whiteboardwallpaper – The Revolution.

Nearly ten percent of People in America are affected by headaches. Migraines typically are when the bloodstreams in the brain enlarge and thus cause swelling and intra cranial pressure. They can be very uncomfortable and paralyzing. Causes of headaches may be:

 

1. Too much or too little sleep
2. Extreme estrogen extra for females during period (over all females are more likely to have headaches than men)
3. Poor diet plan
4. Reaction to certain relaxation techniques
5. Physical tension
6. Emotional trauma

 

Often times headaches are activates by several causes. When it comes to diet plan, there are ways to treat headaches and it’s best to plan in advance. Here are nutritional values or substances that are known to help avoid migraines:

 

• Ever hear the expression steel head? No, it’s not about songs. Mineral magnesium vitamin is steel that our body creates up in the go to strengthen the cranial structure avoiding the effects of go tension. I’m just joking. It is about songs. Mineral magnesium vitamin deals with the nerve fibers, helping them function properly and may be one of the greatest nutritional value there is to avoid headaches. It is a steel that is utilized in a lot of normal chemical side effects in our body. It generally comes with fiber in meals and can be discovered in whole grain or grain bran (oats, whole grain or grain, and rice), dry herbal remedies, seed products (pumpkin, melon, etc), soy coffee beans, molasses, many crazy, grape, coffee beans, oatmeal, oatmeal, celery, kiwi, many meat, and many within a.
• Supplement D is known to avoid headaches, is actually considered to be a hormonal agent and is crucial for the wellness. It is manufactured in our body from cholesterol by preparing UVB (not UVA) light from the sun or certain types of getting brownish naturally stands. It’s best to get 10 to 15 minutes of because the day. Additional vitamin D can be discovered in species of fish, some oatmeal’s, weeds, soy, many kinds of cereals, use products, and can also come from supplements (vitamin D3 is the most normal kind of Supplement D). Still, light and constant sun or UVB visibility is being discovered as the best and most normal way to get vitamin D and other nutrients.
• A lot of riboflavin (Vitamin B2) has been known to avoid headaches. Resources of riboflavin involve weeds, oatmeal, fills, crush, coffee beans, yams, don’t forget your asparagus, clothes, oatmeal, pumpkin, mustard, chives, artichoke, turnips, tomato, cauliflower, peas, vegetables, egg, liver body organ, marmite, dry seasonings like paprika or soup dust, Nuts, soy beans, mozzarella dairy product, and species of fish.
• Coffee is a drug stimulating that may be used to increase the speed efficiency of other medication, such as pain killers. Many medications, like pain killers, already have amounts of caffeinated drinks in them for this purpose. By itself, a caffeinated drink calms the bloodstream, may stop swelling, and is most commonly discovered of coffee, chocolates, and soft drinks.
• Anti-oxidants involve beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene, Natural vitamins A, C, E, zinc oxide, and selenium). Basically, antioxidants repair and avoid cellular damage caused from the body’s use of toxins. Many amazing features come from high and balanced volumes of Anti-oxidants most of which are discovered in produce like fruit and veggies. A lot of meals contain antioxidants; just a few of them are Apples, fruit, fruit, vegetables, oatmeal, grape fruit, fills, garlic, pumpkin, crazy, crush, maize and many more. Try not to over cook many of these meals, because it may remove the normal nutrients or if steamed remove some of the balanced nutritional value.
• Feverfew comes from a Latina word indicating high temperature crusher. It’s a plant that can be absorbed directly or created into vitamins, used throughout many parts of the world. It is proven to be very efficient for a huge portion of people.
• Coenzyme C0Q10 is a normal compound, much like a vitamin, used by most every cell in our body for wind turbine. It has been proven to greatly help avoid or possibly remove headaches. C0Q10 can definitely be formulated and discovered in body organ meat like the renal system, liver body organ, heart and other meals like meat, species of fish, nuts, sardines, and soy bean oil.
• Melatonin is a hormonal agent with anti-inflammatory and antioxidising features. Taking it at bed time could be a very efficient treatment for Migraines. Melatonin is vitamins which can even come from feverfew
• Ω 3 essential unhealthy acids have an excellent many wellness advantages. It’s an unsaturated “healthy” fat that can act as an anti-inflammatory. It is often created into vitamins form. Food types of Ω 3 involve flax seed oil, species of omega-3 unhealthy acids, flax seed, walnuts, sardines, and such as fish.

 

 

 

A complication is a situation more experienced by females too. Based on research, three out of four females will encounter from it. There are several reasons for migraine symptoms in females. First, the testosterone in the ladies body is completely different from the men. Second, females go though per month monthly periods as opposed to men. Third, females are more likely to go on a diet than men. A rapid change in your dietary routines can result to problems.

 

Culprits of Migraine

 

In order to deal with the different migraine symptoms in females, you first need to understand the cause for having serious throbbing headache problems. Here are they:

 

1. Genes – According to research, body’s genes play an important part in identifying your wellness. If your family has a historical past of migraine, then most likely you will encounter the same factor. Individuals who encounter from migraine symptoms in females have irregular body’s genes that impact the brain’s performing.
2. Getting to rest routines – Deficit of or too much rest can also cause migraine.
3. Menstrual cycle
4. Coffee intake
5. Lighting and disturbance understanding – There are some those who are incredibly delicate to shiny lighting and tones. Experience both can improve your possibilities of creating migraine.
6. Dimensions – Climate impacts not only the planet, but your wellness as well.

