MIGRAINE-A HEADACHE

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 Feeling Good to write for you all.....

Now the medical topic which is very much popular and common in population.

                         MIGRAINE

   As we all know that migraine means headache.

But, let me clear that migraine is different form of headache.It is characterized by severe,recurring,and painful headache varied in intensity,frequency and duration.

 Some migraine patients are associated with severe motor-sensory and mood disturbances.

Classical order of migraine

Pro dome- Also known as pre-headche can be said beginning of migraine attack.
The symptoms vary from person to person,but can include changes in mood,feeling of disturbances,irritability,lethargy.

Aura-Aura is series of sensory disturbances that happens shortly before  migraine headache persuaded.
Patient feel confusing thoughts or bad experiences.

The perception of strange, sparkling, or flashing lights is felt.

Patient visual field become zig-zagging (teichopsia).

Blind spots or black spot are experienced by patient.

 In Eyes of patient feel object smaller than normal(micropsia).

Symptoms last for half an hour and succeeded to headache.

Some person experienced aura with migraine or some patient experienced migraine without aura.70-90% experienced migraine without aura.

After aura headache is experienced.Headache will be hemicranial or generalized.

Throbbing in pattern over temporal or frontal region associated with nausea, vomiting and anorexia.

It lasts for several hours and after may decrease in intensity and followed by sleep.Some headache persists for 48 hours or more.

The arteries may feel pulsating.

TYPES OF MIGRAINE

Some migraine headaches persists for 15 days of month known as Chronic migraine.

The headaches experience by womens in pattern connected with menstrual cycle known as Menstrual migraine.

The patient who have pain in half of body and headache in half region in hemiplegic attack known as Hemiplegic migraine.

 The headache is experienced to patient who have abdominal and gut problem known as Abdominal migraine.

No etiology is known, but there are some factors that triggers migraine attacks.

• HORMONAL CHANGES-Women experienced during menstruation due to changes in hormones.
• EMOTIONAL TRIGGERS-Stress, anxiety,excitement,shock.
• PHYSICAL TRIGGERS-Tiredness,insufficient sleep,shoulder and neck tension,poor posture and physical overexertion.Low blood sugar trigger it.
  
• TRIGGERS IN THE DIET-Alcohol and caffeine can trigger it.Specific foods like chocolates,cheese,citrus food,food containing yeast,etc.....can trigger attacks.
• MEDICATIONS-HRT(Hormone replacement therapy),Oral contraceptive pills etc.
• TRIGGERS I IN ENVIRONMENT-Strong smells,second hand smoke,loud noises,temperature changes and bright light are possible triggers.
• Age is one of the factor
• SEX -Female are more prone to have migraine.
• HEREDITARY  

Symptoms

• Moderate to severe pain usually one side of head.
• Severe throbbing or pulsating pain.
• Increase in pain during physical activity.
• Feeling of sickness and vomiting.
• Increase in sensitivity to light and sound  relieved  by lying in quietly in darken room.
• Some people experience other symptoms such as sweating,stomach ache,and diarrhea.

Diagnosis

It is only diagnose by symptoms describe by patient. 

THE INTERNATIONAL HEADACHE SOCIETY HAS DESCRIBE TO CONFIRM THE DIAGNOSIS OF MIGRAINE.

The method is 5,4,3,2,1
It means 5 attacks with duration of 4 hours to 3 days.
Atleast 2 of following symptoms 

• Hemicranial pain in head.
• Pain pulsating quality
• Moderate to severe pain
• Aggravated by routine physical activity

Atleast 1 additional symptoms such as nausea,vomiting,sensitivity to light or sound.

Doctor may suggest for blood test to rule out b12 deficiency ,CT scan,MRI,EEG.

TREATMENT

No cure of migraine is known.Treatment is aimed preventing attacks and treatment at time of attacks.

LIFESTYLE MODIFICATIONS

1. Sleep for 8 hours a day is necessary  
2. To prevent dehydration drink plenty of water.
3. Avoid certain foods
4. Decrease level of stress.
5. Regular physical exerscise
6. Elimination of triggers mention above.
7. Relaxation techniques, yoga,pranayam to calm body.

MEDICATIONS 

• Pain killers are taken while onset of attack is very helpful.

• Medications are Naproxen,Ibuprofen,Acetaminophen.

• At time of attack lying on darkened and quiet room is helpful.Ice pack on head is helpful.

• Drugs that treat nausea are Metoclopramide.

• Preventive drugs which prevent the attacks of migraine are antidepressants,Herbal extracts such as fever few,Vitamin B12 supplements,Riboflavin.
  

•  Acupuncture is helpful.

•  TENS(Trans electrical nerve stimulation) is very helpful to treat migraine.
  

SURGERY

In last decades it has been proved that the patient who does not follow first line treatment.

Botulinum Toxin or Botox in injected to extra cranial sensory branches of trigeminal and cervical spine.

Some people are aware of migraine symptoms.Some people get warning signs before start of migraine.

MIGRAINE IS NON CURABLE BUT IT CAN BE PREVENTED..TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

STAY HEALTHY .......STAY CONNECTED......