HOW TO OVERCOME MIGRAINE A HEADACHE DISORDER

HOW TO 

OVERCOME

MIGRAINE A HEADACHE DISORDER

INTRODUCTION:-Migraine is the term is of French origin derived from a Greek name ‘hemikranios’, meaning unilateral headache. A Migraine is a common Causes of recurrent headaches. Migraine contributes 16% of primary headaches. It affects 10-20% of the general population.in India,15-20% of people suffer from migraines. It is a neurological disorder involving nerve pathways and brain chemicals.

DEFINITION:-

Migraine is a familial primary headache disorder characterized by recurrent attacks of headache widely variable in intensity, frequency, and duration. Its usually unilateral and is usually associated with anorexia, nausea, and vomiting. It is a result of specific changes within the brain.

PREVALENCE: -

According to the survey; approx 16% of women and 8% of men experience a migraine headache at least once in their lifetime.

• Initial attacks occur mostly in adolescents.
• In children, there is a little predominance in males.
• After puberty it is female predominant.
• Evidence of positive family history is present in less than 90% of cases.
• Migraine tends to recur with varying frequency throughout life, the attack gets milder and less frequent in the older age group.

HOW  MIGRAINES HAPPENS:-

Current thinking regarding migraine pain has moved more toward the source of the problem. Today, it is widely understood that chemical compounds and hormones, such as serotonin and estrogen, often play a role in pain sensitivity for migraine sufferers. When serotonin or estrogen levels change, the result for the some is a migraine. serotonin levels may affect both the sexes while fluctuating estrogen levels affect women only.

• On aspect of migraine, pain theory explains that pain happens due to waves of activity by groups of excitable brain cells. These trigger chemicals, such as serotonin, to narrow blood vessels. Serotonin is a chemical necessary for communication between nerve cells. It can cause the narrowing of blood vessels throughout the body.
• For women, estrogen levels naturally vary over the life cycle, with increases during fertile years and decrease afterward. Women of childbearing age also experience monthly changes in estrogen levels. Migraines in women are often associated with these fluctuating hormone levels and this explains why women are more likely to have migraines than men. Research suggests that, when estrogen levels rise and then fall, contractions in blood vessels may be set off. This leads to throbbing pain. Lower levels of estrogen make facial and scalp nerves more sensitive to pain.

TYPES OF MIGRAINE HEADACHE:-

Migraine is a neurological disease and that there are several different subtypes of migraine. Different types of Migraine are:-

• Migraine Without aura(complicated migraine):-Aura sets in shortly before or during a migraine, and can last anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes. Aura is the stage of migraine and anyone who experiences it will confirm that severe head pain is on its way. Aura is a series of sensory & visual changes and tingling numbness on one side of the body.
• Migraine without Aura(common migraine):-Common Migraine lacks the warning phases (aura) having symptoms pulsating headache on one side of the head, photophobia, nausea, vomiting are all classical symptoms of Migraine.
• Hemiplegic Migraine:-This type of migraine develops weakness on one side of the body often with visual aura symptoms and a ‘pins& needles’sensation, or loss of sensation, on one side of the body. It can last a few hours to several days.
• Retinal Migraine:-When a headache causes temporary loss of vision in one eye, it is a Retinal Migraine.
• Chronic Migraine:-Headache with warning signs of a migraine, it lasts more than 15 days or a month called chronic migraine.
• Cevicogenic Migraine:-When the pain in head accompanied by pain in the neck due to the lesion of the spine called cervicogenic Migraine.
• Migraine without head pain:-Also called a silent or Acephalgic migraine, this type of migraine accompanied by symptoms of dizziness, visual disturbances, nausea like other types of migraine, but no head pain.
• Cluster Headache:-This is the most irritating headache having symptoms of burning pain around or above the eyes, at temples and moving towards the back of the head with a runny nose and swollen eyes.
• Icepack headaches:-There is a feeling like you are getting stabbed in the head with an ice pack. suddenly, delivering a sharp intense pain. This usually lasting 5-30 seconds –but incredibly painful. These headaches occur on the orbit, temple and parietal area of the head.

 CAUSES OF MIGRAINE:-

·        Women who get migraines with aura are more likely to have a stroke, which happens when part of your brain suddenly gets cut off from a blood supply.

·        People with migraines may likely to have high blood pressure.

·        Migraines are somehow connected with epilepsy because both the conditions appear to be caused by a similar problem; cells in the brain called neurons that are unusually sensitive.

·        Sleep problems, including insomnia, are common in people who get migraines.

·        About 25% of people with migraine have depression and up to 50% have anxiety.

·        If anybody had sexual, physical, or emotional abuse as a child, may start getting migraines earlier, and they are more likely to turn into a long term problem.

·        Tinnitus is a condition that makes it sound as if there’s ringing or hissing in-ear. For some people, this problem may only get really bad when they have a migraine.

·        Irritable bowel syndrome-like belly pain, bloating, diarrhea and constipation, are more likely to get migraines.

·        Post traumatic stress disorder is associated with migraine.

·        Low blood sugar levels can trigger migraines in some people.

TRIGGERING FACTORS OF MIGRAINE:-

·        Stress or other emotions

·        Biological and environmental conditions, such as hormonal shifts or exposure to light or smells.

·        Fatigue or changes in sleep patterns.

·        Flickering lights.

·        Weather changes.

·        Certain foods and drinks.

