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| Migraines
- A Life Sentence? by Susan Eskdale If you have been diagnosed with migraine headaches, you may feel that it is a life sentence. Understanding the basics about migraines may help others understand what you are going through. |
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You have been diagnosed with migraines,
chances are you feel like this is a life sentence, and in many ways it
can be, but there is hope by learning about the condition and how to live
within the parameters of a migraine. Migraine headaches are very common around the world and result in the loss of millions of dollars every year for the business world. Individuals suffering from migraine will often lose time each year to uncontrolled headaches that keep them confined to their beds and unable to go to work.
Sounds and lights can cause unbearable pain to migraine sufferers. The ability to think and function becomes impaired, but many sufferers continue to push themselves to continue working through the pain. Knowledge about migraines is important if we as a society are going to learn to understand the impacts this disorder has on family, social and the work lives of those suffering from the condition. |
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What is a migraine? It is perhaps the most intense throbbing pain, usually on one side of the head, which is caused by dilation of the arteries in the head. The pain is intense and can last from a few hours to three days. There is no real understanding of the underlying cause of migraine but there has been much study on the triggers associated with the onset of these headaches. Contrary to popular belief, migraines are not always preceded by an aura. An aura is a visual cue that signals the onset of pain for some sufferers. The aura differs in description given by those who experience them. Some describe it as flashing lights, others as parts of their field of vision being blocked or having colours superimposed upon the visual field. Others may find that their migraines are preceded by loss of ability to speak or numbness of one side of their body. These symptoms, including auras, usually disappear once the actual headache begins. Those with migraines will tell you that lights and noise are two of the worst things they have to battle during a migraine. Wearing of sunglasses indoors or even during the night (when driving) does little to kill the pain that the light inflicts upon them. Little noises seem to be intensified to the point of being too loud to stand and any other noise is simply unbearable. Triggers of migraines differ from person to person and can even differ from one attack to the next, making it difficult to identify triggers. There are five main trigger types associated with migraines and these are:
Some common dietary triggers include red wine, MSG, and cheese. Hormonal levels, such as those caused by menstruation, can result in onset of migraine. Physical and emotional stress can both trigger migraine. Barometric pressure changes can be a major cause of migraine issues. Sleeping too little or too much or skipping meals can also provide trigger for migraines. |
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Who gets migraines?
Well, the sufferers come from a wide variety of walks of life and include
children as young as nine years old. The majority of individuals suffering
from this condition will develop migraine symptoms in adolescence or in
their early twenties. Two-thirds of sufferers are females compared to
one-third of the male population. There is a definite hereditary component
to migraine, but this does not mean that migraine has to be a part of
your family medical history in order for you to suffer the symptoms. There
is some good news, by identifying what your triggers are and avoiding
them, the incidence of migraines will decrease and may even disappear.
For others, migraines may begin to disappear in the 30s or 40s, often
resulting from hormonal changes. There is no guarantee that you will escape
from migraines, identifying triggers and avoiding them are going to be
your best course of action. If you believe that
you may suffer from migraines please speak with your physician as soon
as possible. The doctors know all the questions to ask and can help you
to develop a program for dealing with the attacks. You will likely be
asked to keep a log or calendar of migraines to determine frequency and
intensity. It is from this log that you will be able to start determining
what your triggers are. It is not an easy task but will be well worth
the effort if you can determine the triggers and avoid them. Pain management
programs are individual and should be worked out with your physician.
Normally these programs include pain prevention and pain relief. |
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If you would like more information on migraines there is a wealth of information available on the web, but I have selected a few great sites that you may wish to consult:
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