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Migraine Headache Types Symptoms Causes and Treatment

Migraine headache is one of the most severe types of headache that is associated with intense pain. The symptoms of migraine headache are nausea or vomiting, stomach upset, abdominal pain, paleness, fatigue, fizziness, blurred vision, sensitivity to light or noise, and sensations of being very warm or cold. The types of migraine headache may vary from one individual to another. It is estimated that one out of every five patients of headache suffers from migraine attack including visual disturbances known as auras. An aura is defined as a neurological problem that appears as hallucinations, blind spots, blind spots, zigzag patterns of bright light, increased sensitivity to light, bright flashes of light and other visual abnormalities.

Types of Migraine Headaches

    Migraine without aura- Mostly people suffer from this type of migraine headache. It usually occurs on one side of the head, with acute pain. It is also associated with increased sensitivity to light and sound as well as nausea. Usually people suffering from migraine have two to four migraine attack every month. Some may suffer from one attack a month and some may only have one or two a year. Approximately one-third of the patient suffering from migraine has an aura prior to headache pain. The migraine pain lasts for at least four hours, but in severe condition, it can last for a week.  Migraine attack can come at any time in the day or at night.
    Migraine aura without a headache- It is usually referred to as migraine equivalent and is characterized by an aura with no pain in the head region. The symptoms of migraine aura without headache are nausea, loss of appetite tiredness, fatigue and dizziness.
    Classic migraine- Classic migraine usually includes visual disturbances such as flickering lights, zigzag lines or even temporary blindness. Common symptoms of classic migraine stiffness in neck, weakness on one side, numbness, tingling sensations, confusion, fainting and partial paralysis. It is associated with aura and approximately one in ten people have aura with migraine. The symptoms of aura usually last for less than an hour.
    Common migraine- It is associated with persistent and severe throbbing or pain on one side of your head. The symptoms of common migraine are sensitive to light and sound, feeling of sickness, vomiting and diarrhea. The attack of common migraine lasts between 4 to72 hours.
    Retinal migraines- Retinal migraine is a type of migraine that is characterized by the disturbance of vision such as decreased vision, twinkling lights, or even lost vision.  It usually occurs in one eye preceding to the migraine headache.
    Hemiplegic migraine- This type of migraines usually occurs in children and is accompanied by an altered sensation on one side of the body which leads to partial paralysis. The child may face problem in speaking. In severe case, the disability may be permanent.
    Transformed migraines- This type of migraine is characterized by frequent attacks, which may come over a period of months and years. Statistics show that it is caused due to overdose of medicine as well as reaction to the medicine. This may also lead to the discontinuation of the medicines that may lead to another complication.
    Status migrainous- Status migrainous is a type of migraine attack that lasts for more than three days. It is caused by dilated blood vessels in the brain.
    Basilar artery migraine- It is a rare form of migraine which causes dizziness, confusion, and lack of balance. It appears suddenly and can result in visual disturbances, vomiting, and inability to speak properly. It is also related to hormonal influences. Young adult women and adolescent girls are mostly prone to it.
    Abdominal migraine- Children is mostly prone to abdominal migraine, as it includes symptoms like abdominal pain, vomiting and nausea.

These are the types of migraine headaches, people have and the common treatments for these headaches are the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Symptoms of migraine headache

There are certain symptoms of migraine headache, which include:
  •     Diarrhea
  •     Fatigue and muscle tension
  •     Inability to eat
  •     Nausea and vomiting
  •     Lack of concentration
  •     Loss of appetite
  •     Scalp tenderness
  •     Throbbing and constant pain
  •     Paleness
  •     Dizziness or vertigo
  •     Worsening of pain while head movement
  •     Moderate to severe pain that affects whole head
  •     Sensations of being very warm or cold
  •     Sensitivity to light, noise or odors
  •     Visual disturbance or problems such as flashes of light or some spots in the vision
  •     Abnormal body sensations, for example paresthesias or numbness sensation

Causes of migraine headache

Researchers are yet going on to find the exact cause of migration headache, but it can be associates with certain condition, such as
  •     Emotional and mental stress
  •     Food allergies
  •     Excessive exercises
  •     Barometric pressure headaches
  •     Depression or other mental condition
  •     Hormonal imbalance, especially in women during menstrual cycle and menopause

Treatment of migraine headaches

There are certain treatments, which are used to cure migraine headache to a great extant, which include:

Non-medication therapies for migraine headache

These are also referred as preventative therapy or home therapies which include applying ice packs on the affected area, taking proper and balanced diet, having a good and peaceful sleep at night, taking adequate amount of rest etc. Avoidance of alcohol and certain caffeine products, avoiding certain food rich in nutrients such as sharp cheeses that contains containing sulphites or nitrates. There should be change in the lifestyle, which should be followed by certain exercises, meditation and yoga. Acupuncture therapy is also used to reduce the effect of migraine headache to a great extent.

Medication for migraine

Medication is prescribed by the doctor by seeing the severity of the patient, and therefore the dose of the patients varies from time to time. Over-the-counter medications are prescribed by the doctor. This is divided into two parts; namely acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Acetaminophen is basically used to reduce pain in the brain. It is usually considered better than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). But over dose of it can also cause complications such as damage of the liver and heart problems. The side effects can also lead to damage of the kidney. Therefore, it is important to see for a well qualified doctor who can prescribe the right dose according to the severity. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) include aspirin and non-aspirin. Non-aspirin include ibuprofen (Advil, Nuprin, Motrin IB, and Medipren) and naproxen (Aleve). Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are also used to reduce inflammation and pain. Corticosteroids are also used to reduce the burning sensation, but it is prohibited to use it for a longer period of time, since it has some side effects associated with it.

Correct treatment of migraine headache depends upon the correct diagnosis of it. Sometimes people tend to ignore the symptoms of headache and it later becomes severe causing migraine. So do not ignore any symptoms of migraine headache as it can lead to several other complications involving certain illnesses that could be life threatening.
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Ditulis oleh: Unknown - Wednesday, 4 May 2011