Migraine Symptoms and Treatments

A migraine is a headache that is so severe it can be disabling. A migraine will sometimes be accompanied by what is called an aura. This can be flashes of light, a tingling sensation in an arm or a leg or a blind spot in your vision. A typical migraine often produces nausea and vomiting and you can develop hypersensitivity to sounds and especially to lights. A migraine can last anywhere from 4 to 72 hours.

Approximately 11 out of 100 people will get migraines. More women than men get migraines and they usually start between the ages of 10 and 46. A migraine may be triggered by stress, food, environmental changes or some other factor. The exact cause of migraines is still not known.

The symptoms of migraine headaches are:

Pain. This can range from moderate to severe. Some people will feel pain on either side of the head, while other people may feel it bilaterally. It may be described as throbbing or a pulsating pain.

Migraine pain will become worse with physical activity.

Severe migraine pain can interrupt your daily life.

Pain can cause nausea and occasionally vomiting.

Hypersensitivity to sounds or lights.

Some people that have migraines will experience auras appoximately 15 to 30 minutes prior to a headache. These auras may continue after your headache starts. An aura consists of:

Bright flashes of light

Bright zigzagging lines that interrupt your vision field.

Diffuse blind spots in your field of vision.

A tingling feeling in a leg or an arm.

Treatment for migraines have come a long way in the past decade. New drugs have been developed and new information about the cause of migraines has been uncovered. The first thing to look at is medication for treatment of a migraine headache.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or (NSAIDS) Medications such as Motrin or aspirin may be effective in relieving mild migraine pain. Drugs made specifically for migraines such as, Excedrin Migraine may also ease moderate migraine pain. These medicines may be purchased without a prescription.

Imitrex was the first drug developed just for migraines.It is in a drug class called triptans. This drug binds to serotonin receptors causing the blood vessels to shrink. It is available in nasal, oral or injection form. Recently, drugs that are quite similar have been developed. These newer drugs have been able to take away the pain of a migraine in under two hours.

Drugs called ergotamine or dihydroergotamine may help alleviate pain, but they have more side effects than triptans.

Reglan can help alleviate nausea and vomitng that sometimes occurs with a migraine.

Antidepressants have been effective at preventing migraines by affecting the serotonin level in the brain.

It is important to learn what triggers your migraines. If it is certain foods or certain scents try your best to avoid them. Get plenty of exercise to reduce tension. If you are a smoker, quit. Smoking can trigger headaches or make them worse. Get plenty of rest and eat a balanced diet. Living with migraines can be a challenge, but with the right treatment regimen, it's a challenge you can overcome.