Migraine Definition
Migraine is a genetic neurological disease, characterized by episodes often called Migraine attacks. They are quite different from regular headaches which are non-migrainous.
There are about 100 million people with headaches in the U.S.; about 37 million of these people have migraines. The World Health Organization suggests that 18 percent of women and 7 percent of men in the U.S. suffer from migraines.
Migraines are called primary headaches because the pain isn’t caused by another disorder or disease such as a brain tumor or head injury. Some cause pain on just the right side or left side of the head, others result in pain all over. Migraine sufferers may have moderate or severe pain and usually can’t participate in normal activities because of the pain. Often when a migraine strikes, people try to find a quiet, dark room.
How long do migraines last?
Many people experience migraines lasting for at least four hours or may last for days. The range of time someone is affected by an attack is actually longer than the migraine itself, as there is a pre-monitory, or build-up phase, and a post-drome that can last one to two days.
What causes migraines?
Different people have different triggers and different symptoms. Some people experience aura, which can cause changes in vision. Sufferers have reported seeing flashes or bright spots. Although an exact cause is unknown, brain scans show that migraines may be due to “hyperactivity” in parts of the brain. Actually, a migraineur’s brain is biochemically different than that the brain of a person without this disorder.
Migraines in women are more common than in men. Susceptibility to they tends to run in families.There is one rare genetically proven migraine syndrome, Familial Hemiplegic Migraine (FHM) where a known genetic deficiency in one protein is present.
How do you diagnose migraines?
The diagnosis usually happens if people have a combination of symptoms and doctors have ruled out other disorders. The International Headache Society breaks migraines into two categories: migraine with aura and migraine without aura. Aura causes sufferers to see spots, lights or blurry lines before pain strikes, among other symptoms. To diagnose a migraine without aura, the society says at least two of the following symptoms must be present: nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, sensitivity to sound or sensitivity to smell.
What are the symptoms of a migraine
There are a large number of symptoms, the most common are:
Other symptoms include:
Supplements to Help the Battle
Combatting the debilitating effects of a migraine is an absolute must for all sufferers. Below are a few supplements found to be effective in such an endeavor.
Magnesium 400 mg daily
It reduces migraine symptoms 50% for about 50% of migraineurs. Must try for at least 3 months to know its effectiveness. (See earlier dietary section for more information.)
This natural supplement is available at Whole Foods (< $10 per month). Most other pharmacies carry a 250 mg dosage and this dose might need to be taken twice daily at different times of day. Reduce dose if diarrhea occurs.
Vitamin B-2 (Riboflavin) 250-500 mg daily
Absorption of this vitamin supplement may increase with food. In some people riboflavin causes urine to appear bright yellow. (See earlier dietary section for more information.)
High doses may cause diarrhea or an increase in urine flow.For pregnant women, the recommended amounts are 1.4 mg per day and 1.6 mg per day in breast-feeding women.
Coenzyme Q10 up to 100 mg three times daily.
Coenzyme Q10, found inside the body’s cells, can reduce damage to cells caused by the environment and other factors and contributes to a cell’s energy production.
There have been limited studies of the effectiveness of Coenzyme Q10, but smaller studies have found 2-3 times more likely than a placebo to reduce the number of migraines.
Dietary sources of Coenzyme Q10: soybean oil, canola oil, chicken, herring, mackerel, beef, roasted peanuts, sesame seeds, pistachio nuts, broccoli, cauliflower, orange, strawberries, and boiled egg.
Migraine is a genetic neurological disease, characterized by episodes often called Migraine attacks. They are quite different from regular headaches which are non-migrainous.
There are about 100 million people with headaches in the U.S.; about 37 million of these people have migraines. The World Health Organization suggests that 18 percent of women and 7 percent of men in the U.S. suffer from migraines.
Migraines are called primary headaches because the pain isn’t caused by another disorder or disease such as a brain tumor or head injury. Some cause pain on just the right side or left side of the head, others result in pain all over. Migraine sufferers may have moderate or severe pain and usually can’t participate in normal activities because of the pain. Often when a migraine strikes, people try to find a quiet, dark room.
How long do migraines last?
Many people experience migraines lasting for at least four hours or may last for days. The range of time someone is affected by an attack is actually longer than the migraine itself, as there is a pre-monitory, or build-up phase, and a post-drome that can last one to two days.
What causes migraines?
Different people have different triggers and different symptoms. Some people experience aura, which can cause changes in vision. Sufferers have reported seeing flashes or bright spots. Although an exact cause is unknown, brain scans show that migraines may be due to “hyperactivity” in parts of the brain. Actually, a migraineur’s brain is biochemically different than that the brain of a person without this disorder.
Migraines in women are more common than in men. Susceptibility to they tends to run in families.There is one rare genetically proven migraine syndrome, Familial Hemiplegic Migraine (FHM) where a known genetic deficiency in one protein is present.
How do you diagnose migraines?
The diagnosis usually happens if people have a combination of symptoms and doctors have ruled out other disorders. The International Headache Society breaks migraines into two categories: migraine with aura and migraine without aura. Aura causes sufferers to see spots, lights or blurry lines before pain strikes, among other symptoms. To diagnose a migraine without aura, the society says at least two of the following symptoms must be present: nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, sensitivity to sound or sensitivity to smell.
What are the symptoms of a migraine
There are a large number of symptoms, the most common are:
- Throbbing, pulsating pain – 85 percent
- Light sensitivity – 80 percent
- Sound sensitivity – 76 percent
- Nausea – 73 percent
- Pain on one side – 59 percent
- Vision changes, blurred vision – 44 percent
- Aura – 36 percent
- Vomiting – 29 percent
Other symptoms include:
- Sensitivity to smell
- Stiff neck
- Dizziness or dizzy spells
- Cloudy vision or other vision changes
- Weakness
Supplements to Help the Battle
Combatting the debilitating effects of a migraine is an absolute must for all sufferers. Below are a few supplements found to be effective in such an endeavor.
Magnesium 400 mg daily
It reduces migraine symptoms 50% for about 50% of migraineurs. Must try for at least 3 months to know its effectiveness. (See earlier dietary section for more information.)
This natural supplement is available at Whole Foods (< $10 per month). Most other pharmacies carry a 250 mg dosage and this dose might need to be taken twice daily at different times of day. Reduce dose if diarrhea occurs.
Vitamin B-2 (Riboflavin) 250-500 mg daily
Absorption of this vitamin supplement may increase with food. In some people riboflavin causes urine to appear bright yellow. (See earlier dietary section for more information.)
High doses may cause diarrhea or an increase in urine flow.For pregnant women, the recommended amounts are 1.4 mg per day and 1.6 mg per day in breast-feeding women.
Coenzyme Q10 up to 100 mg three times daily.
Coenzyme Q10, found inside the body’s cells, can reduce damage to cells caused by the environment and other factors and contributes to a cell’s energy production.
There have been limited studies of the effectiveness of Coenzyme Q10, but smaller studies have found 2-3 times more likely than a placebo to reduce the number of migraines.
Dietary sources of Coenzyme Q10: soybean oil, canola oil, chicken, herring, mackerel, beef, roasted peanuts, sesame seeds, pistachio nuts, broccoli, cauliflower, orange, strawberries, and boiled egg.