MigraineHeadaches.com notes that the meaning of migraine is "half-head". Migraines result from vascular, muscular or hormonal dysfunction in the body. Migraines cause severe pain to one or both sides of the head alternately, as well as sensitivity to light, odors and noise. The website states that migraines often attack without warning. The MigraineHeadaches site reports that women are 3 times more likely than men to suffer from migraines.
Definition
Migraines are a central nervous system disorder triggered by specific food allergies, odors, physical and emotional stress, light and motion. These triggers cause vascular constriction and dilation, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Blood vessels in the brain constrict and then abruptly dilate forcing a large volume of blood through the vessels. This often-genetic predisposition for migraines results in sharp pain to one side of the head. Symptoms such as nausea, light sensitivity and debilitation pain inhibit functioning, resulting in the patient seeking medical attention.
Factors
Researchers at MigraineHeadaches.com asked 48 test subjects to restrict all dairy products. They found that more than 60 percent of those studied either reduced their instances of migraines or eliminated them. Certain artificial food additives, preservatives and condiments trigger migraines. The website notes that there is some disagreement among researchers regarding the dairy products in the study. Some believe that dairy products themselves cause the migraines and others believe migraines react to the levels of bacteria in dairy foods.The University of Maryland Medical Center advises additional key factors in migraine development include low magnesium levels, inflammation in the maxillary nerve that runs behind the cheek bones, fluctuating neurotransmitter levels in the brain and genetic code material activation.
Types
Hormonal migraines trigger chemical reactions in the brain causing pain. These hormone fluctuations are more common in women during premenstrual and menstrual cycles. Vascular migraines have environmental triggers commonly occurring from exposure to food or other allergens. Muscular or cluster headaches mimic migraines and occur from hypertonic muscles. Cluster headaches can develop into migraine when the muscular tension is untreated. Inflammatory migraines may result from a variety of symptoms from strokes to sinus infections, as noted by MigraineHeadache.org. According to HeadacheSymptoms.org., ocular migraines or ophthalmic migraines are vascular in nature and cause flashing lights, vision blind spots and zigzag patterns to appear in the patients' vision.
Survey Results
MigraineHeadaches.org notes that 8.7 million women and 2.6 million men in the United States suffer from migraine headaches. According to University of Maryland Medical Center, a National Headache Foundation-sponsored survey of migraine patients' found that 90 percent of patients could not function normally during migraine episodes. Eighty percent of individuals had abnormal sensitivities to sounds and lights; 75 percent of clients surveyed had nausea and vomiting. An additional 30 percent needed bed rest, and 25 percent admitted missing one day of work from migraine pain in the last three months.
Potential
The Lancet Journal of Neurology studied 267 migraine patients all treated for three months with a single-pulse trans-cranial magnetic stimulation unit, similar to the TENS unit. the study found that this new tool has the potential to aid migraine suffers with the symptoms of debilitating pain. A small current of electricity flows across the outer surface of the head through an electrode placed near the pain site. Within three months patients found 24 to 48 hour migraine relief, other study participants saw a decrease in migraine frequency.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Migraine Headaches
- Headache Symptoms: Ocular Migraine
- Migraine-Headache.org: Migraine Headache Information, Resources and Treatment
- The Lancet Neurology: Single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation for migraine with aura.
- Migraine Headaches Guide: Origins Of Migraine Headaches
