Migraine

What is a Migraine?

A migraine is an especially intense and painful, throbbing headache that usually only occurs on one side of the head. This is a neurological condition, and the headaches people have when they get migraines can be either episodic or chronic. There are different stages to a migraine headache, and the prodrome stage may start up to two days before the pain of the headache begins. If the person gets migraines with aura, it is after the prodrome stage when they start experiencing changes to their vision and see lights, shapes, or bright spots.

The attack phase that comes next is when it starts, and the migraine can last anywhere from hours to days. Symptoms will be most severe during this stage, and for some people a migraine attack may be so debilitating that they are unable to work or perform daily tasks. During the final postdrome phase of a migraine, the person may have mood changes, and a mild and duller headache may persist.

What Causes a Migraine?

Migraine headaches occur for people because of abnormal nerve signaling in the brain related to chemical balances and blood vessel structure can be a factor too. There does not seem to be a genetic inheritance component to migraines, and people who get them may not have parents who get migraines or other predecessors in their family.

There are triggers for migraine headaches for most sufferers, and they can include bright lights, barometric pressure changes, extreme heat or weather, hormone changes, excess stress, loud sounds, physical exertion, sleep changes, skipping meals, smells, food intake, smoking or alcohol use, or travel. For some women, using oral contraceptives may cause them to start getting migraines.

Migraine Symptoms

Symptoms will vary based on which of the 3 migraine stages a person is in.

Prodrome stage:

           
• Fatigue or low energy
           
• Food cravings
           
• Depression
           
• Frequent yawning
           
• Irritability
           
• Stiff neck
           
• Hyperactivity
       

Attack Stage:

           
• Pulsing and throbbing head pain
           
• Dizziness or feeling faint
           
• Nausea
           
• Increased light and sound sensitivity
           
• Vomiting
       

Postdrome phase:

           
• Mood and feeling changes
           
• Continuing duller headache
           
• Tiredness and lack of mental clarity
       

Migraine Treatment

The most conventional approach to migraine treatment is to have the person start on vasoconstrictor migraine medications like Axert or Maxalt that work by narrowing blood vessels in the brain to make a migraine less painful and mitigate other symptoms too. OTC NSAID medication and acetaminophen may also be good for people who have milder migraine headaches. People who have migraine with aura may also need to be on an antiemetic drug like Largactil (Chlorpromazine) to help them get relief from severe nausea.

Acupuncture for migraine treatment is also a possibility, and some people have found that this TCM medicine discipline can reduce the severity of migraines when energy can be channeled differently through the meridian pathways of the body. Avoiding migraine triggers may also be a realistic part of a treatment regimen for people who get migraines because of bright lights or when exposed to substances.