Migraine headaches affect about twenty eight million Americans and may be the most debilitating of all headaches. Not only does the patient have explosive pain with a cluster of other symptoms but there is also the worry about future attacks. Doctors do not know what causes migraines and there is no cure for them. However, there are treatments available that can lessen the severity and reduce the frequency of attacks. Yet fifty percent of the individuals who suffer from migraines tend to self medicate rather than consulting a doctor. There are two types of migraine headaches: classic and common. Common migraines are the most prevalent and they last longer than classic migraines.
According to medical literature, a classic migraine has five phases: prodrome phase, aura phase, headache phase, termination phase, and postdrome phase. An individual can experience all or just some of the phases. The prodrome phase occurs before the headache, sometimes hours and sometimes days before. During this period the person may experience heightened sensitivity to smells, light, and sound, fatigue, loss of appetite, or increased thirst. The prodrome is followed by the aura phase. The aura consists of visual disturbances such as some type of flashing light pattern.
When the headache strikes, the pain is throbbing and bi lateral affecting both sides of the head. Sometimes there are shooting pains in all areas of the head. The pain starts builds up gradually and increases in intensity. A migraine normally lasts for a day but can persist up to three days. Many people experience nausea and vomiting along with the headache. During the termination phase, the pain subsides and the person falls asleep. Vomiting can also occur at this time. In the postdrome phase the pain is gone but some people are left feeling irritable while others feel better.
The duration of a migraine can be shortened by starting treatment as soon as you feel an attack is imminent. So it is important to be able to recognize the warning signs. The faster you can treat a migraine the better your chances are of reducing or even eliminating pain. Warning signs vary amongst individuals. Some people experience the aura, blurred vision, numbness or tingling. Others have fatigue, irritability and neck pain. Research has recently discovered that almost half of migraine sufferers experience a craving for chocolate prior to an attack. Since chocolate is a source of magnesium, it is thought that a deficiency in magnesium may trigger a migraine and daily supplements of magnesium may ward off a headache.
There are various new medications available for treating migraines. Most sufferers prefer to find a dark, quiet place where they can lie down and rest. Over the counter medications work for some individuals. There are also medications for the nausea that accompanies a migraine. Even though self treatment is effective, it might be better for individuals who suffer from migraines to see a physician to explore the new remedies that are now being marketed and plan a treatment strategy that may be an improvement over what they are currently doing.
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