Symptoms and Causes of Migraine Headaches - Are You at Risk?

Migraine headaches are chronic, painful, severely debilitating headaches, often accompanied by nausea, vomiting and extreme sensitivity to light and/or sound.

Though there is no cure per se, for migraine headaches, understanding the triggers and causes of migraines, along with preventative and pain-relieving medications, can enable you to potentially reduce their frequency, intensity and impact on your day to day life.

Symptoms of Migraines

Like most health issues, migraines do not manifest themselves in a uniform fashion or intensity with each person. Some migraines are accompanied by auras, some are not. Migraines with auras, also called classic migraines, can cause changes to vision (partial loss of vision in one eye; seeing flashes of light) and sensations of pins and needles in extremities. Migraines without auras are called common migraines. Both the common and classic migraines can include some or all of the following symptoms:

• Pulsating, Throbbing Pain - Usually around the temple area. Pain can be localized to one side of the head or can occur on both sides at the same time.

• Nausea with or without Vomiting - While common stress or tension headaches can cause throbbing pain in the temple area, they do not cause nausea and vomiting.

• Sensitivity to Light and Sound - People suffering with migraine headaches very often have to retreat to a dark, quiet room. Any amount of light or sound can intensify and aggravate the headache.

• Dizziness and Vertigo - Sensations of the room spinning which can also contribute to nausea and vomiting

• Fatigue

• Irritability

• Loss of Appetite

• Duration of 4 to 72 Hours if untreated

Causes of Migraines

Triggers and causes of migraines vary by individual, though the general consensus among researchers is that stress, along with a constriction and subsequent dilation of blood vessels in the head ultimately lead to the occurrence of migraines.

Food allergies, such as peanuts, can be a cause for some migraine sufferers while red wine, alcohol and cigarette smoking can trigger them in others. Other causes of migraines can include:

• Fluctuations in Hormones among Women - such as during the time of perimenopause, pregnancy or post-partum (after childbirth)

• Foods - such as aged cheeses, chocolate, nuts, peanut butter, citrus fruits, foods prepared with MSG (Monosodium glutamate) onions, dairy, nitrates found in some processed meats and pickled or fermented food products.

• Some Medications

• Too Much or too Little Sleep

• Emotional and Psychological Stress

• Skipping Meals

• Alcohol - particularly red wine because of nitrates or beer

Some migraine suffers actually experience premonition symptoms prior to getting migraines such as a craving for sweets, feelings of elation or intense energy, drowsiness or irritability and depression.

Who is at Risk?

• Family History - Most migraine sufferers have a family history of migraines with either one or both parents having suffered from them.

• Women - Women are three times more likely to suffer from migraines than men, due perhaps to more fluctuations in hormones throughout their life with menstrual cycles, pregnancy and menopause.

• Age - While some children suffer from migraines, they most typically affect people between the ages of 15 to 55 and most common between the ages of 30 and 39. Most migraine sufferers begin to get them before adulthood, however, and if so, tend to continue to get them.

• People with Certain Medical Conditions - Many migraine suffers often have a history of depression, anxiety, stroke, epilepsy, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) or high blood pressure. While these medical conditions do not necessarily increase the risk for migraines, many people who have a history of them often suffer with migraines as well.

Migraine Headache Treatments

Depending on the severity and intensity of a migraine headache, over the counter headache medications such as Motrin, Advil or Tylenol can be taken, particularly if the migraine is caught soon enough.

Recognizing and minimizing the triggers of migraines coupled with lifestyle and dietary changes can be quite effective for some migraine sufferers. Simple food supplements such as B12 vitamins, magnesium and some amino acids have also been shown to be effective in treating migraines . For others with more debilitating symptoms, however, prescription medication may be needed.

Prescriptions Medication for Migraines

Beta-blockers and Calcium-channel blockers, both which are drugs used in the treatment of heart disease have been used with good results for some migraine sufferers along with certain antidepressants and anticonvulsive drugs. For those who get migraines regularly during the month or have them so severe that they interfere with daily routine and work, preventative medications such as propranolol, timolol, divalproex, can be taken daily to help stop them from occurring.

When to See a Physician

If you think you may be suffering from migraines it is always a good idea to see a physician. Even if they are not frequent, debilitating or do not require a prescription medication to treat them, seeing a physician can help you understand what a migraine is, what your potential triggers are and how to effectively manage and treat them if or when they occur.

Sources:

"Migraine Triggers" Heathcentral.com. August 23, 2010. http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/triggers.html
"Migraine Headaches". University of Maryland Medical Center.edu. August 23, 2010. http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/migraine-headache-000072.htm
"Migraines". Family Doctor.org. August 23, 2010. " http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/brain/disorders/127.html