 

Warning Signs and symptoms of Complications Headaches

 

Migraines are very typical. As a straightforward, more than 30 thousand People in America encounter it. The discomfort is limiting. Many people actually see their physicians just because of it.

 

Women outdated 20 to 45 are at probabilities for creating migraine. If you drop somewhere between the said age team, here are some migraine symptoms in females that you need to be aware of:

· Severe and pounding discomfort in the head

· Lighting sensitivity

· Seeing blinking lights

· Shades spots

· Nausea

· Vomiting

 

Ways to Quit Migraine

 

Good information for migraine patients – you can stop migraine. There are several methods that can treat you. Working with a physician can help you a lot. Your physician can come up with a plan on how to deal with your migraine problems.

 

Once symptoms begin, here’s what you need to do:

 

1. If you are taking drugs, take it right away. Do not try to withstand the discomfort because it will only make the situation more intense.
2. Moisten and stay hydrated.
3. Lie down, relax, and relax. This is the most realistic factor that you can do to reduce the discomfort.

 

Migraine symptoms in females can be avoided. The best tip on how to prevent it is by identifying the trigger, and prevents them. Moreover, change your way of life and start major a stress-free life. All these things are prevention actions that you must do.

 

 

 

A migraine is a common type of headache that may occur with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light. In many people, a throbbing pain is felt only on one side of the head.

Some people who get migraines have warning symptoms, called an aura, before the actual headache begins. An aura is a group of symptoms, including vision disturbances, that are a warning sign that a bad headache is coming.

 

Causes of Migraines :

Migraine headaches tend to first appear between the ages of 10 and 45. Sometimes they may begin later in life.

• Migraines occur more often in women than men,
• Migraines may run in families.
• Some women, but not all, may have fewer migraines when they are pregnant.

A migraine is caused by abnormal brain activity, which is triggered by stress, certain foods, environmental factors, or something else. However, the exact chain of events remains unclear. Today, most medical experts believe the attack begins in the brain, and involves various nerve pathways and chemicals. The changes affect blood flow in the brain and surrounding tissues.

Migraine attacks may be triggered by:

• Alcohol
• Allergic reactions
• Bright lights
• Certain odors or perfumes
• Changes in hormone levels (which can occur during a woman’s menstrual cycle or with the use of birth control pills)
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Exercise
• Loud noises
• Missed meals
• Physical or emotional stress
• Smoking or exposure to smoke

Certain foods and preservatives in foods may trigger migraines in some people. Food-related triggers may include:

• Any processed, fermented, pickled, or marinated foods
• Baked goods
• Chocolate
• Dairy products
• Foods containing monosodium glutamate (MSG)
• Foods containing tyramine, which includes red wine, aged cheese, smoked fish, chicken livers, figs, and certain beans
• Fruits (avocado, banana, citrus fruit)
• Meats containing nitrates (bacon, hot dogs, salami, cured meats)
• Nuts
• Onions
• Peanut butter

This list may not include all triggers.

True migraine headaches are not a result of a brain tumor or other serious medical problem. However, only an experienced health care provider can determine whether your symptoms are due to a migraine or another condition.

 

The Symptoms :

Vision disturbances, or aura, are considered a “warning sign” that a migraine is coming. The aura occurs in both eyes and may involve any or all of the following:

• A temporary blind spot
• Blurred vision
• Eye pain
• Seeing stars or zigzag lines
• Tunnel vision

Not every person with migraines has an aura. Those who do usually develop one about 10 – 15 minutes before the headache. However, it may occur just a few minutes to 24 hours beforehand. A headache may not always follow an aura.

Migraine headaches can be dull or severe. The pain may be felt behind the eye or in the back of the head and neck. For many patients, the headaches start on the same side each time. The headaches usually:

• Feel throbbing, pounding, or pulsating
• Are worse on one side of the head
• Start as a dull ache and get worse within minutes to hours
• Last 6 to 48 hours

Other symptoms that may occur with the headache include:

• Chills
• Increased urination
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Numbness, tingling, or weakness
• Problems concentrating, trouble finding words
• Sensitivity to light or sound
• Sweating

Symptoms may linger even after the migraine has gone away. Patients with migraine sometimes call this a migraine “hangover.” Symptoms can include:

• Feeling mentally dull, like your thinking is not clear or sharp
• Increased need for sleep
• Neck pain

Exams and Tests »

Your doctor can diagnose this type of headache by asking questions about your symptoms and family history of migraines. A complete physical exam will be done to determine if your headaches are due to muscle tension, sinus problems, or a serious brain disorder.

There is no specific test to prove that your headache is actually a migraine. However, your doctor may order a brain MRI or CT scan if you have never had one before or if you have unusual symptoms with your migraine, including weakness, memory problems, or loss of alertness.

An EEG may be needed to rule out seizures. A lumbar puncture (spinal tap) might be done.

 

Treatment

There is no specific cure for migraine headaches. The goal is to prevent symptoms by avoiding or changing your triggers.

