MIGRAINES

A migraine is often described as an intense pulsing or throbbing in one spot of the head. However, it is much more; the International Headache Society diagnoses a migraine by its pain and number of attacks (at least 5, lasting 4-72 hours if untreated), and additional symptoms including nausea and/or vomiting, or sensitivity to both light and sound.

Migraines are three times more common in women then in men. It affects more than 10% of the people worldwide. Nearly one-third of affected individuals can predict a migraine because it is preceded by an "aura," or a visual disturbance that appears as flashing lights, zig-zag lines or a temporary loss of vision

Migraines tend to occur many times and the attacks are triggered by a number of different factors, including stress, anxiety, hormonal changes, bright or flashing lights, lack of food or sleep, and dietary substances.

For years scientists believed that migraines were linked to the dilation and constriction of blood vessels in the head. They now believe that migraines have a genetic cause.

SYMPTOMS OF HEMIPLEGIC MIGRAINES

• Severe, throbbing pain, often on one side of your head
• Pins and needles feeling starting in your hand and going up to your arm
• Numbness on one side of your body,that can include arm,leg or side of face
• Weakness or paralysis on one side of your body
• Loss of balance and coordination

CONTINUED SYMPTOMS OF MIGRAINES

• Visual aura, such as seeing zigzag lines, double vision, or blind spots
• Language difficulties like mixing words or forgetting words
• Slurred speech
• Dizziness or vertigo
• Extreme sensitivity to light, sound, and smell

CONTINUED SYMPTOMS OF MIGRAINES

• Confusion
• Decreased consciousness or coma
• What is a Hemiplegic migraine? There are several types of migraine.
• One major group is called migraine with aura.
• Hemiplegic migraine is a severe subtype of this group.

When do migraines generally begin?

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

FOODS CAUSING MIGRAINES

Baked goods, chocolate, nuts, peanut butter, and dairy products
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)
Onions

MORE TRIGGERS FOR MIGRAINES

• Caffeine withdrawal
• Smoking or exposure to smoke
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Exercise or other physical stress
• Some foods may trigger migraines as well

Treatments
There is no absolute cure for migraines since its pathophysiology has yet to be fully understood. There are two ways to approach the treatment of migraine headache with drugs: prevent the attacks, or relieve the symptoms during the attacks. Prevention involves the use of medications and behavioral changes. Drugs originally developed for epilepsy, depression, or high blood pressure to prevent future attacks have been shown to be extremely effective in treating migraine.

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