| A migraine headache is a very painful, | | | | brain is reduced. At the same time, platelets |
| throbbing or pulsating headache that tends to | | | | clump together and release a chemical called |
| recur. It is often associated with nausea, | | | | serotonin. Serotonin acts as a powerful |
| vomiting, sensitivity to light, sound, and | | | | constrictor of arteries further reducing |
| smells. Hands and feet may feel cold and | | | | blood and oxygen supply to the brain. In |
| sweaty and unusual odors may be intolerable. | | | | reaction to the reduced oxygen supply, |
| Migraines may disrupt your sleep and can | | | | certain arteries within the brain dilate to |
| cause depression. Moving around can make the | | | | meet the brain's energy needs. This dilation |
| headache feel worse. Attacks tend to become | | | | spreads, finally affecting neck and scalp |
| less severe as the migraine sufferer | | | | arteries. Some doctors believe this dilation |
| ages.Migraines afflict about 24 million | | | | causes the pain of migraine.Another theory |
| people in the United States. They may occur | | | | is, the headache may result from a series of |
| at any age, but usually begin between the | | | | reactions in the central nervous system |
| ages of 10 and 40 and diminish after age 50. | | | | caused by changes in the body or in the |
| Some people experience several migraines a | | | | environment. There is often a family history |
| month, while others have only a few migraines | | | | of the disorder, suggesting that migraine |
| throughout their lifetime. Approximately 75% | | | | sufferers may inherit sensitivity to triggers |
| of migraine sufferers are women.Migraine pain | | | | that produce inflammation in the blood |
| is often intensified by routine physical | | | | vessels and nerves around the brain, causing |
| activity, coughing, straining, or lowering | | | | pain.Triggers:A trigger is any stimulus that |
| the head. The headache is often so severe | | | | initiates a process or reaction. Some things |
| that it interferes with daily activity and | | | | are known to trigger a migraine or make it |
| may awaken the person. The attack is | | | | worse. If you are a migraine sufferer, you |
| debilitating, and migraine sufferers are | | | | probably already know what stimulus triggers |
| often left feeling tired and weak once the | | | | your migraines.Common migraine triggers |
| headache has passed.Types of migraines:There | | | | are:Alcohol |
| are many forms of migraine headaches. | | | | |
| Migraines are classified according to the | | | | Environmental factors such as weather, |
| symptoms they produce. The two most common | | | | altitude, time zone changes |
| types are migraine with aura and migraine | | | | |
| without aura. We will only reference these | | | | Caffeine (coffee, chocolate, some teas) |
| two types of migraines in this article.The | | | | |
| aura is the occurrence of neurological | | | | Monosodium glutamate (MSG - found in Chinese |
| symptoms 10-30 minutes before the classic | | | | food) |
| migraine attack. You may see flashing lights, | | | | |
| zigzag lines, wavy images, or hallucinations. | | | | Nitrates (found in processed foods, hot |
| Some migraine sufferers experience temporary | | | | dogs, bacon, etc.) |
| loss of vision. Other symptoms of classic | | | | |
| migraine include speech difficulty, | | | | Glare or flashing lights |
| confusion, weakness of an arm or leg and | | | | |
| tingling of face or hands.Non-visual auras | | | | Hormonal changes in women (monthly periods, |
| include motor weakness, speech or language | | | | birth control pills, estrogen therapy) |
| abnormalities, dizziness, vertigo, and | | | | |
| tingling or numbness (parasthesia) of the | | | | Hunger and fasting |
| face, tongue, or extremities.Migraine with | | | | |
| aura:The pain of a classic migraine headache | | | | Problems with sleep - too much, too little |
| (migraine with aura) is described as an | | | | or interrupted |
| intense throbbing or pounding felt in the | | | | |
| forehead-temple, ear-jaw or around the eyes. | | | | Medications (over-the-counter and |
| The pain typically begins in a specific area | | | | prescription) |
| on one side of the head, then spreads and | | | | |
| builds in intensity over 1 to 2 hours and | | | | Smells, fumes and odors (perfume, smoke, pet |
| then gradually subsides. An attack usually | | | | odors, cleaning solvents) |
| lasts no more than 24 hours but, in some | | | | |
| cases, may last two or more days.Migraine | | | | Stress, time pressure, hassles, major |
| without aura:Migraine without aura is the | | | | losses, anger, arguments and conflict |
| most common type and may occur on one or both | | | | |
| sides (bilateral) of the head. Fatigue, mood | | | | Excessive or constant noiseIt is almost |
| changes, mental fuzziness and fluid retention | | | | impossible to avoid many of these triggers. |
| may be experienced the day before the | | | | Life has a way of happening and many of these |
| headache. With this type of migraine headache | | | | triggers are just a part of life. It is |
| usually come abdominal pain, diarrhea, | | | | possible to avoid the things we put in our |
| nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light | | | | body but many of the triggers are going to |
| (photophobia).Both types of migraines can | | | | occur no matter how hard you try to avoid |
| strike as often as several times a week or | | | | them. Trying to avoid them could be a trigger |
| rarely as once every few years. People who | | | | itself. |
| have migraines on rare occasions may confuse | | | | |
| them with symptoms of the flu. If you have | | | | So what are you going to do?If you are |
| regular weekly or monthly migraines, you | | | | looking for a natural way to end your |
| definitely know you have a migraine.What | | | | migraines, I have found a product that will |
| Causes Migraines?The cause of migraine is | | | | help with your migraines, Nexoprin. Visit |
| still widely unknown. Some doctors think | | | | All Natural Cures and get your health back. |
| migraines may be caused by a chemical or | | | | All safe, natural cures and home |
| electrical problem in certain parts of the | | | | remedies.About this author: Margaret Albright |
| brain. A key element of a migraine headache | | | | is a student of Naturopathy and an editor for |
| is blood flow change in the brain. According | | | | the website All Natural Cures | Home Remedies |
| to this theory, the nervous system responds | | | | and More ( - All safe, natural cures and home |
| to a trigger such as stress, (see more on | | | | remedies. Take control of your health TODAY! |
| triggers below), by creating spasms in the | | | | Pick up our RSS feed.[Re-print of this |
| nerve-rich arteries at the base of the brain. | | | | article is permitted if the following |
| The spasms constrict several arteries | | | | conditions are met: Please include About this |
| supplying blood to the brain, including | | | | author information with a clickable link to |
| arteries from the scalp and neck.As these | | | | All Natural Cures diligently pursues |
| arteries constrict, the flow of blood to the | | | | copyright infringement. |