What Do We Mean When We Talk About A Migraine Headache And Just What Are Its Signs And Symptoms?
One of the most frequent migraine symptoms is an intense throbbing pain that is generally located on one side of the head near to the area of the temple. Migraines are also frequently accompanied by additional symptoms which include sensitivity to noise and light, nausea and sometimes vomiting.
Migraines are reasonably common and affect about one in ten people in America, or more than 28 million Americans. They are also far more often experienced by women rather than men (about three times as many women suffer from migraines) and can also be see sometimes in children.
Despite the fact that migraines are so common and usually very painful with an attack lasting anything from a few hours to several days, only about 50% of all sufferers ever consult their doctor and the rest elect to suffer in silence.
It had long been thought these headaches resulted from a of dilation of the blood vessels in the head but, even though there is no general agreement, medical opinion appears to be changing in favor of a genetic cause for this condition. It is now believed that the condition results from the interaction of brain chemicals like serotonin with the nerve cells. At this point in time however the truth is that we really do not know what cause migraines.
In fact there are two different forms of migraine, the first of which is known as 'classical migraine', which is characterized by an associated 'aura'. In this case 'aura' refers to visual light effects that are experienced just before the arrival of a headache including such things as flashing lights and bright light spots. In a few cases a total loss of vision may be experienced for several minutes before the start of the headache.
The second form of the condition is simply a migraine without the prior symptoms of an 'aura'.
In exactly the same way that we do not know what causes a migraine, so too we have very little idea about exactly what triggers an attack, although there are several factors which do seem likely to trigger an attack. For instance, getting too much sleep appears to be one factor and so does skipping meals or eating particular types of food like cheese.
Hormones are also thought to influence both the onset and severity of attacks and this is evidenced the higher incidence of migraines in women. This in part is thought to be because estrogen affects the blood vessels and some studies have noted that there is a connection between the contraceptive pill (containing estrogen) and migraines.
Just to confuse matters however studies have also shown that everyday activities like climbing stairs can trigger a migraine attack, as can exposure to loud noises, cold and heat, flashing lights and even stress.
Luckily, there are various migraine treatments available, though no single treatment is really effective in all cases. One thing which we do know though is that over-the-counter medicines are seldom effective and, if you are unlucky enough to suffer from migraine headaches, you are best advised to ask your doctor for help in finding a solution that works for you.
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