A good way to identify triggers is to keep a headache diary. Write down:

• When your headaches occur
• How severe they are
• What you’ve eaten
• How much sleep you had
• Other symptoms
• Other possible factors (women should note where they are in their menstrual cycle)

For example, the diary may reveal that your headaches tend to occur more often on days when you wake up earlier than usual. Changing your sleep schedule may result in fewer migraine attacks.

When you do get migraine symptoms, try to treat them right away. The headache may be less severe. When migraine symptoms begin:

• Drink water to avoid dehydration, especially if you have vomited
• Rest in a quiet, darkened room
• Place a cool cloth on your head

Many different medications are available for people with migraines. Medicines are used to:

• Reduce the number of attacks
• Stop the migraine once early symptoms occur
• Treat the pain and other symptoms

REDUCING ATTACKS

If you have frequent migraines, your doctor may prescribe medicine to reduce the number of attacks. Such medicine needs to be taken every day in order to be effective. Such medications may include:

• Antidepressants such as amitriptyline
• Blood pressure medicines such as beta blockers (propanolol) or calcium channel blockers (verapamil)
• Seizure medication such as valproic acid, gabapentin, and topiramate
• Selective norepinephrine uptake inhibitor (SNRIs) such as venlafaxine

Botulinum toxin (Botox) injections may also help reduce migraine attacks.

STOPPING AN ATTACK

Other medicines are taken at the first sign of a migraine attack. Over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin are often helpful, especially when your migraine is mild. If these don’t help, ask your doctor about prescription medications. (Be aware, however, that overuse or misuse of such pain medications may result in rebound headaches.Chronic rebound headaches typically occur in people who take pain medications more than 3 days a week on an ongoing basis.)

Your doctor can select from several different types of medications, including:

• Triptans — the most frequently prescribed medicines for stopping migraine attacks — such as almotriptan (Axert), frovatriptan (Frova), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex), and zolmitriptan (Zomig)
• Ergots such as dihydroergotamine or ergotamine with caffeine (Cafergot)
• Isometheptene (Midrin)

These medications come in different forms. Patients who have nausea and vomiting with their migraines may be prescribed a nasal spray, suppository, or injection instead of pills.

Some migraine medicines narrow your blood vessels and should not be used if you are at risk for heart attacks or have heart disease, unless otherwise instructed by your health care provider. Ergots should not be taken if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, because they can cause serious side effects to an unborn baby.

TREATING SYMPTOMS

Other medications are primarily given to treat the symptoms of migraine. Used alone or in combinations, these drugs can reduce your pain, nausea, or emotional distress. Medications in this group include:

• Nausea medicines such as prochlorperazine
• Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• Sedatives such as butalbital
• Narcotic pain relievers such as meperidine
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen

If you wish to consider an alternative, feverfew is a popular herb for migraines. Several studies, but not all, support using feverfew for treating migraines. If you are interested in trying feverfew, make sure your doctor approves. Also, know that herbal remedies sold in drugstores and health food stores are not regulated. Work with a trained herbalist when selecting herbs.

No one likes a migraine headache! To say they’re extremely painful is an understatement!

However, if you dislike the thought of taking medications, experiencing their side effects, or spending the money for them, take a look at some natural migraine treatment options:

Treat from the Outside – The power of Touch and Smell:

Be Still – Lie down, close your eyes in a quiet, dark room, and just remain still. Let your muscles relax. Focus on breathing slowly.

Cold/Warm compresses/towels – Try one or all of these combinations:

• Cold compress/towel on your forehead
• Cold compress behind your neck
• Alternate between warm and cold compresses
• Put your feet in warm water and a cool towel on your forehead or entire head

Massage – Your face, neck, shoulders, and/or your back. (It’s best if someone else does this for you.) Rub your temples in a slow, circular motion.

Acupressure -

• Press firmly (or have someone else do it) on the fleshy area between thumb and forefinger.
• Think 2-2-2: Press on 2 points (behind your neck at the base of your skull) that are 2 inches apart for 2 minutes.
• Have someone apply pressure in the section of skin between your big toe and second toe. Press/Rub for one minute and then switch to the other foot.

Acupuncture – Please see a qualified acupuncturist if you choose this method!

Aromatherapy – Lavender, Peppermint, Jasmine, or Rosemary have been found helpful. Use in a bath or with massage. Check a health foods store in your neighborhood for these essential oils and directions on usage.

Treat from the Inside – Food and Supplements:

Calcium – May even help prevent the onset of a migraine. If taking a supplement, aim for 1,000 up to 2,000 mg. (Another added benefit – calcium helps your body burn fat!)

Magnesium – Foods rich in this mineral are:

• Spinach
• Halibut
• Nuts
• Pumpkin seeds
• Oatmeal

Ginger – Mix 1/2 teaspoon of fresh, ginger in warm water

Feverfew – Take 250mg a day day of this herbal supplement

Complex Carbohydrates – Potatoes with the skin on, wheat crackers, or toast. Helpful for some, yet can trigger a migraine in others.

Caffeine - Can also help or trigger a migraine, depending on the individual. Try a cup or 2 of strong coffee as soon as you feel a migraine coming on.

Natural remedies often have benefit of being less expensive with fewer (if any) side effects.

