MedicalMigraines.com

Dealing with Migraines:

Some of you reading this right now know that a migraine is more than just a simple headache. From those who have experienced and are currently experiencing an episode of a migraine know how terrible it is. In the U.S., about 10% of the general population experience migraines. Migraines are usually described as a throbbing pain on one side of the head and is near impossible to ignore.

Symptoms:

The symptoms of having a migraine may vary from person to person on a individual basis. Unlike regular common headaches, migraines can last from several hours to several days. Migraine attacks usually come in three stages: pre-headache, headache, and post-headache period. With some people, the final stages of a migraine can last up to a couple days. Associated symptoms of having a migraine may include: Fatigue, body aches, sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, mood swings, muscle tenderness, neck and shoulder tension.

Aura Symptoms:

Some individuals may experience an “aura,” which is usually characterized by light flashes which are then followed by blind spots, zig-zag lines, and numbness in some areas of the limbs. This may include the neck and face. This is a severe symptom of a migraine episode, and 1 out of 3 migraine sufferers may experience this. Aura symptoms compared to real migraines may only last up to an hour, depending on the individual.

Serotonin:

Different things may happen during a migraine attack but when it happens it’s due to a great amount of serotonin released. The release of serotonin may cause interaction between the trigeminal nerve and a number of blood vessels in the brain. A number of the pain processing regions in the body become overloaded and the feeling that results is a certain level of skin sensitivity on the scalp and head of an individual.

Cause of a Migraine?

There really isn’t a direct reason of why migraines occur, because there are different things that may contribute to a start of a migraine headache. Each person that experiences a migraine is different from one another, so causes and symptoms of migraines may all vary. There are multiple reasons of why migraines start up and they may include: diet, excessive hunger, severe weather changes such as when the air pressure suddenly dips or rises, activity, environment, emotions, medications, and hormones. Genetics and heredity also play an important role in the predisposition of individuals. And as soon as a patient finds out the source of why they have migraines, they should take proper caution and measure of avoiding these causes. Some of these measures may also include taking medication to reduce the effects of migraines.