Bloggeron

As anyone who has ever suffered a migraine headache can tell you, comparing a migraine to any other type of headache is like comparing a speeding train to car with a 4 cylinder engine. Migraines are severe and debilitating when they hit.

Light and sound both aggravate the condition. The medical community is not 100% certain what all the causes of migraines are, but they have formed some links to things to be avoided and some medications can now prevent most and treat the rest of the migraines a person suffers before the pain becomes so intense that it effects the quality of life.

Some people experience what doctors call an aura effect before a migraine sets in. This means that they sometimes see flashes of light that have no apparent cause or they see spots in their field of vision. An altered mood or signs of depression can also precede the onset of this type of migraine.

It is believed, though not conclusively proven, that a diminished level of the neurotransmitter, serotonin, in the brain contributes to causing these migraines. This type is generally quite severe, yet relatively short lived when compared to other common migraine types.

Those who suffer from the common migraine know that when one of these comes on, it can last for a period of days, causing intense pain, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and extreme sensitivity to light and/or sound.

This type of migraine can have serious detrimental effects on a person’s quality of life. The good news is that these are the type of migraines targeted by most prescription drugs given to migraine sufferers to prevent them.

Typically a person who suffers from migraines is able to tell that one is coming on several hours to a day before the actual onset of the pain, making it possible to take preventative medications in time to head it off.

If unable to completely stop the migraine from developing with preventative medicines, there are a variety of prescription and OTC pain relievers that can help to reduce the symptoms to a level that the sufferer can tolerate and function on at least a limited level, which is an improvement over past medical protocols.

Two of the most commonly cited factors that can contribute to the onset of the common migraine are stress and certain foods. Stress is believed to be the leading cause of migraines because of the tension that builds up in the neck of the migraine sufferer before and during the migraine.

Cool compresses and a gentle, yet firm massage of the neck and scalp can help to reduce the symptoms of the common migraine.

Other doctors claim that certain food additives, MSG is frequently cited, have chemical properties that affect the brain of the migraine sufferer in a manner that throws all of the neurotransmitters into a state of imbalance because the brain does not know how best to process this new chemical.

Those who suffer from frequent migraines should take steps to reduce or eliminate stress wherever possible in their lives and get a list of foods and food additives to avoid from their doctor along with a prescription for medication to prevent or treat one when it comes on.