However, I make no guarantees as to their amount of effectiveness. Some of these treatments are very helpful to some, while some of these options can even trigger a migraine in others. Please speak with your medical provider when choosing alternative treatment methods.

Feel free to share what works for you when you have a migraine or just a bad headache.

Imagine wearing a football helmet that’s too tight. Add to that upset stomach, blurred vision, and flashing lights. This is a migraine—a type of headache one memoirist described as feeling like “God just punched you in the side of the face.”

In the simplest terms, migraines are caused by the brain’s blood vessels enlarging and stimulating nerve endings. Most migraine sufferers (75 percent are women) experience more than one symptom. And the triggers are just as varied—from bright lights to stress to changes in hormones. Mary Gustafson, 30, of Chicago says that if she sneezes too many times or watches a 3D movie, she can get a migraine.

With that many triggers and symptoms, “it’s a bit of a detective game trying to find the cause,” says Brent Mathieu, ND, of Boise, Idaho. He suggests that patients first remove possible food allergies and emotional stressors. But if migraines persist, he says, they may be the result of more complicated issues: hormonal imbalances, toxins in the body, or inflammation.

1. Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)
This herb treats migraine pain by interrupting its main cause: inflammatory reactions in your head that aggravate nerve endings and cause the blood vessels to expand. When taken daily, feverfew can prevent migraines, according to Gene Bruno, a nutritionist in New York City, as well as “reduce their severity, duration, and frequency.” Be patient: The results can take four to six weeks. But if you stop taking it, your migraines might return.

Take: Bruno suggests 500 to 600 mg of standardized feverfew daily to treat or prevent migraines. Take two equal portions of feverfew on an empty stomach in the morning and evening.

2. Omega-3s
During a migraine, the tissue surrounding the brain becomes inflamed. That’s why Roy Upton, herbalist and executive director
of the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, suggests taking omega-3 fatty acids, which lessen cells’ reaction to inflammation.

Take: 4,000 to 6,000 mg of fish oil daily with meals for best absorption. After eight to 12 weeks (if the migraines have stabilized), you can adjust the dose to 1,000 mg per day.

ScienceDaily (Jan. 13, 2010) — New research shows that migraine and depression may share a strong genetic component. The research is published in the January 13, 2010, online issue ofNeurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

“Understanding the genetic factors that contribute to these disabling disorders could one day lead to better strategies to manage the course of these diseases when they occur together,” said Andrew Ahn, MD, PhD, of the University of Florida in Gainesville, who wrote an editorial accompanying the study and is a member of the American Academy of Neurology. “In the meantime, people with migraine or depression should tell their doctors about any family history of either disease to help us better understand the link between the two.”

The study involved 2,652 people who took part in the larger Erasmus Rucphen Family study. All of the participants are descendants of 22 couples who lived in Rucphen in the 1850s to 1900s.

“Genealogical information has shown them all to be part of a large extended family, which makes this type of genetic study possible,” said study author Gisela M. Terwindt, MD, PhD, of Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands.

Of the participants, 360 had migraine. Of those, 151 had migraine with aura, which is when headaches are preceded by sensations that affect vision, such as seeing flashing lights, and 209 had migraine with no aura. A total of 977 people had depression, with 25 percent of those with migraine also having depression, compared to 13 percent of those without migraine.

The researchers then estimated the relative contribution of genetic factors for both of the disorders. They found that for both types of migraine, the heritability was estimated at 56 percent, i.e., 56 percent of the trait is explained by genetic effects. For migraine with aura, the estimate was 96 percent. “This finding shows that migraine with aura may be a promising avenue to search for migraine genes,” Terwindt said.

Comparing the heritability scores for depression between those with migraine and those without showed a shared genetic component in the two disorders, particularly with migraine with aura. “This suggests that common genetic pathways may, at least partly, underlie both of these disorders, rather than that one is the consequence of the other,” Terwindt said.

The study was supported by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research, the European Community, and the Centre for Medical Systems Biology in the framework of the Netherlands Genomics Initiative.

MYTH: A MIGRAINE IS JUST A BAD HEADACHE.

REALITY: MIGRAINE IS A DISEASE, A HEADACHE IS ONLY A SYMPTOM. IN ADDITION, THE CAUSE OF MIGRAINE PAIN IS THEOPPOSITE OF THE CAUSE OF HEADACHE PAIN.

      Migraine is disease, a headache is only a symptom. Migraine pain is caused by vasodilation in the cranial blood vessels (expansion of the blood vessels), while headache pain is caused by vasoconstriction (narrowing of the blood vessels). During a migraine, inflammation of the tissue surrounding the brain, i.e., neurogenic inflammation, exacerbates the pain. Therefore, medicine often prescribed to treat a headache, such as beta-blockers, dilate the blood vessels and therefore can make a Migraine worse.

      Unlike a headache, the Migraine disease has many symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, auras (light spots), sensitivity to light and sound, numbness, difficulty in speech, and severe semihemispherical head pain. One Migraine attack alone can last for eight hours, several days, or even weeks.

