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Just What is Migraine?

No fewer than twenty-nine million Americans are afflicted by migraines and that represents in the region of 10% of the population. Migraine headaches trouble women approximately three times as much as men and they are not restricted to adults with a substantial number of children afflicted by them as well. An attack lasts anywhere from a few hours to three or four days and with longer attacks victims frequently experience secondary effects for much longer. Although migraines are so common approximately half of all sufferers do not see a doctor about their condition.

One common symptom of a migraine is an acute and throbbing pain on one side of the head which is frequently localized in the area of the temple. It is also often accompanied by various other symptoms like nausea and vomiting and a sensitivity to noise and light.

Just what causes migraine headaches is not known and, in spite of the fact that for a long time it was thought that they were the result of a dilation of the blood vessels, Current research now tends to favor alternative explanations. As well, although there is no good consensus of opinion, a lot of researchers believe that the condition is a genetic disorder which affects the manner in which some brain chemicals like serotonin interact with the nerve cells.

The complexity in solving the mystery of migraines is increased by the simple fact that they come in two forms.

The first type is known as 'classical migraine' and is linked with something which the professionals term an 'aura'. This has nothing to do with mystic fields surrounding the body but refers to the symptoms sufferers experience before the arrival of a headache. For these migraine victims it is usual to have visual hallucinations like flashing lights and bright spots or even to suffer loss of vision just prior to the arrival of a headache.

When these visual symptoms are absent victims are said to suffer from the second type of headaches.

Seeking to pinpoint just what gives rise to migraines is not simple although data collected over many years may point to the final answer. For example, people who do not get enough sleep appear to be at greater risk, as are people who have too much sleep which has been correlated with a greater incidence. Attacks are also generally linked to eating certain food items such as cheese and to missing meals.

Many researchers also consider that various hormonal factors influence the start and severity of attacks and one piece of evidence for this is the far higher incidence of migraines among women than men. Indeed, one study showed an incidence of 17% in men in comparison to only 6% in men. In addition, studies have revealed a connection between contraceptive pills and migraines and it is known that Estrogen, which is a main ingredient in birth control pills, has an effect upon the blood vessels.

But the list of trigger factors does not end here and various everyday activities like walking up stairs or more intensive physical activity can trigger an attack, as can stress, exposure to extremes of cold and heat and exposure to loud noises and flashing lights. It has also been noted that migraines arise more often with a combination of these trigger factors present.

Fortunately, there are a variety of medical treatments available, although none has been shown to be overwhelmingly effective in all cases, and writing a diary of when attacks occur can often identify lifestyle changes which could help in curing migraines. If changes to your lifestyle alone do not do the trick then there are a number of medicines which your doctor can prescribe to help.

Article Source: http://www.uberarticles.com/articles

TheMigraineHeadacheCenter.com provides migraine headache information including details of migraine headache treatments

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