Pain In My Head – Relief for Headaches

One of the most frequent symptoms of a migraine is an intense throbbing pain that is normally located on only one side of the head near to the area of the temple. Migraines are also often accompanied by additional symptoms that can include sensitivity to noise and light, nausea and occasionally vomiting.

Migraine Headaches are relatively common and affect about one in ten people in America, or in excess of 28 million Americans. They are also far more commonly experienced by women rather than men (about three times more women suffer from migraine headaches) and can also be found occasionally in children.

Despite the fact that migraine headaches are so common and usually very painful with an attack lasting anywhere from a few hours to several days, only about 50% of all sufferers ever consult their physician and the remainder elect to suffer in silence.

Migraine headaches had long been thought to be were caused by a of dilation of the blood vessels in the head but, despite the fact that there is no general consensus, medical opinion seems to be changing in favor of a genetic basis for this problem. It is now believed that migraine headaches results from the interaction of certain brain chemicals like serotonin with the nerve cells. At this point in time however the truth of the matter is that we are really not sure what cause migraines.

There are in fact two forms of the condition, the first of which is known as 'classical migraine'and is characterized by an accompanying 'aura'. In this case 'aura' refers to visual light effects that are experienced immediately prior to the arrival of a headache including such things as bright light spots and flashing lights. In some people a complete loss of vision can be experienced for some minutes before the start of the headache.

The second type of migraine headache is a migraine with no prior symptoms of an 'aura'.

In exactly the same way that we do not know what causes a migraine headache, so too we have very little idea about exactly what gives rise to an attack, although there are a variety of factors that do appear likely to trigger an attack. For example, too much sleep seems to be one factor and so does missing meals or eating particular foods like cheese.

Hormones are also believed to influence the onset of attacks and their severity and one piece of evidence for this is the higher incidence of migraines in women. In part this is thought to be because of the effect of estrogen on the blood vessels and some studies have noted that there is a connection between the contraceptive pill (which contains estrogen) and migraines.

Just to confuse matters however studies have also demonstrated that simple everyday activities like climbing a flight of stairs can trigger a migraine attack, as can exposure to heat or cold, loud noises, flashing lights and sometimes stress.

Luckily, there are a variety of migraine medicines available, though no single treatment is really effective in all cases. Over-the-counter medications are however rarely effective and, if you are unlucky enough to suffer from migraines, then you are best advised to ask your doctor for help in finding an answer that works for you.

Compare______________________________________________

Migraine Brains and Bodies (Paperback) $42.2 Despite their widespread occurrence, migraines are often misunderstood in terms of both origin and treatment. Migraine Brains and Bodies examines the causes of these painful headaches, many of which can be corrected by the individual. In straightforward language accompanied by detailed illustrations, former migraine sufferer C.M. Shifflett defines the roots and symptoms of migraines as well as the interactions between the source of pain and the rest of the body. Shifflett begins by dispelling common myths about migraines, contending that they are a symptom of numerous conditions including diet and nutritional inadequacy, infections or autoimmune diseases, sleep disruptions, and impaired muscle function. Explaining that migraines are more likely to come from the shoes and clothes we wear, the furniture we sit in and sleep on, and even the shampoo we use than from brains or genes alone, she discusses migraine triggers and thresholds, points out that some common migraine drugs can make the pain worse, and provides detailed information and advice about various methods of treatment, from physical therapy and massage to acupuncture and biofeedback. She encourage readers to keep food and headache diaries and provides advice for what to do and what not to do when it comes to seeing your doctor.