      Migraine is a genetically-based disease. We first learned this in the mid-90′s, as it was specifically stated in correspondence with M.A.G.N.U.M. by Dr. Stephen J. Peroutka, M.D., Ph.D., President & CEO of Spectra Biomedical, Inc., a group of research physicians dedicated to understanding the genetic basis of Migraine and other illnesses, the “data are unequivocal: Migraine is a genetically-based illness. Individuals with a single parent having Migraine have approximately a 50% chance of having Migraine. This susceptibility is neither psychological nor induced by environmental causes.”

The the really exciting genetic discoveries where yet to come! And it came from down under by an Australian genetic research team at Grithiths University, north of Sydney. The Millennium year was a breakthrough year for Migraineurs as the Australian team, lead by Professor Lynn Griffiths, discovered not one, not two, but three genes for Migraine disease! MAGNUM had the opportunity to interview Dr. Lyn Griffiths, one of the world’s top experts on Migraines and genetics. Dr. Griffiths is the director of the Genomics Research Center at the Gold Coast campus of Griffith University, in Queensland, Australia. She told us that the research clearly shows that almost all Migraineurs have a close relative who is also a Migraineur. Migraineurs have a real ally in Dr. Griffiths as we where very impressed with her resolve for follow her research as far it goes, which just may lead us to a cure in the future.

      A Migraine is induced by various controllable and uncontrollable triggers. Uncontrollable triggers include weather patterns and menstrual cycles, and controllable triggers include bright light, aspartame, and alcohol. The severity and frequency of Migraines for one person depends upon how many triggers an individual must experience before a Migraine is induced. The combination of triggers is different for each person.

MYTH: MIGRAINE IS CAUSED BY PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS, SUCH AS STRESS AND DEPRESSION.

REALITY: MIGRAINE IS A NEUROLOGICAL DISEASE, NOT A PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDER.

      Migraine is a true organic neurological disease. A Migraine is caused when a physiological (not psychological) trigger or triggers cause vasodilatation in the cranial blood vessels, which triggers nerve endings to release chemical substances called neurotransmitters, of which the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HTT) is an important factor in the development of Migraine.

      Dr. Saper stated in his endorsement letter to M.A.G.N.U.M. that “[Migraine] is not a psychological or psychiatric disease but one which results from biological and physiological alterations.” Similarly, Dr. Fred D. Sheftell, M.D., Director and Founder for the New England Center for Headache specifically stated in his letter of endorsement that “Migraine is absolutely a biologically-based disorder with the same validity as other medical disorders including hypertension, angina, asthma, epilepsy, etc. Unfortunately, there have been many myths perpetrated in regard to this disorder. The most destructive of which are ‘It is all in your head,’ ‘You have to learn to live with it,’ and ‘Stress is the major cause.’”

      Misdiagnosis of Migraine as a psychological disorder can lead to a doctor prescribing unnecessary, counterproductive, and even dangerous medication. It is common for a Migraineur to be diagnosed, for example, with clinical depression and prescribed unnecessary drugs, leaving the Migraines unaffected. The continued presence of the Migraines may lead the doctor to believe that the Migraineur is unable to “handle” problems and is still “depressed”, leading to continued unnecessary drug treatment … and so on.

      As mentioned above, the Migraine disease is induced by various trigger mechanisms. Trigger mechanisms can be broken down into two primary categories: uncontrollable and controllable. The Migraine triggers usually work in combinations.

      Remember, Migraine is a disease that involves a heightening of one’s senses, all of one’s senses. A Migraineur is more sensitive to his or her surroundings, including light, sound, smells, taste (chemicals in foods), and touch (including the touch of the atmospheric pressure on one’s body). Awareness of one’s environment is critical for a Migraineur.

      A good example of an uncontrollable Migraine trigger is weather patterns. Germany, for example, offers a telephone number that people such as weather-sensitive Migraine sufferers can call to find out the risk to their health of that day’s weather pattern. A recent study entitled “The Effects of Weather on the Frequency and Severity of Migraine Headaches” conducted in Canada arrived at the following conclusions: 1) “Phase 4″ weather, characterized by a drop in barometric pressure, the passing of a warm front, high temperature and humidity and oftentimes rain, is closely associated with higher frequency and severity of Migraine attacks.; 2) a high humidex discomfort index during the summer is associated with an increased frequency of Migraine attacks; 3) wind from the southeast was shown to be associated with more attacks than wind from any other direction; and 4) a number of Migraine sufferers may be sensitive to extreme rates of barometric pressure changes.

      Another common uncontrollable trigger is the menstrual cycle. As explained by Dr. Stephen D. Silberstein, M.D., F.A.C.P., Co-Director, The Comprehensive Headache Center at Germantown Hospital and Medical Center, Migraine usually develops around the time of the first menstrual period, called the menarche. The Migraine appears to be the result of falling levels or reduced availability of estrogen. Migraine sometimes becomes worse in the first trimester of pregnancy, but many women are Migraine-free later in their pregnancy. Menstrual Migraine is often more difficult to treat than other types of head pain. Women who have Migraines only with their period can often achieve relief by taking preventive (prophylactic) medication just before their period begins. If severe menstrual Migraine cannot be effectively controlled by any of these medications, hormonal therapy is a possibility.

      Controllable triggers, on the other hand, include bright light, chemical smells, second-hand smoke, particular alcohols such as red wine and some hard alcohols such as scotch, foods that are known vasodilator such as fish, some chocolate, aged cheese, and foods which contain nitrates and/or the radical vasodilator MSG.

