Migraine is a chronic disorder which involves the brain and the blood vessels around it. Migraine headache is the result of the enlargement of the blood vessel and the release of chemicals from nerve fibers. This release of chemicals causes inflammation, pain and further enlargement of arteries that is located just on the outside of the skull. Migraine attacks the sympathetic nervous system to be activated which is responsible to a person’s responses to stress, pain and threatening situations or the so-called “fight or flight” situations. This activates the migraine headache symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Stress and anxiety can contribute to severity of migraine headaches. Migraine may last from one hour to even several days.
Migraine can be triggered by several factors such as allergies, alcohol intake especially red wine and beer, chocolate, lack of sleep, change in sleep patterns, skipping meals, caffeine, monosodium glutamate, fermented, pickled, or marinated foods, stress, hormonal changes like during menstruation periods, smoking, bright and flickering lights, loud noises and strong odor. Studies show migraine is prevalent to women because of hormonal changes. Some people experience migraine aura or the migraine warning signs an hour or two before the migraine attack. Some of these signs include visual hallucinations, eye pain, blurred vision, flashing lights, zigzag lines, and blind spots. Other migraine signs are similar to anxiety symptoms such as sweating, irritability, fatigue, vomiting, nausea and loss of appetite.
Migraine is difficult to diagnose. It is advisable to keep a headache journal where one should write the patterns of his headaches, the location, severity, duration, frequency and list of foods that have eaten before the migraine attack to help your physician in diagnosing migraine. When one has experienced 3 to 5 signs mentioned above especially the sensitivity to light and sound and the pounding and pulsating headache, have the possibility of having migraine.
Migraine headache when taken for granted and left untreated may lead to panic attacks. Migraine attacks can be very disturbing and can interfere to daily activities of a person. This attack then brings fear, worry and apprehension to a migraine sufferer when experiencing the migraine auras and migraine warning signs thus may cause the development of panic attacks. It is advisable to prevent migraine headaches to prevent panic attacks from happening.
There are many ways of preventing migraine and lessening the frequency of migraine attacks. Prevention ways depend on the severity of migraine. Severe migraines may need consultation to doctors for medication. Some medications include beta-blockers such as propranolol and timolol, anti-convulsants such as divalproex and antidepressants such as amitriptyline. However these drugs have side effects such as fatigue, nausea and insomnia.
Hence, natural remedies for migraine are more preferred by many migraine sufferers. Feverfew and butterbur herbs can help preventing migraine. Taking magnesium, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vegetable juices also reduces the frequency of migraine attacks. Many have also considered acupuncture, aromatheraphy, vinegar fumes treatment, massage, cold compress on the head, neck and shoulders, and chiropractic treatment to prevent migraine attacks.
The ways of preventing and treating migraine mentioned above are just the few of the many remedies for migraine. There are many more options where you can also find on the Internet. Make use of the Internet now, read articles or watch videos, apply everything you have learned and worry no more of your migraine attacks for a better life.
If you are searching for a reliable natural alternative to treat your migraines at home, you should take a look at this review of the Migraine Relief, the program created by Elizabeth Hayden, an expert in the fields on migraines: Review of The Migraine Relief