SYMPTOMS OF MIGRAINE HEADACHE:-

It is characterized by recurrent headaches that are moderate to severe. Typically, the headaches affect one half of the head, are pulsating in nature, and last from a few hours to 3 days. Migraine headache symptoms & signs vary from person to person and from migraine to migraine.

There are five phases of migraine identified:-

• Prodrome phase:-This is a series of symptoms or warning signs come before a migraine.It includes ;change in mood(irritable, depression),fatigue,sensitive to light&sound,insomnia,nausea,constipation or diarrhea,muscle stiffness esp neck and shoulders .Unique symptoms of this phase include yawning, craving for certain foods and frequent urination.
• Aura:-This is the phase include visual or sensory disturbances precede the headache phase. visual auras are most common having symptoms develop blind spots, geometric patterns of vision, may loss of vision on one side.
• Headache:-This the phase may last 4 to 72 hours. The pain of a migraine usually appears on one side of the head, but some occur on both sides of the head. Most people with migraine headaches associated with symptoms of nausea, photophobia, etc.
• Headache termination:-Usually, if the head pain from a migraine is not treated it will go away with sleep.
• Postdrome phase:-This includes; inability to eat, problems concentration, fatigue. It may linger after head pain has disappeared.

Medical Emergency related to Migraine:-

• Change in frequency& severity of the migraine commonly experienced.
• Constant migraine symptoms for more than 72 hours.
• Weakness or paralysis lasts after the headache.
• Headache with loss of consciousness.
• Fever or stiff neck associated with headache.
• paralysis one side of the body.

TREATMENT OF MIGRAINE:-

• Medications for pain relief:-People with migraine should first try general painkillers such as naproxen, acetaminophen, ibuprofen or migraine-specific medications called triptans as prescribed by the physician.
• Vitamin supplements like magnesium, Vit-B2 containing pills help to reduce migraines.

MANAGEMENT OF MIGRAINE:-

1. Quick headache Relief technique:-

•       Try cold pack on the forehead.Ice cubes wrapped in a towel compress on the forehead for 15 minutes, take a break for 15 minutes then do it again. A cold shower also lessens pain.
•        Apply a heating pad or a warm cloth on the neck or back of the head. It suits to tension headache and sinus headache also.
•        Ease pressure on the scalp-In case of women too tight ponytail may cause headaches which disappears by loosening their hair. Avoid hairbands, headbands, a hat that may compress the head and cause a headache.
•      Use dim light-Bright or flickering light can cause migraine headache.cover the windows with curtains during the day, wear sunglasses outdoors. Add antiglare screens to computer & use daylight spectrum fluorescent bulbs.
•         Avoid chewing gums, crunchy and sticky foods.
•         Tea and coffee can be used for temporary relief due to the presence of caffeine in it. Too much caffeine also cause migraine.
•         Relaxation practice:-Breathing exercise(Take few deep breathe and exhale slowly); Relax your mind by listening to music; close eyes and relax with remembering pleasant thoughts.
•         Massage of a few minutes on neck& temples can help to ease a headache result from stress. Mostly lavender oil used for this.

2.NUTRITIONAL ADVICE FOR MIGRAINE:-

Eating a healthful diet can help to prevent migraines. A healthful diet should consist of fresh foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Foods with added preservatives It can trigger migraines in some people. People may be able to reduce their migraines by monitoring what they Eat. Here some of the foods that may prevent, trigger or relieve migraines.

·        Foods to eat for relief:-

1.     Most cereal except for those containing nuts, dried fruits; plain sesame seeds, potato chips, Unflavored crackers.

2.     Fresh chicken, fish, lamb, poppy seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds.

3.     Ranch dressings, homemade dips.

4.     Fresh fruits,fresh vegetables (zucchini,carrots,cauliflower), preservative-free items 
5.Ginger intake:-Recent studies found that taking ginger ease pain with migraines
6. Lemongrass tea helps to reduce migraines

·        Foods to be avoided:-

1.     Flavored crackers, such as cheese crackers, pizza, etc

2.     chicken livers, marinated meats, flavored popcorn.

3.     Bottled salad dressings and pre-packaged dips.

4.     dried fruits containing sulfite preservatives, citrus fruits, etc.

5.     Some fruits contain pollens or other compounds and these can cause a histamine release that could trigger a migraine. Examples include bananas, oranges, grapefruits, plums.

3. YOGA ASANAS FOR MIGRAINE

4. ACUPRESSURE POINTS FOR MIGRAINE

5. YOGA MUDRAS FOR MIGRAINE

   PREVENTION OF MIGRAINE:-

·        Avoid triggering factors.

·        Stay hydrated per day, Men should drink about 3L of fluids and women should drink 21/2 L.

·        Avoid skipping meals.

·        Quit smoking.

·        Priority to reduce stress in your life and learn to cope with it in helpful ways.

·        Learn relaxation skills.

·        Exercise regularly. Be sure to start exercising slowly to warm up gradually. Starting too fast and intensely can trigger a migraine.

·        Eating several small meals throughout the day can also help maintain steady blood sugar levels and prevent hunger, which can trigger migraines in some people.

IS MIGRAINE CURABLE:-

Migraine is a potentially curable disorder or disease or at least one that can be controlled to such an extent as to prevent its acute genesis and chronic progression to the point that it no longer becomes clinically symptomatic.

CONCLUSION:-

Migraine is one of the disorders, which require a complete diagnosis of the problem and various therapies to treat the disorder. This article may help to control Migraine, headache some extent.