      Therefore, if one avoids controllable triggers during Migraine-weather or menstrual cycles, one may be able to escape a Migraine attack. Another tip: take abortive medication prescribed for Migraine at the earliest sign of a Migraine attack. Oftentimes, if one waits to take the medication until the attack has matured, the medication may prove practically ineffective. The drugs commonly prescribed to Migraineurs fall into two groups: abortive and preventative (prophylactic). There are some common problems and adverse effects associated with a host of the medications. Some of the more pronounced are: from abortive drugs, dizziness from Stadol, tolerance to barbiturates, rebound headache from overuse of Ergotamine and over-the-counter non-narcotic analgesics (e.g., Tylenol, aspirin and NSAIDS); and from preventative drugs, beta-blockers and calcium channel-blockers can trigger headaches/Migraines. Get to know your pharmacist, he or she can be an important source of information.

MYTH: MIGRAINE IS NOT LIFE THREATENING, JUST ANNOYING.

REALITY: MIGRAINE CAN BE LIFE THREATENING, INDUCING SUCH CONDITIONS AS STROKE AND COMA.

      Migraine can induce a host of serious physical conditions: strokes, aneurysms, permanent visual loss, severe dental problems, coma and even death.

      According to the New England Journal of Medicine, “migraine can sometimes lead to ischemic stroke and stroke can sometimes be aggravated by or associated with the development of migraine.” Twenty-seven percent of all strokes suffered by persons under the age of 45 are caused by Migraine. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in this country. In addition, twenty-five percent of all incidents of cerebral infarction were associated with Migraines, according to the Mayo clinic. Most recently the British Medical Journal reported that after evaluating 14 major Migraine & stroke studies in the U.S. and Canada that Migraineurs are 2.2 times greater risk for stroke than the non-migraine population. That risk goes up to a staggering 8 times more stroke risk for women Migraineurs on the pill!

      Migraine and epileptic seizure disorders are also interrelated. The most intimate interrelationship between the two being Migraine-triggered epilepsy. Migraine affects up to 15% of the epileptic population. In basic terms, Migraine and Epilepsy are both disorders characterized by paroxysmal, transient alterations of Neurologic function, usually with normal Neurologic examinations between events (attacks).

      Not only can the Migraine disease be life threatening, but it can have a devastating and disruptive effect on normal living. Migraine sufferers experience not only excruciating pain, but social ostracism, job loss, disruption to personal relationships, and prejudices in the workplace.

      Oftentimes people think that those with Migraines just can’t handle life, or, in reality, are drug addicts or alcoholics. Such perception can be formed when, for example, people see a Migraineur wearing sun glasses indoors (photo sensitive), lying in a dark and silent room (photo and sound sensitive), making frequent trips to the rest room (nausea and vomiting), leaving early, working late, slurred speech, all what they may think is erratic behavior. According to Dr. Sheftell, “Historically, patients with the most intractable Migraines experience a downward spiral in terms of income and contributions to society at large.”

      Also, a recent study showed that the loss of labor time and lost productivity of Migraine sufferers may exact a significant toll on U.S. business. According to a position paper signed by the American Academy of Pain Medicine, et. al., 150 million work days per year, equivalent to 1,200 million work hours, are lost each year to head pain. The corresponding annual cost to industry and the health care system due to Migraine amounts to $5 to $17 billion.

MYTH: ANY DOCTOR WILL RECOGNIZE AND PROPERLY TREAT MIGRAINE.

REALITY: MIGRAINE IS ONE OF THE MOST MISDIAGNOSED, MISTREATED AND LEAST UNDERSTOOD DISEASES.

      The fact that so many doctors don’t take Migraine seriously can be as disabling to the Migraineur as the disability itself. The leading doctors in the areas of neurology and head pain have themselves stated that this disease is grossly misunderstood and misdiagnosed. In fact, 60% of women and 70% of men with Migraine have never been diagnosed with this disease. This medical ignorance and corresponding inaccurate writings unfortunately perpetuate the myths and misunderstandings about Migraine and convey this to the general public.

      Dr. Saper stated that “Migraine is a serious and underestimated health problem … Patients with Migraine are shunted along an assembly line of misdiagnosis, undertreatment, or frank mismanagement. They are subjected to unnecessary procedures and preventable consequences.” And as Dr. Silberstein wrote to M.A.G.N.U.M., “Migraine sufferers must not only cope with their pain, but also with society’s misunderstanding of the disorder. Migraineurs are frequently dismissed as neurotic complainers who are unable to handle stress. The truth is that they frequently battle against great odds in order to hold down jobs and support families … Young Migraine sufferers sometimes miss enough school so that they are unable to graduate with their peers.”

      Similarly, Dr. Sheftell stated “In addition to misdiagnosis and under-diagnosis, Migraine sufferers will bear the brunt of discriminatory policies by a variety of health care agencies.” Such agencies may deny reimbursement for emergency room visits and for hospitalizations for the most severe sufferers. It is not uncommon for doctors to think that a Migraine sufferer is in the emergency room to receive drugs, and dangerously turn them away.

      Because Migraine is a genetically-based disease, severe Migraine, according to Spectra Biomedical, “will be diagnosable by objective DNA tests with in the next few years. These tests should also lead to a significant improvement in the disease management of this common and often disabling illness.”

