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Migraine
Medical Questions » Migraine
| Name: Migraine |
| Also known as: |
| A form of headache that is usually associated with other significant symptoms. May occur once in a person' s life, or three times a week; may cause a relatively mild head pain, or may totally disable the patient. |
Causes of Migraine
The contraction of an artery in the brain, which may give the patient an unusual sensation and warning of an attack, followed within a few seconds or minutes by an over-dilation of the artery. Excess blood passes to the part of the brain that the artery supplies and it is unable to function properly. The patient feels intense pressure, pain and other symptoms. The artery dilation may occur for no apparent reason, or be triggered by certain foods, anxiety and stress, hormonal changes, allergies, loud noises or flashing lights. The frequency and severity of migraines tends to decrease with age, an initial attack over the age of 40 is unusual, and they may cease in old age. |
Symptoms of Migraine
Effects vary dramatically from one patient to another, depending on the part of the brain involved. As well as intense head pain, most patients suffer nausea and vomiting and loud noises or bright lights aggravate the pain. Other symptoms may include partial blindness, personality changes, loss of hearing, noises in the ears, paralysis, numbness, and violence. |
Tests for Migraine
No specific diagnostic tests, but doctors can sometimes diagnose a migraine by the visual pattern. If you close your eyes, patterns can be seen on the back of the eyelids which are actually the random activity of the nerves in the light sensitive retina at the back of the eye and in the visual center of the brain. In normal people, a swirling smooth pattern will be seen, but a patient with a migraine will see flashes of light, bright colors and jagged patterns. |
Treatment for Migraine
Migraines may be prevented by regular medication, or treated when they occur. Prevention: many different drugs can be used including propranolol, methysergide, clonidine, sodium valproate, ketoprofen and pizotifen. It is often a matter of trial and error to find the most effective one. Treatment — the longer a migraine has been present, the more difficult it is to control. Rapidly cured in most patients by nose sprays, tablets or injections containing naratriptan, sumatriptan or zolmitriptan. The more often these medications are used, the more effective they become. Other treatments include tablets which may be placed under the tongue or swallowed (eg. ergotamine), or normal pain killers (eg. paracetamol, aspirin), antihistamines, mild sedatives and anti-vomiting medications (eg. promethazine). Strong narcotic pain killers should be avoided if possible. Resting in a cool, dark room is also helpful.
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Complications of Migraine of its treatment
Rarely serious, but patient may be disabled for some hours or days. |
Likely Outcome of Migraine
Most cases can be prevented or effectively treated, but a small number are resistant to all medications. |
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Total QuestionsWe have 1032 questions.
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