In North America, more than 1 in 10 people have migraine headaches. Most migraine sufferers are women. Migraines usually appear between the ages of 10 and 40. After the age of 50, they tend to disappear, especially among women after menopause.
Migraine
Alternate Names: Migraine Headache
Featuring content from MRI Clinic
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Causes Migraine is a complex disorder involving the brain and the blood vessels around the brain and head. The brain may become hyperactive in response to certain environmental triggers, such as light or smells, for reasons that are not known. This starts a series of chemical changes that irritate the pain sensing nerves around the head and cause blood vessels to expand and leak chemicals which further irritate the nerves. A migraine will typically last anywhere from 4 to 72 hours.
While migraine does seem to run in families, a clear genetic cause has only been nailed down for one rare type of the disease called familial hemiplegic migraine.
Although we don't know the precise causes of migraine, we are aware of potential triggers – habits and circumstances that are associated with the onset of a migraine headache.
The number one trigger is hormonal changes. Two-thirds of women sufferers only get their headaches around the time of their period. Migraines in women are usually worse around puberty and they tend to disappear around menopause.
Another common migraine trigger involves food. The most common culprits are:
- alcohol, especially red wine and beer
- tobacco
- aged cheeses
- chocolate
- fermented, pickled, or marinated foods
- monosodium glutamate (MSG)
- aspartame
- caffeine
Other triggers include:
- stress
- hunger
- obesity
- exercise
- head trauma
- strong stimuli such as flashing lights or strong odours
- changes in sleeping patterns
- changes in barometric pressure
Symptoms and Complications Migraine headaches are more severe and last longer than regular "tension" headaches. The pain is more localized, often concentrated over one eye. Severe headaches that affect only one side of the head are generally due to migraines. Migraine headaches are often associated with nausea and vomiting, difficulty concentrating, as well as hypersensitivity to light and noise. The headaches are often made worse by movement or bending over. As a result, migraine sufferers tend to lie still in a dark, quiet room and avoid any type of stimulation.
About 1 in 4 migraine sufferers experience an "aura" just before the headache comes on. Auras are visual effects that can include flashes of light, lines with vivid colours, or double vision. Occasionally patients may feel weak or slur their words. These symptoms usually disappear after 15 to 30 minutes, only to be replaced by crushing pain and, in some cases, severe nausea.
Migraine headaches should not be confused with rebound headaches (also called medication overuse headaches). Rebound headaches can strike anyone who uses ASA* (acetylsalicylic acid) or other pain medications for headache pain more than 3 times a week. They can also occur for people who use narcotic pain relievers (e.g., codeine), medications containing more than one pain reliever, or "triptan" medications (e.g., almotriptan, rizatripan, sumatriptan) on more than 10 days a month. Sometimes these rebound headaches are called medication-induced headaches. The medicine works for a little while, but as it wears off, the pain comes back with a vengeance. If you turn to pain medications for relief, the vicious cycle often continues. The end result is a constant dull headache, affecting both sides of the head. It tends to worsen each time the pain medication wears off. If you think you might have rebound headaches, talk to your doctor about the best way to manage them.
A long-term study suggested that women with migraine have a higher risk of stroke. Migraines generally affect young people, and stroke is rare in this population. The relationship between migraine and stroke is still unclear and further studies are needed.
Making the Diagnosis None of the common diagnostic tests for the brain (e.g., CAT scan) are successful at detecting migraine, although they may be used to rule out other causes of headache. Doctors rely on a person's symptoms and history to diagnose the disorder. Your doctor may ask you to keep a headache diary to help diagnose migraine.
Treatment and Prevention Sometimes you can cut down the number of migraine headaches you have by avoiding potential triggers. Identifying migraine triggers isn't easy. Many doctors recommend keeping a headache diary. By recording the circumstances (e.g., emotions, foods eaten) surrounding your migraines, you may eventually figure out what situations to stay clear of to reduce your risk of migraines.
There are some measures you can take to help reduce the number of migraine headaches: avoid sleep deprivation and undue stress and maintain a regular exercise program and good nutrition. Other techniques such as yoga, meditation, and biofeedback techniques may also be helpful. When these measures do not solve the problem, medication may be required. Document the techniques you've tried and how well they worked in your headache diary, too.
There are two basic types of migraine medication: acute medications are used to control the symptoms of an existing migraine headache, and prophylactic medications are taken to prevent migraine headaches. The choice of treatment depends on the severity of migraine, other medical problems, and on how often migraines occur.