      Improved health care related to the Migraine disability is one way in which M.A.G.N.U.M. is working to improve the life of Migraineurs. M.A.G.N.U.M. is working with U.S. Senator Charles Robb to include Intractable Migraine in the Code of Federal Regulations “Listing of Impairments” Parts A & B. This is an immediately achievable health care reform on which Senator John Warner (R-VA) & Congressman James Moran (D-VA) have committed to work with M.A.G.N.U.M. on.

According to the world’s leading Migraine disease epidemiologist, Dr. Richard Lipton, of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, — “Education and empowerment are the keys to successful Migraine management. Patients, who understand their disease, identify their triggers and learn to use both behavioral strategies and medications effectively can dramatically reduce their burden of illness.” MAGNUM in working hard to continue to empower Migraineurs by keeping access to quality information about their disease ever available and current.

      We are far from a cure, let alone a sure-fired treatment, for Migraine. But understanding that Migraine is a real and debilitating disease goes a long way toward improving the quality of life for Migraineurs and their loved ones.

      And if you are not a Migraine sufferer, then remember the next time you offer advice to the person in your life that suffers from Migraines, make sure it’s not toxic (i.e., you need to avoid stress, cheer up, don’t drink Coke, or other well-meaning but emotionally debilitating statements). Rather, offer to turn down the lights and the TV, and let them know you understand. Remember: Migraine is an “invisible” disorder. “Well! I’ve often seen a cat without a grin,” thought Alice; “But a grin without a cat! It’s the most curious thing I ever saw in all my life!” Like Alice’s Cheshire-Cat who sat in a tree revealing himself only to Alice, he nonetheless had great impact on her daily travels, as Migraines do on individuals who suffer from them.

January 15, 2010 — A new study suggests that the strong relationship between migraine, particularly migraine with aura, and depression may be explained at least in part by shared genetic factors.

“Twin- and family-based studies have shown that both migraine and depression have a strong genetic basis,” report the investigators led by Anine Stam, MD, from Leiden University in the Netherlands.

“Identification of common genetic factors may significantly improve insight into the molecular basis of these common and highly disabling episodic brain disorders,” the researchers note.

The new study is published in the January 13 issue of Neurology.

In an accompanying editorial, Andrew Ahn, MD, from the University of California at San Francisco, and Tetsuo Ashizawa, MD, from the University of Florida in Gainesville, applaud the study authors on their innovative approach in explaining the comorbidity of migraine and depression.

“The frequent association between migraine headache and mood disorders represents a common and at times challenging clinical scenario,” the editorialists point out. “This finding informs our understanding of the heritability of these 2 disorders and prompts us to make note of our migraine patients’ family histories of both headache and depression.”

Family History of Headache and Depression Important

The investigators studied members of a geographically and genetically isolated population in southwest Holland. Participants were part of the Erasmus Rucphen Family project, a cohort of descendants from 22 couples. The couples are related through previous generations, and study participants are all members of a large extended family.

Researchers screened the more than 2600 people by questionnaire and follow-up telephone interview. They identified 360 with a history of migraine.

Investigators identified depression using 2 measures — the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. More than 580 participants had depression.

The study authors then combined these diagnoses and used a statistical algorithm to determine to what degree the presence of migraine and depression could be explained by genetics.

They found that patients with migraine with aura were the most likely to be depressed.

Table. Depression in Migraine Patients

Patients	Depression, %	Odds Ratio (95% Confidence Interval)	P Value
Controls (n = 617)	13	1.00
Migraine, no aura (n = 209)	21	1.29 (0.98 – 1.70)	.07
Migraine with aura (n = 151)	32	1.70 (1.28 – 2.24)	<.001

“A few points merit caution in the conclusions of this study,” the editorialists note. “First, the observed heritability of migraine with aura in the Dutch isolate population, 0.96, or 96%, is high, and greatly exceeds prior estimates, which range from 0.65 to 0.79.”

Second, they add, the confidence intervals around the heritability estimate of migraine with aura are broad, suggesting that there could be substantial statistical uncertainty, which limits the ability to detect a small reduction by depression.

And finally, the differences in the heritability of migraine are much more divergent than seen in previous estimates, the editorialists caution. “These results require further confirmation by a similarly designed study in another isolate population.”

Confirmation, they note, would suggest that at least 1 pathophysiologic process could underlie both of these disabling disorders, with other processes contributing to the distinct features of each. “This hypothesis may lead to better therapeutic strategies when these disorders are present together.”

taken from medscape.com

Problems are very common. Many well-known principles have turned on around why they occur, when they occur and to whom. With the help of doctor, we unpick information from the action.

 

One in eight people in the UK encounter from additional complications, which is more than those with diabetes mellitus, epilepsy and asthma put together.

 

While the cause may not be apparent, the latest research recommend additional complications are as an outcome of an approved down issue, which may or may not be approved down.

 

Migraines can be absolutely harmful. They can impact a people execute, self assurance and even their relationships. It’s important for those around people to view the impact additional complications can have.

Popular myths: reality or fiction?

Myth: additional complications people have just got a bad headache

 

Reality: additional complications are as an outcome of a mind issue and involve more than just a beating throbbing headache.

