MIGRAINE
Every third individual suffers from a headache, while every tenth from a
migraine. Unfortunately, only one of a hundred people suffering from
headaches consults a doctor for his problem, of which less than ten
percent are referred to a neurologist. Instead more than half of the
sufferers let their headache get worse because of ignorance and improper
self-treatment. Whereas there are different theories about the development
of a migraine attack, it seems that deficient symptoms are caused by a
momentarily impaired blood perfusion of certain brain areas. In rare cases
even strokes can occur.
Symptoms:
Common migraine occurs with a heavy headache with rather sudden onset,
mostly on one half of the head. It can occur at any time of the day, but
also in the middle of the night or early in the morning. The patient feels
a general depression, is pale in the face, cannot bear noise or light but
darkens his room and goes to bed. Often he feels sick and sometimes has to
throw up after which he feels better. The migraine fades away, eventually
also after a sleep. For some patients the depression is often harder to bear
than the headache itself. Some patients feel nausea.
A typical migraine attack lasts between some hours and three days. The
frequency of common migraine should not increase some times a month. If
it is more frequent there may be something wrong with the diagnosis.
In a classical migraine the patient suffers not only from his headache
but also from his aura. An aura is a sensation that usually appears
before the pain develops. It may be visual which is the most common
(like a flickering light perhaps), or a tickling or numb sensation
in one hand or vertigo or mental disturbance which can go as far as
ecstatic hallucinations. Most interestingly the aura can prevail
even without headache.
Diagnostics:
As with common headache the careful interview is the prevailing diagnostic
measure. The clinical examination is most often normal. During a heavy attack
a stiff neck (meningism) can sometimes be noticed. Also tender spots at the
vertebral joints can be palpated (so called irritation zones) which disappear after chiropractic manipulation.The major part of the patients has a normal or slightly low blood pressure. Although frequently assumed there are no common psychological properties in migraineurs.
A minor part has unspecific changes in the standard EEG, mostly on one
temporal side, due to vasomotor dysregulation. The photosynchronisation
is usually distinct, especially also in the slow frequencies. In advanced
neurophysiological examination an increased attention potential might be
found.
Radiological examinations are mostly normal. Sometimes in young individuals
you find enhanced impressions in the skull which should be cross-checked
with a CT to rule out an increased intracranial pressure. The vertebral
column is often stretched, with functional examinations isolated blockades
or hypermobilities can be seen.
Therapy:
Whereas migraineurs have no specific properties of their characters in common
they all seem to lead an over speeding life. Therefore a psychoanalytical
approach to recognize this factor in the individual patient may seem valuable
after which a chance to change the overdriving lifestyle can be taken.
Otherwise relaxing techniques such as yoga, autogenic training or biofeed
back can be tried. Patients should keep a diary in order to detect possible
connections to food incompatibility or other external factors.
Most of the medicaments have an impact on the Serotonin metabolism. In most
preparations there is also Caffeine and perhaps Codeine plus a spasmolytic
agent. Most recently simple inhaling of lidocaine solution as a nasal spray
has become propagated as migraine painkiller.
The most reasonable treatment of an attack according to major consent of
headache specialists today is however the application of a mild
antivertiginosum and gastrointestinal procinetic should be taken early
after onset of symptoms. Later the patient can take Aspirin or Paracetamol.
If migraine attacks occur more frequently than once in a month a prophylactic treatment can be considered.
Some of these medicaments may have side effects such as increase of weight,
tiredness, drowsiness, problems with low blood pressure, etc.
Alternative Remedy:
The significance of today's stressful way of living on the increasing
incidence of migraine has already been mentioned. Building stress-relieving
exercises like Yoga in routine certainly helps. One should learn to recognize
one's body's limits.
Today, there are several options for relaxing, like massages, sauna etc.
Allopathy is still trying to find a cure for migraine. It has been successful
in treating the symptoms of migraine. Several migraine patients have turned
towards Homeopathy, and claim of being partially or even completely cured in
ome cases after strictly following the treatment over a long period of time.
Tips for Migraine Patients:
Reference Links:
Migraine Awareness Group: A National Understanding for Migraineurs, was created to bring public awareness utilizing the electronic, print and artistic mediums, to the fact that Migraine is a true biologic neurological disease, to assist Migraine sufferers, their families, and coworkers, and to help improve the quality of life of Migraine sufferers worldwide.