Acute medications include:
- pain medications that contain ASA, acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents such as ibuprofen, or naproxen for mild to moderate migraine headaches
- ergot preparations such as ergotamine or dihydroergotamine (DHE) that constrict dilated blood vessels
- triptans (e.g., sumatriptan, naratriptan, zolmitriptan, rizatriptan, almotriptan, frovatriptan, eletriptan) that mimic the chemical messenger serotonin, constricting blood vessels to relieve pain
- antinausea medications such as metoclopramide, chlorpromazine, prochlorperazine, and dimenhydrinate may also be used
Prophylactic medications include:
- antiseizure medications such as valproic acid, divalproex sodium, gabapentin, and topiramate; these may stabilize nerve cells and prevent the brain hypersensitivity that triggers the migraine
- blood pressure medications such as beta-blockers (e.g., propranolol or metoprolol), candesartan, lisinopril, and calcium channel blockers (e.g., flunarizine and verapamil) – these can prevent headaches by stabilizing blood vessels
- serotonin blockers such as pizotifen may also be effective
- tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline and nortriptyline – these work like pain medications at lower doses and increase the levels of certain brain chemicals
- calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonists (e.g., enenumab, galcanezumab are a type of monoclonal antibody which work by blocking the activity of a protein which can trigger migraines<
- botulinum toxin may have benefit for people suffering from chronic migraines (i.e., occurring more than 15 days per month for more than 3 months)
- vitamins or supplements such as riboflavin (vitamin B2), coenzyme Q10, or magnesium may have some benefit, but additional studies are required
A headache specialist might recommend other therapies:
- There are herbal products like feverfew that might help prevent migraines.
- Relaxation therapy and biofeedback aim to teach people to control body functions such as temperature and pulse.
- Behavioural therapy involves learning how to avoid headache triggers by changing behaviour.
There is some evidence that suggests chiropractic care, such as spinal manipulation, can help alleviate pain associated with migraine that originates from the neck.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2021. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Migraine
All material © 1996-2021 MediResource Inc. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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Migraine: changing for the better
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Learning and avoiding your migraine triggers
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The right migraine treatment for you
Family & ChildIf you have been treating your own headaches and you think they aren't as well controlled as they could be, perhaps it's time to explore other options.
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Migraine: Alison's story
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Advice for migraine sufferers
Women's HealthBased on her experience in coping with migraine attacks, Ruth has some advice to offer other migraine sufferers. The most important thing, Ruth says, is to know that there is help - you just need to go and get it.
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Finding a migraine treatment that works
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Life with migraine: the things you miss
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Ruth's diagnosis
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Kids get them too
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Clear your chest
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Migraine: changing for the better
Family & ChildThere are several changes to your lifestyle you can make to help manage your migraines.
-
Learning and avoiding your migraine triggers
Family & ChildMigraine triggers are different for each person, so it's important to identify and avoid your personal triggers.
-
The right migraine treatment for you
Family & ChildIf you have been treating your own headaches and you think they aren't as well controlled as they could be, perhaps it's time to explore other options.
-
Migraine: Alison's story
Family & ChildAlison's life and work were being severely affected by intense headaches. Find out how she managed to deal with them.
-
Advice for migraine sufferers
Women's HealthBased on her experience in coping with migraine attacks, Ruth has some advice to offer other migraine sufferers. The most important thing, Ruth says, is to know that there is help - you just need to go and get it.
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Finding a migraine treatment that works
Women's HealthIn her fight against migraine attacks, Ruth has had a trusty ally: her neurologist. Learn more about Ruth's journey towards finding an effective treatment.
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Life with migraine: the things you miss
Women's HealthLearn more about how migraine attacks affected Ruth's life, both at work and at home.
-
Ruth's diagnosis
Women's HealthRuth Clausen started getting headaches in her early teens. But it wasn't until she was nearly thirty that she was finally diagnosed as having migraines. Learn more about how Ruth discovered the cause of her headaches.
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Not tonight, I've got a headache
Men's Health | Women's Health | Seniors' HealthYour head's killing you, and all you can think about is wishing the pain would stop. And you're not alone – headache is one of the most common pain conditions that people suffer from.
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When joints go bad
Men's Health | Women's Health | Seniors' HealthWhen it comes to arthritis pain, age has very little to do with it. Even young people can get this disabling condition. Has arthritis got you aching for relief? Learn more about easing the discomfort.
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Does twisting make you shout?
Men's Health | Women's Health | Seniors' HealthIf you're one of the thousands of Canadians with a "bad" back, you'll benefit from our advice, which aims to get you back on your feet.
-
Can pain-free be drug-free?
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-
More than one "flavour"
Family & Child | Men's Health | Women's Health | Seniors' HealthHeadaches are not all the same. There are numerous types, each with its own signs and symptoms.
-
Make it stop!
Family & Child | Men's Health | Women's Health | Seniors' HealthStressed? Feel a headache coming on? Need relief? There's more you can do than just grab for those pills.
-
Kids get them too
Family & Child | Men's Health | Women's Health | Seniors' HealthNever ignore a child who comes to you complaining, "My head hurts!" It could well be a headache and not just from a bump on the head.
-
Clear your chest
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All material © 1996-2021 MediResource Inc. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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