 

Symptoms can involve beating, feeling tired and or a feeling of sickness, comprehension to lighting style, sound, fragrances and factor – noticeable disorder that can involve flashing lighting style, zigzagging outcomes and in serious circumstances, temporary loss of vision.

 

Typically, additional complications can last between 4 and 72 time.

 

‘A well-known impact is that additional complications people are just putting it on and have usually got a beating throbbing headache,’ says Dr Sue Lipscombe, a additional complications professional at the neurology office of Royal Sussex Country Medical care middle, Brighton.

 

‘That’s because people say they have additional complications, when actually they’ve just got a beating throbbing headache and because people don’t really understood how harmful additional complications can be.

 

‘There are four times to a migraine: the prodrome when it is apparent – perhaps because of a cleansed out look – that something is about to occur, the factor level, the beating throbbing headache level and the postdrome level after the reach when the sufferer seems weary and not quite themselves.

 

In purchase to find a additional complications the sufferer must have two out of the four considerable times, and one of the other minor signs, such as don’t like of sound or fragrances,’ she says.

 

In evaluation, issues, while they can be disturbing, usually involve only a beating throbbing headache, which can often be treated by removing yourself from a source of need or getting soothing anaesthetic.

 

Around 2 % of people have additional complications as serious – known as hemiplegic additional complications – the outcomes can imitate cerebral general injuries, with the sufferer quickly losing the use of arms or feet on one element of our body and having discussion concerns.

 

Myth: additional complications are as an outcome of chocolate

 

Reality: Lee Tomkins, Film movie director of Headaches Actions Relationship, says the idea that additional complications are as an outcome of sweets is more likely to be a perception than a reality.

 

‘Many people with additional complications get charming tendencies just before the start an reach, and those tendencies can involve sweets,’ says Lee Tomkins.

 

‘That’s why they internet marketer marketer them as activates. In fact, however, the additional complications may already be continuous.

 

‘There are those who do react to amines – ingredients found in sweets, mozzarella milk products item, and red drinks – and are not able to process them. They have an approved down blip and should avoid them. However, the wide range of circumstances is not as common as people think,’ he says.

 

Triggers for additional complications include:

• Stress
• Dehydration
• missing meals
• too little or too much sleep
• alcohol
• perfume
• barometric need (heavy, wet weather)
• some food, such as mozzarella milk products item, acidity fruit or java.

Myth: women are more likely to get migraines

Reality: up until teenager way of life, additional complications research are very in the same way separated between kids, with 10 % of schoolchildren having issues additional complications.

After teenager way of life, around 3 out of 4 additional complications people are women. This divergence comes back to a more comparative separated again for the over 50s, when women are likely to have gone through the the change of way of life.

‘Changes in unwanted estrogens can cause to additional complications,’ says Dr Sue Lipscombe.

‘This is why for some women they are connected to the period. They can have additional complications just before the start of a period when their unwanted oestrogen periods decrease. For some this is the only time when they have additional complications, while for others there may be no hormonal agent weblink at all,’ she says.

Myth: additional complications only impact great achievers

Reality: ‘Migraines can impact anyone, whatever their personality kind or background,’ says Dr Sue Lipscombe.

‘They can also impact kids, with around 10 % of schoolchildren having them. Its important tutors are aware of this, particularly around evaluation time because need can be a cause to.

‘Equally, it’s important for companies to understand how harmful additional complications can be, and that they’re not just additional complications.

‘It’s complicated for someone going through a reach – and perhaps a feeling of sickness – to bring on managing, and it can take times to recover,’ she says.

Myth: additional complications make you sick

Reality: a feeling of sickness and feeling tired are common among additional complications people.

‘There are wide ranges of over-the-counter medication you can get now to settle the gut,’ says Lee Tomkins.

‘Children who encounter from additional complications are often exhausted, have a rest and then encounter better afterwards,’ he says.

Myth: there’s no deal with for migraines

Reality: it’s real that there’s no deal with for additional complications, however there are a wide range of solutions now available.

‘Botox has been qualified in the UK for those with really complicated constant additional complications issues – around 2 % of people,’ says Lee Tomkins.

‘These people are likely to have tried every other treatment and usually have 15 additional complications, 8 of which are additional complications, per month. They can be very ill,’ he says.

For those with common additional complications, triptans can reduce the beating throbbing headache element of additional complications. They execute in about 80 % of people. There are different types available that execute diversely. Impacted people, however, who are so exhausted they cannot bring solutions in their belly, may need a nasal area utilize or a taken.

‘We recommend those who get additional complications make a additional complications technique, such as aspects that they can do for themselves, such as pleasurable techniques – such as the Bowen or Alexander technique,’ adds Lee Tomkins.

‘The all natural remedy feverfew can help.’

‘Studies have also confirmed that 400mg of nutrient mineral magnesium supplement vitamin and 150 to 400mg of vitamin B2 can help avoid additional complications,’ he says.

Myth: additional complications are precursors to strokes

Reality: ‘This is a common fear,’ says Dr Sue Lipscombe.

‘However, additional complications people do have an enhanced possibility of action, especially those who have factor part of additional complications. This risk is definitely enhanced in people who have factor and are getting the combined delivery control method product,’ she says.