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