Paper On Migraines

It’s 5a.m and I can barely move; everything is blurry, my right hand is numb, and the right side of my head is pounding. A couple hours later everything transferred from my right side of my body to the left side of my body. It is a migraine that I am having, and this has been my life since 6th grade.

Transition: Now that you know what a migraine is, the causes and symptoms and the burden on a person.

Migraine headaches are the third most prevalent illness in the world, and ranked as the sixth most disabling illness. Statistics show that only about fifty percent of people who suffer from chronic headaches know that they’re suffering from a migraine. 76% of people who suffer from migraines worry that they will suffer for the rest of their lives, and 37% of sufferers worried about their migraines between attacks. Studies found that approximately 12% of Americans suffer from migraines, and 40% of Americans could benefit from preventative therapies. Even though studies show that at least 40% of sufferers could benefit from preventative therapies, only one in five sufferers are currently using preventative therapies. Studies also show that over 25% of people who suffer from migraine attacks miss at least one working day over the past three months, and nine out of ten sufferers say that they cannot “function normally” during those days. At least 98 percent of migraine attack sufferers take medications for temporary headache relief, whether it be over the counter or prescription. Only 12% of sufferers take preventative medications as opposed to the 98% of sufferers taking medications for relief. Severe migraines are ranked in the highest of seven disability classes, along with psychosis, dementia, and quadriplegia, published by the World Health Organization. People who participated in a survey who admitted to a

I have had Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome my entire life. It is an extremely rare disorder that influences a usually hospitalizing migraine every 70 days consisting of violent pain and vomiting. When I wasn’t having a CVS episode, I was battling everyday migraines which severely limited my functionality. These health deficiencies plagued my life, yet

As a means of better identifying triggers, keep a journal of the dates, times, activities preceding onset headache. Include dietary intake for a month. Listing the aura symptoms and any other symptoms associated with headache episode is also helpful (Arcangelo & Peterson, 2013).

There is no cure for a migraine. However, there are several different types of methods used to

Migraines affect nearly 28 million people or 12% of the population in the United States. Migraines are typified by moderate to severe head pain. The head pain is often accompanied by one or more of the following; nausea, photophobia, phonophobia or vomiting. Migraines are considered a chronic neurological disorder. The incidence of migraine related nausea (MRN) is very high among migraneurs. Roughly 90% of patients experience MRN at one time or another. Roughly 50% of patients report experiencing MRN with high frequency (greater than half the time). MRN can hinder the efficacy of currently available migraine drugs in a number of ways. Many patients who experience MRN will delay or avoid taking oral or nasal migraine medication as it can further irritate their stomach. The GI upset associated with migraines can also affect absorption and thus limit systemic exposure to the drug. Researchers have been working diligently to find a solution to this problem.

Migraine: A severe recurring headache, usually affecting only one side of the head, that is characterized by sharp, throbbing pain and is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, and visual disturbances (dictionary.com).

Propranolol, nadolol, timolol, atenolol and metoprolol are all indicated for reducing attacks. Antidepressants such as amitriptylline, can also be used to reduce severity and frequency of attacks. Anticonvulsants, such as valproic acid and divalproex sodium, reduce the frequency of headaches by at least 50% in up to 65% of migrainuers. Methysergide, although it is reserved for patients with refractory headaches, is one of the oldest and most effective agents for migraine prophylaxis. Calcium channel blockers and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can also be used for migraine

Some cases of migraine pain seem to be linked to nerve compression in the head. This was discovered accidentally after patients who had forehead lifts reported they no longer had migraines or that their migraines were reduced. The link was investigated and research indicates that trigger points in the muscles and other tissues in the forehead or neck compress nerves that keep the nerves irritated. This nerve irritation is what causes migraine pain. Migraine surgery helps by releasing the pinched nerve in a form of decompression surgery. Once the nerve is no longer irritated, migraines decrease or stop altogether.

Other nonpharmacological options that may be beneficial in the prevention of migraine headaches include: biofeedback, other forms of relaxation training, cognitive-behavioral therapies, acupuncture, and transcutaneous electrical

Migraine headaches are often experienced on one side of the head (Tepper, 2004). The pain is associated with the pulsatile sensation that differs from one person to another. Migraine is also characterized by throbbing and pounding headache that can lead to nausea, vomiting, and in some instances photophobia. Presently, about 12 % of Americans experience migraine headaches every day. Research shows that migraine mostly affect people aged 15 to 55 years (Tepper, 2004). Migraine has been said to occur as a result of impaired nervous and circulatory system. In migraine, blood vessels undergo vasodilation. The enlargement of the vessels interferes with the nerve cells that normally surround the vessels making them secrete various chemical mediators. These chemicals include prostaglandins, substance P, interleukins, and cytokines (Schulman, 2010). The chemicals are responsible for inflammation and transmission of pain impulses. The associated feelings of nausea and vomiting are attributed to the activation of the sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic response also leads to slowed motility and gastric emptying that in turn reduces absorptions of gastric contents such as nutrients and drugs. Additionally, the sympathetic system also leads to excessive sound and light sensitivity. Statistics reveals that migraines affect more women than men. The severity of migraine headaches ranges from mild, moderate to severe depending on the individuals affected. In some instances, migraine headache can be a major cause of morbidity due to its debilitating

Have you or a loved one ever been victim of migraines? In the United States, more than thirty-seven million people are victims of this condition, more than twelve percent of the population (Migraine Statistics 1). A migraine is “a recurrent throbbing that typically affects one side of the head and is usually accompanied by nausea and disturbed vision” (Google 1). Migraines mostly occur in females, with eighteen percent, followed by six percent of males that fall prey to the disease (Migraine Statistics 1). Dr. Webberley states, “A migraine is a severe, painful headache that can be preceded or accompanied by sensory warning signs such as flashes of light, blind spots, tingling in the arms and legs, nausea, vomiting, and increased sensitivity to light and sound” (Medical News Today 1). Migraines are a very serious condition and should not be taken lightly.

Additionally, there is no specific cure for migraine headaches. In addition, the goal in treating migraines is to treat migraines symptoms. Also, migraines can be treated with amitriptyline or venlafaxine. Furthermore, a migraine can be treated with blood pressure medicines such as propanolol. Researchers have also proven that migraines can be treated with seizure medicines such as valproic acid. (http://www.sciencedaily.com/news). In addition, when I read that you can treat a migraine with seizure medications, I thought that research finding was interesting to be aware of. Also, researchers stated that you could treat a

Headaches are very common with around 10 million people frequently complaining of headaches in outpatient practice (Kaderebek, 2015). The nature of headaches varies from typical headaches to migraines which need to be given more attention to. If the pain is relentless and is affecting their performance it would be advised to visit a health professional, to find out the underlying issue.