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Migraine

Migraine Headache

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Facts

In North America, more than 1 in 10 people have migraine headaches. Most migraine sufferers are women. Migraines usually appear between the ages of 10 and 40. After the age of 50, they tend to disappear, especially among women after menopause.

Causes

Migraine is a complex disorder involving the brain and the blood vessels around the brain and head. The brain may become hyperactive in response to certain environmental triggers, such as light or smells, for reasons that are not known. This starts a series of chemical changes that irritate the pain sensing nerves around the head and cause blood vessels to expand and leak chemicals which further irritate the nerves. A migraine will typically last anywhere from 4 to 72 hours.

While migraine does seem to run in families, a clear genetic cause has only been nailed down for one rare type of the disease called familial hemiplegic migraine.

Although we don’t know the precise causes of migraine, we are aware of potential triggers – habits and circumstances that are associated with the onset of a migraine headache.

The number one trigger is hormonal changes. Two-thirds of women sufferers only get their headaches around the time of their period. Migraines in women are usually worse around puberty and they tend to disappear around menopause.

Another common migraine trigger involves food. The most common culprits are:

  • alcohol, especially red wine and beer
  • tobacco
  • aged cheeses
  • chocolate
  • fermented, pickled, or marinated foods
  • monosodium glutamate (MSG)
  • aspartame
  • caffeine

Other triggers include:

  • stress
  • hunger
  • obesity
  • exercise
  • head trauma
  • strong stimuli such as flashing lights or strong odours
  • changes in sleeping patterns
  • changes in barometric pressure

Treatment and Prevention

Sometimes you can cut down the number of migraine headaches you have by avoiding potential triggers. Identifying migraine triggers isn’t easy. Many doctors recommend keeping a headache diary. By recording the circumstances (e.g., emotions, foods eaten) surrounding your migraines, you may eventually figure out what situations to stay clear of to reduce your risk of migraines.

There are some measures you can take to help reduce the number of migraine headaches: avoid sleep deprivation and undue stress and maintain a regular exercise program and good nutrition. Other techniques such as yoga, meditation, and biofeedback techniques may also be helpful. When these measures do not solve the problem, medication may be required. Document the techniques you’ve tried and how well they worked in your headache diary, too.

There are two basic types of migraine medication: acute medications are used to control the symptoms of an existing migraine headache, and prophylactic medications are taken to prevent migraine headaches. The choice of treatment depends on the severity of migraine, other medical problems, and on how often migraines occur.

Acute medications include:

  • pain medications that contain ASA, acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents such as ibuprofen, or naproxen for mild to moderate migraine headaches
  • ergot preparations such as ergotamine or dihydroergotamine (DHE) that constrict dilated blood vessels
  • triptans (e.g., sumatriptan, naratriptan, zolmitriptan, rizatriptan, almotriptan, frovatriptan, eletriptan) that mimic the chemical messenger serotonin, constricting blood vessels to relieve pain
  • antinausea medications such as metoclopramide, chlorpromazine, prochlorperazine, and dimenhydrinate may also be used

Prophylactic medications include:

  • antiseizure medications such as valproic acid, divalproex sodium, gabapentin, and topiramate; these may stabilize nerve cells and prevent the brain hypersensitivity that triggers the migraine
  • blood pressure medications such as beta-blockers (e.g., propranolol or metoprolol), candesartan, lisinopril, and calcium channel blockers (e.g., flunarizine and verapamil) – these can prevent headaches by stabilizing blood vessels
  • serotonin blockers such as pizotifen may also be effective
  • tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline and nortriptyline – these work like pain medications at lower doses and increase the levels of certain brain chemicals
  • calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonists (e.g., enenumab, galcanezumab and fremanezumab) are a type of monoclonal antibody which work by blocking the activity of a protein which can trigger migraines
  • botulinum toxin may have benefit for people suffering from chronic migraines (i.e., occurring more than 15 days per month for more than 3 months)
  • vitamins or supplements such as riboflavin (vitamin B2), coenzyme Q10, or magnesium may have some benefit, but additional studies are required

A headache specialist might recommend other therapies:

  • There are herbal products like feverfew that might help prevent migraines.
  • Relaxation therapy and biofeedback aim to teach people to control body functions such as temperature and pulse.
  • Behavioural therapy involves learning how to avoid headache triggers by changing behaviour.

There is some evidence that suggests chiropractic care, such as spinal manipulation, can help alleviate pain associated with migraine that originates from the neck.

All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2025. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Migraine

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