Living Well With Migraine Disease And Headaches: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You... That You Need To Know $14.09 A groundbreaking holistic patient-centered guide to the diagnosis side effects and treatments--both conventional and alternative--for headaches and Migraine disease from an award-winning patient advocate and Migraine sufferer. Everyone experiences a headache at one time or another. But for an estimated 2/3 of American men and women frequent tension headaches chronic daily headaches or debilitating Migraines are a daily problem. Teri Robert Ph.D. an award winning patient advocate and host of About.coms headache and migraine page has been there--in fact she experienced her first migraine at age six. Now in this groundbreaking holistic guide to the diagnosis and treatment of headaches and Migraine disease she brings a patient-empowering message to all headache sufferers: you dont have to live with daily pain. Living Well With Migraine Disease And Headaches features a comprehensive overview of the risks and symptoms of Migraines and various types of chronic headaches traditional and alternative therapies information on finding health care practitioners and support numerous case studies and expert advice as well as a Migraine diary a checklists of symptoms and risk factors and a detailed resource section featuring web sites books and articles. While other books on headaches and Migraines advocate one approach to treatment this invaluable guide gives you unbiased information on all treatments--both conventional and alternative - with a compassionate voice from one of the countrys leading patient advocates. Living Well With Migraine Disease And Headaches features first-person anecdotal experiences from other sufferers and integration of the authors experiences and challenges in dealing with headaches and Migraine disease over the past 40+ years. Praise for Living Well with Migraine: "An upbeat practical and intelligent survey of our current understanding of migraine and frequent headaches written from the perspective of someone who is not a doctor or scientist but is a migraine sufferer. Ms. Roberts brings a balanced perspective to a field that suffers from both hype and oversimplification. A wonderful resource: timely provacative and funny." - Elizabeth Loder MD Director Headache Management Program Spaulding Rehabilitation Program; Assistant Professor of Medicine Harvard Medical School.

Migraine Prevention 90 vegicap bottle: HE $17.6 We use only 100% Gluten-free, Vegetable Cellulose ''00'' capsules for all of our encapsulated products. Migraine Prevention -- Approximately 600 mg. each capsule. Herbal Extracts Plus has developed a new herbal blend with the intention of providing relief from Migraine Headaches. Support for Migraine Prevention combines many different all-natural herbal extracts that have been historically shown to ease the pain and various other symptoms associated with migraine headaches, allowing you to continue with your everyday tasks. A migraine is defined as a condition marked by recurrent severe headache often accompanied by nausea, light sensitivity and decreased cognitive ability (although there is no decrease in cognitive ability when no active migraine is present). Other common symptoms of migraine include abdominal pain, severe pain on one side of the head (hemicrania), a throbbing sensation or an aura. An aura can be visual or sensory and can be described as a ''spot'' which dominates vision or a numbness that travels within the body (usually from the hand, to the arm, then to the face). It is believed that migraines are associated with a genetic disorder where the diameter of blood vessels is narrowed (vasoconstriction), causing various, and often severely painful, symptoms. A person's individual sensitivity to sensory inputs is often what triggers each migraine episode. These sensory inputs can include stressful situations, hormonal fluctuations, altered sleeping patterns, strong odors-such as perfumes, flying (high altitudes), and certain foods. Some of the foods and food additives that can trigger migraines include monosodium glutamate (MSG), sulfites (preservatives), cheese, chocolate and alcohol. Some experts consider tension headaches to be a milder form of migraine. Support for Migraine Prevention by Herbal Extracts Plus employs well-known herbs to nourish the body and keep blood vessels dilated, thus improving circulation and ultimately allowing you to continue to enjoy your everyday life. Purpose of Formulation: Supports the body in combating and preventing recurring migraine headaches. Other Applications: • Acts as an anti-inflammatory • Relieves pain Herbal Ingredient Information: The following information is a brief overview describing each of the above herbal ingredients and what properties each contributes to make up this proprietary blend. • Feverfew has been found to be effective in preventing migraine headaches and/or reducing the nausea and vomiting associated with migraines. The parthenolide in Feverfew appears to block platelets and inhibit the production of serotonin, a brain chemical involved in the release of pain-causing chemicals. Ideally, when taken on a regular basis before the onset of pain, Feverfew may prevent or reduce the frequency of migraine headaches. As an anti-inflammatory, Feverfew reduces the body's manufacture of prostaglandin, a chemical that produces inflammatio

---

_____________________________________________________

 Mail this post