Migraine Headache
Medical Author: Dennis Lee, MD
Medical Editors: Harley I. Kornblum, MD, PhD,
Jay W. Marks, MD
Migraine Pain, Go Away!
Understanding Migraine Headaches
A migraine headache usually is aggravated by daily activities like walking upstairs. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, facial pallor, cold hands, cold feet, and sensitivity to light and sound commonly accompany migraine headaches. As a result of this sensitivity to light and sound, migraine sufferers usually prefer to lie in a quiet, dark room during an attack. A typical attack lasts between 4 and 72 hours.
Effective Treatments for Migraine Pain
I used to suffer about 30 excruciating migraines a month. I was placed on Inderal and Topamax. I now suffer about 12 to18 per month. When the actual migraine hits, I usually take two Midrin and lie down in a dark room. If that doesn't work, I take one more Midrin and drink a Mountain Dew and continue to lie down. Usually that works. While in bed, I try to think of something soothing and relaxing that takes my mind away from the pain. About 50% of the time this works. I also take Zofran for nausea.
Read More Effective Treatments from Other Patients »
What is a migraine headache?
A migraine headache is a form of
vascular headache. Migraine headache is caused by a combination of
vasodilatation (enlargement of blood vessels) and the release of chemicals from
nerve fibers that coil around the blood vessels. During a migraine attack, the
temporal artery enlarges. (The temporal artery is an artery that lies on the outside of
the skull just under the skin of the temple.) Enlargement of the temporal
artery stretches the nerves that coil around the artery and causes the nerves
to release chemicals. The chemicals cause inflammation, pain, and further enlargement of the artery. The
increasing enlargement of the artery magnifies the pain.
Migraine attacks commonly activate the sympathetic nervous system in the
body. The sympathetic nervous system is often thought of as the part of the
nervous system that controls primitive responses to stress and pain, the so-called
"fight or flight" response. The increased sympathetic nervous activity in the
intestine causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Sympathetic activity
also delays emptying of the stomach into the small intestine and thereby
prevents oral medications from entering the intestine and being absorbed. The
impaired absorption of oral medications is a common reason for the
ineffectiveness of medications taken to treat migraine headaches. The increased
sympathetic activity also decreases the circulation of blood, and this leads to
pallor of the skin as well as cold hands and feet. The increased sympathetic
activity also contributes to the sensitivity to light and sound sensitivity as
well as blurred vision.
Migraine
afflicts 28 million Americans, with females suffering more
frequently (17%) than males (6%). Missed work and lost productivity from migraine
create a significant public burden. Nevertheless, migraine still remains largely
undertreated and underdiagnosed. Less than half the sufferers are diagnosed by
their doctors.
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