also exercise caution when taking this migraine medication, because it may or may not pass into the breast milk. Its safety has also not been established in teenagers and children, and is generally not recommended for these age groups.
Overall, Frova can be an ideal migraine medication if you have few health problems and suffer from migraine or migraine or aura. If you suffer from a heart condition, however, this drug could be unsafe.
Tags: anti-vasodilators, blood pressure, Frova, Migraine, migraine medications, migraine treatments, migraine with aura
Posted in Migraine Medication | No Comments »
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