Migraine Headaches – Causes and Treatments

Sharp, throbbing pain located near the temple on one side of your head is the most common symptom of a migraine headache.

In addition to the pain, migraine headache sufferers usually have additional symptoms including nausea, vomiting and a heightened sensitivity to light and noise.

Approximately one in ten people worldwide suffer from migraine headaches.  In the US alone, nearly 30 million people deal with migraine headaches.  Although men and teens do experience migraines, women are three times more likely to be affected.  Eventhough migraines are very prevalent, about half of migraine sufferers do not see a doctor for advice.  Typical migraine episodes can last from a few hours to three or more days.  For attacks lasting longer, there may also be residual side effects.

Unfortunately, the precise causes of migraines have not been determined.  Originally, many people believed that migraines were caused by the dilation of blood vessels.  Current research, however, is shedding new light on the causes.  There are a group of researchers who now believe that migraines are a genetic disorder.  They believe that the interaction of brain chemicals such as serotonin with nerve cells are affected.

Migraines are complicated conditions which is compounded since migraines come in two distinct varieties.  The “classical migraine” is considered the first type and is typically associated with an “aura”.  A migraine aura refers to the symptoms that classical migraine sufferers feel before the migraine comes.

Classical migraine sufferers may experience visual anomalies such as hallucination, seeing bright spots or flashing lights. Some people may also experience a temporary loss of vision.  After these symptoms occur, the migraine usually comes on rapidly.  If these pre-cursor indicators are not present, then your migraine is considered to be in the second class of migraines.

The causes of migraines is just as complicated as their symptoms.  You may be at a higher risk of migraines if you have suffered from a lack of sleep.  Interestingly enough, too much sleep has been shown to be a factor in migraines.  There also seems to be a correlation between diet and migraines.  Some migraines seem to be triggered by eating certain foods, such as cheese.  Your risks of migraines are also increased if you skip meals.  Finding the optimum balance is often an elusive goal.

Hormones are thought to affect the inception and harshness of migraine attacks.  The effects of hormones is corroborated by the higher prevalence of migraines among women versus men.  One study has indicated that approximately 17% of women suffer from migraines compared to only 6% of men.  There has also shown to be a link between contraceptive pills and migraine headaches.  Birth control pills contain the hormone estrogen which affects the body’s blood vessels.

Migraine attacks can also be set off by ordinary everyday actions like walking up stairs or other rigorous physical activities. Exposure to loud sounds, flickering lights or extreme cold or heat can also initiate a migraine episode. Stress may also lead to migraine attacks.  A combination of these factors will often lead to a migraine attack.  Some migraine sufferers find it beneficial to keep a diary of when migraines occur, including diet and and external factors that may have triggered the episode.

Luckily, there are a range of medical treatments available, though none has been shown to be tremendously successful in all cases. Sometimes simple acetaminophen is an effective treatment.. In more severe cases, triptans and other prescription medications are better choices.